My idiocy damaged my pristine new Colt SAA: learn from my mistake

[1KPerDay]

I recently had to detail strip my Gen 3 Colt SAA for the first time to remove some flood-damage rust from the ejector rod and spring. I got lucky that that was the only area that rusted. Anywho, I purchased the Wheeler gunsmithing screwdriver set and made damn sure that the tips I was using fit the screw slots exactly, etc.

but what I didn't do was double check that the shoulders of the bits were clearing the top of the grip frame when I was removing the backstrap screws. Sure enough, I gouged shallow but definite marks through the pristine bluing in the wide-round part of the grip frame. It makes me ill to look at them.

So: check your screwdriver's fit in the slots, and CHECK THE CLEARANCE of the bit/shaft with the rest of the gun.

I also learned that Colt has recently started using those red plastic washer things on all their SAA screws, so I'll need to get a fresh set of them for next time. I'd like to have it stocked in Ivory and the grip frame refinished, but from what I can learn it's not legal to deal in any ivory across state lines anymore, even if it's "certified" vintage sourced before the cutoff or whatever. So... not sure what I'll do.

Here's the first video I posted when I got this revolver for any interested.

 

[Kevin Keith]

I have a 1st Gen SAA and it would really make my stomach hurt to bugger it up too. I'm sorry that happened!

 

[LoonWulf]

Ive done that before, its really one of those "did I really just do that!" Moments.... usually i spell all that with way less letters, and alot louder....i actually do stuff like that often enough my wife dosent even bother seeing what stupid thing ive done this time.....

 

[Pat Riot]

Oh I feel your sorrow. I made a couple of mistakes like that and all you can really do is learn from it and do what you can to fix it.

Thank you for your reminder.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

Yeah, we all make mistakes.

There is nothing new about those little red plastic washers, Colt has been using them for years. The first time I took one of my 2nd Gens apart a bunch of years ago I found the little red plastic washers under the grip frame screws.

They are pretty useless, they get deformed after the screws are torqued down once or twice. I must have thrown them away a long time ago, they were not there the last time I took that Colt apart.

 

[chicharrones]

but what I didn't do was double check that the shoulders of the bits were clearing the top of the grip frame when I was removing the backstrap screws. Sure enough, I gouged shallow but definite marks through the pristine bluing in the wide-round part of the grip frame. It makes me ill to look at them.

I did the same thing to my Ruger Single Six not long after buying it brand new. It needed a trigger job, don't ya know.

The shallow scratches irked me greatly at first. Now I'm used to them. Just one more reason for me to keep that gun a looooong time.

 

[RA40]

Ouch, have done them as well. I can sympathize with that oh sheep! moment. I have a Wheeler set and not many of the bits fit the S&W as nicely as I'd like. I buggered the cylinder latch screw when it cammed out. Fortunately it was stainless so that wasn't to hard to clean it up. The dings on the car...all done by me at home.

 

[Pat Riot]

@1KPerDay
I wouldn’t call it “idiocy”. Perhaps inattention or over sight.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Well...coulda been much worse.

Like, you coulda been shooting double charged reloads and blew out the side of your cylinder. Or followed up a squib with another shot.

Me?

First thing I did with mine was cause an immediate extreme loss of collector's value:

 

[ArchAngelCD]

That is a VERY nice Colt, thanks for sharing.

One thing, I truly hope you are saving that brass. Its expensive when bought new and can't be found on the ground at public ranges. If you don't want it I will pay the shipping if you send it to me...

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Well...coulda been much worse.

Like, you coulda been shooting double charged reloads and blew out the side of your cylinder. Or followed up a squib with another shot.

Me?

First thing I did with mine was cause an immediate extreme loss of collector's value:

View attachment 1007275

"Thank you for buying a Colt! Don't EVER shoot it!"

No wonder they keep going out of business.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Sounds like you've got a great excuse to send it to Turnbull for some casehardening!

 

[1KPerDay]

That is a VERY nice Colt, thanks for sharing.

One thing, I truly hope you are saving that brass. Its expensive when bought new and can't be found on the ground at public ranges. If you don't want it I will pay the shipping if you send it to me...

I save it and reload it. Thanks!

 

[Armored farmer]

It is my observation that good things take time to unfold....bad things happen fast. The only way to avoid it is to stay in bed and peek out from under the covers.

