I have a Colt Officers Model Match in .22LR and the cutout for the tip of the ejector rod is not in line but everything else is including the engraving and front sight. This leaves me to believe that it left the factory like this. Does this seem right to anyone?
Crooked Ejector Rod Cutout
- Thread starter blaw5
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beag_nut
Member
I do not see a problem. Does anyone else? And I do not have any special feelings about Colt. (Except the revered name).
Monac
Member
Yes, I see the problem. At least I think I do. I would have assumed the flat for ejector rod clearance would be on the bottom of the barrel. I think the OP, blaw5, is also assuming this. I don't know much about the specialized topic of Colt Officer's Model Target revolvers, but this looks like it has to be a mistake because the flat serves no purpose where it is. The cylinder opens on the other side from the flat. That would be a bizarre mistake for Colt to have made, but there it is.
blaw5, you might want to find some more specialized Colt forum to show this to. Someone here can probably suggest one.
blaw5, you might want to find some more specialized Colt forum to show this to. Someone here can probably suggest one.
dfariswheel
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There's a possibility that the barrel has been set back for some reason.
I'd inspect the rear of the barrel for any signs of a crack.
One reason to set a barrel back is if the forcing cone in the rear of the barrel developed a crack.
This was often done to try to repair the gun, but it seldom fixed it because the crack would continue spreading forward even after a set back job.
You can buy a forcing cone drop-in plug gauge from Brownell's to check if the forcing cone was improperly re-cut after the barrel was set back.
If the forcing cone was not properly re-cut after a set back, that would be pretty conclusive proof there was an attempt to repair it.
Also, closely inspect the barrel and the frame under the barrel for any signs of the use of a frame wrench or barrel vise.
Often, people who tried for a set back repair didn't use the correct tooling and left signs of removal and replacement.
It's possible this was a factory error, but since these were cut in a production jig you wouldn't expect to see an error like this.
I'd inspect the rear of the barrel for any signs of a crack.
One reason to set a barrel back is if the forcing cone in the rear of the barrel developed a crack.
This was often done to try to repair the gun, but it seldom fixed it because the crack would continue spreading forward even after a set back job.
You can buy a forcing cone drop-in plug gauge from Brownell's to check if the forcing cone was improperly re-cut after the barrel was set back.
If the forcing cone was not properly re-cut after a set back, that would be pretty conclusive proof there was an attempt to repair it.
Also, closely inspect the barrel and the frame under the barrel for any signs of the use of a frame wrench or barrel vise.
Often, people who tried for a set back repair didn't use the correct tooling and left signs of removal and replacement.
It's possible this was a factory error, but since these were cut in a production jig you wouldn't expect to see an error like this.
Monac
Member
dfaris, if the barrel was set back, how did they get the front sight and barrel stampings lined up but not the ejector rod flat? Factory rework?
Vern Humphrey
Member
This is a .22LR, and to the best of my knowledge no .22lr has ever cracked a forcing cone, So that ain't it. It ain't due to the barrel being set back, because if that was the case, the front sight would be out of alignment as well -- as someone noted above.
This is a factory error -- and how it ever got out of the factory like that, no one can tell,
You have two options:
1. Contact Colt and see if they will fix it -- it will probably take a new barrel,
2. Live with it -- it apparently is only a cosmetic flaw and doesn't affect accuracy or functioning,
This is a factory error -- and how it ever got out of the factory like that, no one can tell,
You have two options:
1. Contact Colt and see if they will fix it -- it will probably take a new barrel,
2. Live with it -- it apparently is only a cosmetic flaw and doesn't affect accuracy or functioning,
dfariswheel
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Sorry, failed to read that it was a .22.
Yes barrels can be set back a full thread and the front sight will align perfectly if the gunsmith does his job.
I've had occasion to set or re-set revolver barrels for various reasons.
All that's required is to machine off one full thread's worth of barrel shoulder, re-torque it in place, trim the rear of the barrel to set barrel-cylinder gap, and re-cut the forcing cone.
Why I thought the barrel might have a cracked forcing cone is because I've set back barrels and they looked exactly like that.
There are also other reasons to set a barrel back, as in one that has the forcing cone area somehow damaged.
Colt will not fix it...... Colt no longer offers any service on older model guns, and they have no older model barrels.
