Pietta 1851 Navy...can't fully cock hammer

[wooldl]

Hello,
I won a Colt 1851 Navy from Pietta in a raffle in Cody, WY this fall. Pretty cool. However, the hammer won't fully cock back into the firing position. I'm not familiar with troubleshooting these revolvers, so I'm reaching out for some advice. What do you all think might be the culprit? Thanks, Dale.

 

[hawg]

The hand is probably a tad too long. The bolt is locking into the cylinder before the hammer gets to full cock. Either that or the hammer notch or the sear is broken.

 

[44 Dave]

New or used?
Narrow down the problem, remove the cylinder and check the action.
If ever fired it may have a "cap jam", pieces of cap in the works.
You need good hollow ground screwdriver that fit the screw head,because the screws are soft and will get damaged with the wrong driver. There aren't many parts in these guns so don't be afraid to open it up.

 

[whughett]

New or used?
Narrow down the problem, remove the cylinder and check the action.
If ever fired it may have a "cap jam", pieces of cap in the works.
You need good hollow ground screwdriver that fit the screw head,because the screws are soft and will get damaged with the wrong driver. There aren't many parts in these guns so don't be afraid to open it up.

Yep, so simple even a caveman could do it. Id go with the cap jam reply. I had to pull the grips, main spring and hammer on one at the range yesterday. A sliver of cap deep in. Pulling it apart for cleaning not 20 minutes ago, another cap fragment fell out. I’ve got to get a cap raker installed.

 

[gtrgy888]

Yep, so simple even a caveman could do it. Id go with the cap jam reply. I had to pull the grips, main spring and hammer on one at the range yesterday. A sliver of cap deep in. Pulling it apart for cleaning not 20 minutes ago, another cap fragment fell out. I’ve got to get a cap raker installed.

I just live with caps in the internals. Part of the “fun” of historical shooting.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Action shield and cap post will cure that silliness. Possible hand too long , cap fragment in the works, or issue with hammer spring binding.

 

[kBob]

Bought a used gun cheap for that reason and it was academic jam

-kBob

 

[wooldl]

Thanks guys....this is a new/unfired revolver that was won in a raffle. Definitely not a cap fragment. I'll look into the hand possibly being too long. Can it be filed? I'm not afraid to tear it down, just not too familiar with the workings. I appreciate the help.

 

[hawg]

Thanks guys....this is a new/unfired revolver that was won in a raffle. Definitely not a cap fragment. I'll look into the hand possibly being too long. Can it be filed? I'm not afraid to tear it down, just not too familiar with the workings. I appreciate the help.

Yes it can be filed but go easy. It won't take but a smidge. They're pretty simple mechanisms but if you're nervous about it there's a lot of YouTube videos on it.

 

[AlexanderA]

Since it's a new gun I would guess that it's manufacturing debris in the hammer notch. Take it apart and give it a good cleaning.

 

[Don Van Winkle]

Do like Mike from Goons Guns told me. Fill the void in there with Mobile One grease. Nothing can get in where the grease is. I shoot several cylindars every weekend with NO jams or hangups. If a spent cap falls in, it lays right on top of the grease and is easily picked out in a split second. I just pull the hammer all the way back and use my knife-just like a creditcard; don't leave home without one-and flick it out. Only cleanup is the cylindar, the bore, and a good wipedown after a session. Once every few months I break the gun down to parade rest and go to town cleaning it.

 

[gwpercle]

Also make sure something like a piece of fired cap hasn't gotten down in the lock works ... my 1851 had a small piece of brass cap that dropped into the guts of the action and was keeping the hammer from coming back to full cock ... that little piece of brass cap gave me fits ... I had to take the grips , backstrap and trigger guard off to get in there and find it . The lock work is simple but use properly fitting thin hollow ground gunsmith screwdrivers on the screws ... I ground down some good wood handle screw drivers I had but I've since bought a couple different sets ... you need them fo gun screws !
Gary

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

The only way to know for sure is to take it apart. If you're still not comfortable doing work on it send to Mike at Goons or send it to me, my shop is idle at this time.

 

[wooldl]

Thanks again guys...I'll have a little time this weekend to take is apart and inspect. I'm not afraid of disassembling it and I've got a good set of gunsmith screwdrivers to get er done. I'll let you know how it works out.

 

[cottonpicker]

Check to make sure your wedge is not pushed in too tight before you start messing with other things. Backing the wedge out a little will give the cylinder room to rotate without binding on the barrel.

 

[woodnbow]

Check to make sure your wedge is not pushed in too tight before you start messing with other things. Backing the wedge out a little will give the cylinder room to rotate without binding on the barrel.

 

[hawg]

Check to make sure your wedge is not pushed in too tight before you start messing with other things. Backing the wedge out a little will give the cylinder room to rotate without binding on the barrel.

Pietta's don't have short arbors like Uberti does. The wedge won't bind the cylinder no matter how hard you drive it in. The wedge needs to be tapped in so it's a solid fit. Uberti's need to have the short arbor fixed. Shooting it with a loose wedge is asking for trouble.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

How true Hawg! Depends on when that Pietta was made... also saw one with a too long arbor, barrel to cylinder gap was .015 to .020. So it can go both ways it seems.

 

[noelf2]

How true Hawg! Depends on when that Pietta was made... also saw one with a too long arbor, barrel to cylinder gap was .015 to .020. So it can go both ways it seems.

A barrel swap can also throw the bc gap and arbor fit off a bit in unexpected ways, from my experience (newer barrel, older frame, etc.).

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Fellow bought it new in the box.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I've never had occasion to troubleshoot something like this, at all. But I have had to take apart and repair any number of mechanical (or electrical) gadgets and gizmos and I'd advise the following:

First, carefully inspect the mechanism for any obvious deficiencies as you disassemble BEFORE attempting any mechanical remedy. It's amazing how many times a simple visual inspection will find the problem without having to go too deep into actual "repairs".

Second, clean it. A great many mechanical issues can be resolved by simply cleaning and properly lubricating.

Third, and last, ask yourself BEFORE you attempt to alter anything "will the repair I want to do actually fix the problem?" Once you start filing, for example, you are committed...you can't add the removed metal back.

The good news is that the mechanics of these are very simple.

Let us know what the actual problem turns out to be!