My dad bought my son #3 a nib Henry youth 22 lever action for Christmas. We took it outside Christmas morning and fired a few boxes of ammo through it. Son leaned it up against the wall, and before I could spit the words out, it slid on the slick metal and fell into the gravel, making a nasty gouge in thr forend. Crap.
Feces occurs....

 

[1KPerDay]

It is my observation that good things take time to unfold....bad things happen fast. The only way to avoid it is to stay in bed and peek out from under the covers.

My dad bought my son #3 a nib Henry youth 22 lever action for Christmas. We took it outside Christmas morning and fired a few boxes of ammo through it. Son leaned it up against the wall, and before I could spit the words out, it slid on the slick metal and fell into the gravel, making a nasty gouge in thr forend. Crap.
Feces occurs....

Yeah, that reminds me of my first .22 rifle. Brand new 10/22. My dad bought it for me, we got home from the store, I leaned it against the land cruiser and it slipped sideways and broke the stock. Zero rounds through it. LOL

 

[Pat Riot]

The first scope I ever mounted got busted before I ever put a round through the gun with it mounted. I leaned the guns against my truck tailgate. Turned to pick something else up that I dropped and the rifle slid over and hit the ground. The reticle broke. It was a cheap Simmons. That didn’t bother me so much as the pain in the butt time I had finding a mount and the one hour drive in traffic to get to the range.
Marlin lever guns shouldn’t have scopes anyway…I told myself.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I never realized that the risk of loading a revolver was so high. I'm not leaving one chamber empty anymore, I'm going with six empty chambers, and one round in my pocket.

That is a nice revolver.

 

[entropy]

My older son did the same thing with the .22 single-shot my Dad, uncle, I and he had learn to shoot with. My younger son had to learn on my 10/22. I still have the barreled action, and recently got a nice piece of walnut to make a stock with. Winter project.

 

[Monac]

I do not like to buy used guns that are really minty, or new guns with the idea of keeping them mint. I am just too clumsy, absent-minded, and plain careless for that. People who can keep things mint while still using them have my respect. That takes both good care and good maintenance. And also some luck, because not everything is under our control.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Even though a real, Colt made Colt is the ultimate SSA possession, I have an Uberti stainless

El Patron that I cannot find fault with, either in fit, finish or function. I've never compared it side by side with a Colt, I'd be interested in seeing any difference. Mine is a model before any safety, or different style firing pin, I think it's a very faithful copy. It did have the base-pin "safety", but I fixed that.

However, it does seem that the genuine Colt is not priced beyond what one could afford, if one really wanted it. One can always go without beer or burgers, or whatever for a while to save up the money. I mean, you are not looking at some $10,000 firearm. I think they are affordable if you want it bad enough, and as the man said, it's worth it when it's all said and done.

I'd love to have a Colt for sure, but not "bad enough"...the El Patron is "close enough" for me. But I can/could see taking the $750.00 I paid for the Patron, saving and adding to that, and getting a real Colt. ?

 

[Riomouse911]

I’ve put teeny dings in barrels installing sights before. 110 pct my fault, I learned like you did to make sure stuff fits before applying force.

Nice Colt, that screw-hole marking can be fixed. I’m just glad the flood damage to it wasn’t fatal.

Stay safe.

 

[doubleh]

Being well into geezerhood I learned this fact many years ago. Yes, it was the hard way. Yes, I am forgetful but haven't forgotten to always size the blade to the screw. Yet.

 

[entropy]

I work with screws much smaller than most found on guns every day (eyeglass screws), and although 99.99% of people who's glasses I work on would not even notice, I always check to make sure the blade fits before I start. When you're born into a family of mechanics, it is taught from the first time you pick up an Erector set screwdriver.....

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I’ve put teeny dings in barrels installing sights before. 110 pct my fault, I learned like you did to make sure stuff fits before applying force.

Nice Colt, that screw-hole marking can be fixed. I’m just glad the flood damage to it wasn’t fatal.

Stay safe.

Yeah, I dinged the barrel a bit putting/drifting a silver front sight blade on my $$$$ custom/handmade Jeager rifle. Do'h. However, they are "blending in" with age, and I hunt hard with it, so I'm not losing too much sleep. Still would have preferred not to have done it. Still have only one or two very tiny dings in the stock, and it's been more than a few years, miles of hiking, and hunting seasons since I've had it.

 

[GBExpat]

... but what I didn't do was double check that the shoulders of the bits were clearing the top of the grip frame when I was removing the backstrap screws. ...

That was painful to read ...

Sorry'bout your OOPS.