As above, the best option is to live with it, I doesn't seem to be making contact with the barrel.
The "ring" wear pattern on the ejector rod is normal wear for an older Colt model.
Yes barrels can be set back a full thread and the front sight will align perfectly if the gunsmith does his job.
I've had occasion to set or re-set revolver barrels for various reasons.
All that's required is to machine off one full thread's worth of barrel shoulder, re-torque it in place, trim the rear of the barrel to set barrel-cylinder gap, and re-cut the forcing cone.
Why I thought the barrel might have a cracked forcing cone is because I've set back barrels and they looked exactly like that.
There are also other reasons to set a barrel back, as in one that has the forcing cone area somehow damaged.
Colt will not fix it...... Colt no longer offers any service on older model guns, and they have no older model barrels.
As above, the best option is to live with it, I doesn't seem to be making contact with the barrel.
The "ring" wear pattern on the ejector rod is normal wear for an older Colt model.
Monac
Member
I still don't see how a barrel can be set back and have the ejector rod flat OUT of alignment while the front sight is IN alignment.
Vern Humphrey
Member
It could only happen if the front sight were remounted -- and there's no sign of that.
Jesse Heywood
Member
Looks like you have 3 options:
1. Replace the barrel.
2. Have the cut opened up, which will allow proper function but will look like hell.
3. Live with it, provided it's functional.
I would chose #3.
1. Replace the barrel.
2. Have the cut opened up, which will allow proper function but will look like hell.
3. Live with it, provided it's functional.
I would chose #3.
dfariswheel
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When setting a barrel back one thread, you're basically cutting the barrel off shorter at the rear end.
After one complete thread's worth of the shoulder is trimmed off the barrel is re-torqued so the front sight is at 12:00 O'clock top-dead-center.
If the barrel is set back the entire barrel is shifted to the rear, so the ejector rod head cut will be sitting farther back, just like is shown in the above pictures.
After one complete thread's worth of the shoulder is trimmed off the barrel is re-torqued so the front sight is at 12:00 O'clock top-dead-center.
If the barrel is set back the entire barrel is shifted to the rear, so the ejector rod head cut will be sitting farther back, just like is shown in the above pictures.
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
Wow, thats a weird one!
If I had to postulate, I would say that the barrel was replaced with a factory second replacement for some reason later in life. I just cant believe Colt would have shipped it like that when new.......but its a strange, strange world.........
The rings on the rod are normal. Kinda annoying, but normal.
Still a great revolver you got there, congrats!
If I had to postulate, I would say that the barrel was replaced with a factory second replacement for some reason later in life. I just cant believe Colt would have shipped it like that when new.......but its a strange, strange world.........
The rings on the rod are normal. Kinda annoying, but normal.
Still a great revolver you got there, congrats!
Riomouse911
Member
I hadn’t ever looked before, so I pulled my Officers Model Heavy Barrel .38 out of the safe to see if it has any alignment issues.
The flat on the bottom of the barrel isn’t perfectly aligned with the centerline on my gun either.
As you can see, it wasn’t noticeable from the sides like the OP’s revolver, but it was when I turned it over and looked from straight above.
I know my gun is from at least the 1930’s, as the gunsmith that milled the rear sight and did the action work (King) closed in the early 1940’s. It very well could be that the folks doing the assembly put these together as best they could, meaning some of the mill work may not be a perfect fit?
As for the odd alignment, this old revolver shoots better than I do. The three high-one low flyers on this 30-shot target were 100 percent my fault.
OP, I say leave it as it lays and enjoy that piece of American gunmaking history as is. It has some character all its own.
Stay safe.
The flat on the bottom of the barrel isn’t perfectly aligned with the centerline on my gun either.
As you can see, it wasn’t noticeable from the sides like the OP’s revolver, but it was when I turned it over and looked from straight above.
I know my gun is from at least the 1930’s, as the gunsmith that milled the rear sight and did the action work (King) closed in the early 1940’s. It very well could be that the folks doing the assembly put these together as best they could, meaning some of the mill work may not be a perfect fit?
As for the odd alignment, this old revolver shoots better than I do. The three high-one low flyers on this 30-shot target were 100 percent my fault.
OP, I say leave it as it lays and enjoy that piece of American gunmaking history as is. It has some character all its own.
Stay safe.
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