Det Spec problem

[popeye]

I bought Det Spec today, looks like '73 production. This gun has the hammer bobbed so I had a little problem doing pre purchase checks. The hammers bobbed but it can still be cocked. There's no serrations on the hammer so it is difficult to cock. A dangerous condition that I may or may not remedy, as I expect to fire it DA only. The gun has a problem I've seen on other DS, Cobra, Agent models. I've never bothered to delve into the issue, because sellers wanted top dollar for a gun that had the problem. I'll try to explain:
When I pull the trigger dry firing it, maybe once in 50 cycles the cyl. turns, but the hammer never moves from it's home position I shot it full of EEZOX and that seemed to fix it. Anyone seen this before?? Any thoughts? I can probably return it, but I'd rather not as it looks pretty good and I paid $350 for it.
Thanks, Jim

 

[BBBBill]

The trigger may not have fully returned to its forward position either due to crud, wear, failure to fully release by the shooter, or a combination of those. Good Colt revolver smiths are extremely rare these days. It is somewhat of a Rube Goldberg design. Works great when set up correctly, but very complicated. If you are not trained on it easy to screw up. Hopefully you have solved the problem. If not, do your due diligence in searching out someone fully qualified to work on it. Get recommendations from someone knowledgeable.

 

[boom boom]

The trigger may not have fully returned to its forward position either due to crud, wear, failure to fully release by the shooter, or a combination of those. Good Colt revolver smiths are extremely rare these days. It is somewhat of a Rube Goldberg design. Works great when set up correctly, but very complicated. If you are not trained on it easy to screw up. Hopefully you have solved the problem. If not, do your due diligence in searching out someone fully qualified to work on it. Get recommendations from someone knowledgeable.

If nothing else, contact Grant Cunningham. Before he went into firearms training, he was one of the few highly respected Colt revolver gunsmiths. Not sure if he is still doing in and he is in Washington state if I recall. He had a blog somewhere where he discussed his gunsmithing and you might be able to contact him for someone to work on your firearm if he does not care to do it (http://www.grantcunningham.com/about-grant-cunningham/). Last time I visited his blog, he was pretty backed up on project wait times though. Bill Laughridge and his gunsmith employees of Cylinder and Slide also do Colt revolver work but are usually backed up as well. https://cylinder-slide.com/Category/CP109

Jerry Kuhnhausen wrote a shop manual for colt revolvers as well. Have never read it but used other of his publications. He usually has a section on troubleshooting different problems. https://www.amazon.com/Colt-Double-...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=GZ7ZTNVX26VVTSAD3325

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Take off the grips and soak it in Eds Red a day or two. I have done this with more than one gunked up D frame.

 

[popeye]

Thanks for all replies and advice. I've got it sitting in a pan of Kroil as that's all I have on hand. We'll see what happens.
Thanks again, Jim

 

[4v50 Gary]

The sear is not returning to its position of rest to catch the tail of the trigger (tail of the trigger engages the sear, causing the sear to raise and then cam hammer back until the tail of the trigger disengages the sear, allowing the sear to return to its position of rest. The hammer is under the pressure of the V spring, the hammer is now allowed to fall).

It may be as simple as cleaning the internal lockwork. I wouldn't try it without some fitted screwdrivers and knowledge.

 

[popeye]

Well I took the side plate off and blew it out with carb cleaner. Followed immediately with a drenching of EEZOX. I believe the gun is working well now as cyl turns and hammer cycles with every trigger stroke. Thanks for all interest and suggestions.
Jim

 

[4v50 Gary]

Bravo! Try to see if you can find a replacement hammer. Try to use the same sear.

 

[Mizar]

Numrich have a stripped hammer, NOS for $40, but it must be fit to the revolver (by a competent Colt revolvers gunsmith). Jack First have an assembled hammer, used, nickel plated for $150. But it's a hit or miss with that one - it might fit, or it might be already ground too much to not allow for proper engagement.
https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/1571740