Head Scratcher with Remington 44

[sbauck]

Picked up an E.N. Santa Barbara with plans to convert it to Bulldog fantasy gun. Over a couple of sessions I put over 60 rounds through it, broke it down and cleaned it each time and it performed without a hitch.

After the last session, it now will only hold full cock over three chambers. On three chambers in holds fine...on the other three it slips to half cock. I can push the trigger forward and it will hold.

I have changed the trigger spring, filed a slightly deeper full-cock notch in the hammer and changed the hand out...nothing helps.

If I put a different (Pietta) cylinder it works fine...??

What am I missing here?

 

[DD4lifeusmc]

Without seeing it first hand hard to say.
Is it always the same three cylinders?
But my guess would be a
slightly oval shaped cylinder pin hole or too much end play, letting the cylinder cock sideways a bit.
But those aren't likely.
Possibly worn down hand tip, not lining cylinder properly, thus the bolt is not engaging properly, keeping tension on the bolt / trigger spring.

But I would look at slop in the hammer assembly. Is the pivot hole in hammer starting to wear, or the screw itself. Is the screw turning as the hammer is repeatedly cocked?
During cocking (everytime) is the main spring maintaining pressure on the hammer.
Also look close at the trigger, is it's picot hole / screw worn, or the tip worn off?
Just a couple ideas without actually seeing it.

 

[sbauck]

What images could I post so you could get a better idea?

 

[swathdiver]

It's been said that those Santa Barbara's were one of the best made Remmy's available.

 

[sbauck]

Does anyone know if parts are available

 

[sbauck]

It's always the same three chambers
Trigger operates without a problem when the cylinder is not in the gun

 

[Ephraim Kibbey]

Is there anything you can see different about the back of the cylinder where the pawl/hand meets its ratchet faces for those three cylinders?

What about the cylinder stop holes?

 

[swathdiver]

I think they are pretty close to Uberti and originals as far as parts goes. Maybe someone knows for sure and will chime in if I'm wrong.

 

[45 Dragoon]

Ok,

Check to see if the main spring is too long and if the nose of it is binding on the backside of the hammer. It's hard to explain but it (along with the right circumstances) is the only thing I can think of off the top of my noggin!!!

Or, the hand is too long and cyl. lock up is happening early and wont allow the trigger to reach full cock. An untuned guns timing can/will change with seating or premature wear.




Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com

 

[Hellgate]

Once you get it fixed don't hack it up into a fantasy gun. Get an old ASM or Pietta for that and enjoy the Santa Barbara. I had a chance to get one but passed on it because I already had several Ubertis & Euroarms. Been kicking myself ever since. It was in mint condition for $200.

 

[sbauck]

Hellgate you can own this one for $150

 

[45 Dragoon]

I guess the op checked the main spring? Is the cyl. locking up too early? This is where folks learn things but cant without feed back.

Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com

 

[Crawdad1]

What am I missing here?

With that revolver, which are very good revolvers. I would send it to Mike at Goonworks.

 

[sbauck]

Update on this project

Since the gun functioned with a new cylinder and without any cylinder, I thought the original cylinder must be the problem. The original cylinder had some deep grooves cut in the shoulders. So I filed those down and lo and behold...it started holding at full cock. Plus, I backed the main spring off a bit and helped also.

As I compare the original hand to a new there is a lot of wear...I plan on ordering a new one and shaping it to fit. A new one from either Uberti or Pietta is too big.

Thanks for everyone's comments and insight.

 

[Tommygunn]

SBauck, I have NEVER seen a Rem 1858 with a groove like that in the rear of the cylinder (re: red arrows).
I've had Armi San Marco, Pietta, Uberti, and a fourth brand (the name won't come to mind) and none had that groove.
Even th ASM cylinder, which almost entirely omits the round shoulder, did not have that.
It looks like a manufacturing error of some kind.

 

[sbauck]

I know. It's like the hammer nose cut a groove in it. I'm not sure how that even happens. The gun has been heavily used. I've bought quite a few used pistols, mostly from guys who shot them a few times and became disinterested in BP, but this one has seen a lot of use.

 

[45 Dragoon]

It happens when the bolt side of the combination bolt/trig. spring breaks and is continually played with anyway.

Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com

 

[44 Dave]

May also happened when some one was playing "cowboy" and fanning it with the trigger held and not getting the hammer all of the way back before letting the hammer fall.
This may also account for the poor condition of the hand.

 

[45 Dragoon]

Yep!!

Mike,
www.goonsgunworks.com