loading lever latch

[kameron1858]

whats the best way to reattach the loading lever latch on my 5 1/2in 1858 peitta I had to remove it to install my kirst ejector would some kind of epoxy hold up or is thare a solder i could get at the hardware store i need to get? btw I finally got up the guts to cut my loading port only took about 30min and 4 dremmil sanding drums and it works and looks great any advice on the latch and reblueing the port would be great thanks guys

 

[Prairie Dawg]

Last time I cut down a Remmie, I bought a latch from Dixie and dovetailed it into the barrel.
Product #MP2602 Barrel Catch For Remington Revolvers
--Dawg

 

[kameron1858]

dont you have to have someone mill the dovetail into the barrel? I would like to do that but I'm trying to do it cheaper by doing as much of the work myself as i can. that thing was a pain in the ass to get off so what ever the factory used was plenty strong is thare any way for me to get what the factory used?

 

[junkman_01]

Did you ever hear of a tool called a 'FILE'? :banghead:

 

[mykeal]

Brownell's sells dovetail files: STANDARD_SLOT_SIGHT_BASE_FILES

 

[Hoof Hearted]

You don't have to remove the catch (it's not supposed to come out, it's soldered in) you can unscrew the barrel about a quarter turn to get the cylinder pin to clear the catch.............

It's next to impossible to solder that catch back without damage to the bluing. VTI will sell you a dovetailed Uberti catch and as mykeal linked a dovetail file and slow deliberate work is now your best bet.

 

[kameron1858]

crap why didnt i think of that now i have to buy a $40 file and a latch. I think the latch at dixie is backorderd whats another place to order one? any advice on cutting the dovetail other than slow. damn I feel like a complete dink just turn the barrel du..

 

[junkman_01]

Here's a little video from Midway USA to show the dovetail cutting procedure....
http://www.break.com/usercontent/2009/4/how-to-cut-a-dovetail-by-hand-713469

 

[kameron1858]

I just found those myself. looks like it wont be to hard but i only get one chance... how do i know how deep and wide to go on the cut I know how to use a caliper so do i just measure the latch when i get it or are thare specs to start with? what about a cheaper file I'm thinking I'm only going to do this one time so 40 bucks for a file is a bit much

 

[mykeal]

Cut and fit, cut and fit, cut and fit...whoa, now it fits.

You can use a regular triangle file, but be very, very careful as it's very easy to cut the wrong surface and ruin the dovetail.

 

[Acorn Mush]

You can use a regular triangle file, but be very, very careful as it's very easy to cut the wrong surface and ruin the dovetail.

You can make a safe edge (side) on your file by using a knife sharpening stone. Just keep it flat on the stone, working it back and forth until the teeth are gone. It takes a bit if time but will get the job done, and a lot less expensive than dropping $40 on a new file.

 

[Hoof Hearted]

crap why didnt i think of that now i have to buy a $40 file and a latch. I think the latch at dixie is backorderd whats another place to order one? any advice on cutting the dovetail other than slow. damn I feel like a complete dink just turn the barrel du..

Kameron, deep breaths..........now read my post again:

It's next to impossible to solder that catch back without damage to the bluing. VTI will sell you a dovetailed Uberti catch and as mykeal linked a dovetail file and slow deliberate work is now your best bet.

 

[BHP FAN]

www.vtigunparts.com/

 

[kameron1858]

ok i orderd the latch. this sucks it took me almost a year to work up the gull to cut my loading port and now I have to do more cutting on my gun grrr. I thought about just removing the loading latch but it looks naked without it

 

[kameron1858]

ok now is the dovetail on the latch a 3/8 dovetail I hope it is beacuse i would really like to use this http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=720537 shure beats the hell out of a $40 file

 

[kameron1858]

crap i missed the "Discontinued by Manufacturer" part

 

[arcticap]

would some kind of epoxy hold up or is thare a solder i could get at the hardware store i need to get?

Yes, I think that using the right epoxy would work just fine.

It would certainly be easier and cheaper to try the epoxy first to see if that holds or not.
Cutting a dovetail to fit the current latch may present another problem if the tolerances aren't close enough.

Some folks use regular types of epoxy to affix their front sight and report excellent results.
Madcratebuilder recommends a product called Rocksett, an industrial strength adhesive that doesn't loosen up due to heat. Using that is better than taking the risk of botching up a new gun. That's why many gunsmiths use a milling machine to make dovetails.

Rocksett is available at Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=industrial&field-keywords=rocksett&x=0&y=0

 

[kameron1858]

I already orderd the latch but I think your right i should try to epoxy it first and then if it falls out and gets lost "cause that what happens" i will be all set to fix it with the dovetail latch

 

[mykeal]

Gunsmiths use a milling machine because it's faster and they have one.

 

[arcticap]

That's true but maybe they have milling machines so that they don't botch up expensive guns that belong to their customers.
Sometimes a poorly done job is called a shoemaker's job.
No one wants to have a shoemaker's job done to their gun if they can help it.
Some of the simplist jobs just won't come out right if they're not done with enough precision.

 

[Smokin'Joe]

Epoxy will not work in this case. There is too much pressure on the latch to hold up. A front sight does not experience the pressures that a latch does so epoxy may work for a sight.

 

[arcticap]

How did Pietta install it?
Was it a press fit?
The industrial strength adhesives that are available today are amazing.
For all we know super glue may even secure it.

 

[BHP FAN]

How did Pietta install it? Why does this matter, since the OP has ordered the VTI/Uberti dovetail latch? Obviously, he's going to need to cut a dovetail.It's not that hard.Make a few shallow cuts with a hacksaw, and cut the angles with a triangle file. This is not rocket science.Putting the dovetail in exactly the right place is important, but as it's a spring latch, even there, you have some room for slop.He can do this.

 

[arcticap]

How did Pietta install it? Why does this matter, since the OP has ordered the VTI/Uberti dovetail latch?

It matters because it may negate the need to risk defiling his gun.
kameron1858 may be reconsidering his options regarding the Uberti part.
Not everyone wants to do it themselves or is as capable of doing as good of a job as another.
Some folks are gifted in one area while others may be gifted in other areas.
That means that not everyone looks forward to putting a hacksaw or a file to their gun.
I know that I wouldn't especially if epoxy will hold the original part just fine.

 

[mykeal]

I don't see the point of the debate. There's no down side to trying epoxy - it might work or it might not. If it works, he's done. If it doesn't work then he can proceed to the next step: deciding whether to cut a dovetail himself or getting a smith to do it (which really shouldn't cost any more than the file).

I suggested the file because I thought he might be interested in doing some home gunsmithing. Lots of us started the same way. But if he's concerned about not being able to do a good job, that's fine too - many people have concerns about making a mistake that can't be repaired and ruining something they care about. Nothing wrong with that. Call the gunsmith and move on.