Original Script Colt Instructions

Status
Not open for further replies.

scrat

Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2007
Messages
6,877
Location
Monrovia, CA
Here is the original Script that was included in Colt Revolvers.

DIRECTIONS FOR LOADING COLT’S PISTOLS​
First explode a cap on each nipple to clear them from oil and dust, then draw back the hammer to half-cock, which allows the cylinder to be rotated. A charge of powder is then placed in one of the chambers, keeping the barrel up, and a ball with the pointed end upwards, washcut wadding or patch, is put in the mouth of the chamber, turned under the rammer, and forced down with the lever below the surface of the cylinder, so that it can not binder in rotation. (care should be used when ramming down the ball not to shake out the powder from the chamber thereby reducing the charge). This is repeated until all the chambers are loaded. Percussion-caps are then placed on the nipples on the right of the lock-frame. When by drawing back the hammer to the full-cock, the arm is in condition for a discharge by pulling the trigger; a repetition of the same motion produces the like results with six shots without reloading.

NiB-It will be safe to use all the Powder the chambers will hold, when loading with the flask, leaving room for the Ball weather the Powder is strong or weak. Fine grain Powder is the best. Soft lead must be used for the balls. The cylinder is not to be taken off when loading. The hammer, when at full cock, forms the height by which aim is taken.
To carry the arm safely when loaded, let down the hammer on one of the pins between each nipple, on the end of the cylinder
>The arm should be thoroughly cleaned and oiled after firing, particularly the home pin in which the cylinder turns.
DIRECTIONS FOR LOADING WITH COLTS FOIL CARTRIDGE​
Strip the white case off the Cartridge, by holding the bullet end and tearing it down with the black tape. Place the Cartridge in the mouth of the chamber of the cylinder, with the pointed end of the bullet uppermost, one at a time, and turns them under the rammer, forcing them down with the lever below the surface of the cylinder, so they can not hinder the rotation.
To ensure certainty of ignition, it is advisable to puncture the end of the Cartridge so that a small portion of gunpowder may escape into the chamber while loading the pistol.

DIRECTIONS FOR CLEANING​
Set the lock at half cock, drive out the key that holds the barrel and cylinder to the lock frame, then draw off the barrel and cylinder, by bringing down the lever and forcing the rammer on the portion between the chambers. Take out the nipples. Wash the cylinder and barrel in warm water, dry and oil them thoroughly; oil freely the base pin on which the cylinder revolves.
TO TAKE THE LOCK TO PIECES, CLEAN AND OIL​
First-Remove the stock, by turning out bottom and two rear screws that fasten it to guard and lock-frame near hammer
Second-Loosen the screw that fastens mainspring to the trigger-guard, and turn spring from under tumbler of the hammer
Third-Remove the trigger-guard, by turning out the three screws that fasten it to the lock-frame
Fourth-Turn out the screw, and remove the double screw spring that bears upon the trigger and bolt.
Fifth- Turn out the screw pin that hold the trigger and bolt in their place.
Sixth- Turn out the remaining screw pin and remove the hammer with hand attached by drawing it downwards out of the lock frame. Clean all the parts and oil them thoroughly.
TO PUT THEM TOGETHER-Replace the hammer with the hand spring attached, then the bolts, then trigger, the screw spring, the trigger guard, the mainspring, and finally the handle: returning each screw to its proper place, the arm is again in for use.
 
Last edited:
for your viewing pleasure. I followed the directions. Wow they are very easy to follow on taking apart and reassembling the revolver.

Colt1851-diag2.gif
Colt1851-diag.gif
 
A very nice London Navy. I would call viewers' attention to the fact that after all these years the cylinder is not ringed around the cylinder bolt notches, and the notches themselves are not peened out. That's because of the way the lockwork was fitted and timed. :cool:
 
bumped up for any one who wants to copy it.

The following errors occurred when this message was submitted
This forum requires that you wait 60 seconds between posts. Please try again in 29 seconds.
man i hate this thing
 
typo in loading instructions...

Scrat.......I think there is a typo in the listing of:
Directions for Loading Colts Pistol.

For what it is worth...............

DIRECTIONS FOR LOADING COLT’S PISTOLS
First explode a cap on each nipple to clear them from oil and dust, then draw back the hammer to half-cock, which allows the cylinder to be rotated. A charge of powder is then placed in one of the chambers, keeping the barrel up, and a ball with the pointed end upwards, washcut wadding or patch, is put in the mouth of the chamber, turned under the rammer, and forced down with the lever below the surface of the cylinder, so that it can not binder in rotation. (care should be used when ramming down the ball not to shake out the powder from the chamber thereby reducing the charge



the bold words should be : hinder its
so that it can not hinder its rotation.

I think is the correct sentence. anyway that is what my copy of directions states.. I have a reprint antique copy of Colt's directions.
 
Last edited:
Obviously 'binder' is misspelled, but substituting 'the' for 'in' is not necessarily correct. "Hinder in rotation" would be common usage in the mid 1800's.
 
after a closer look at documents.......
it looks like the correct wording is: HINDER ITS ROTATION.

see document below.

loading_cleaning_colta.jpg
 
Last edited:
Here's a slightly more legible version:

attachment.php
 

Attachments

  • instl.jpg
    instl.jpg
    149.9 KB · Views: 838
Very good version.

Dixie gun works sells them for $35.00

after i copied the script and did the search. on it all i printed it up on parchment paper. leave it in the sun for a few days. now it looks just like the originals. Very easy to do.

So if your interested just copy and paste. the print script is as close as possible to the original script to make them look very similar. Rather than having regular text script found on other post. Pics were the best pics i could find after several hours of digging.
 
ok just bumped this up as i needed to find what i did with it
Anybody remember who made the pics of the green caps the label. i remember a post on that too
 
Cap box labels:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=3367209#post3367209

It's really too bad things like this aren't included in the "stickie" section. These labels and others like them can make a big difference in completing a personna or just in generally helping to add to the authenticity of a rig. Besides which, I (and others) went to a lot of work making these things available, and it seems a shame to let the effort just fade away into forum oblivion...
 
FSCJedi, Good question, it's another one of those seldom-seen things these days but was quite commom in years past. N.B. is an abbreviation for the Latin term "Nota bene" which translates into "Note well".
 
good idea to ad to bp essentials. i printed mine on partiment paper. then left it out in the sun for a couple days. looks really good.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top