Problem with used Pietta 1851 Navy Colt .44 Revolver

[Dixie Ken]

Hi,

Just repurchased an old Pietta 1851 Navy Colt .44 single action revolver from an old friend. He hadin't cleaned it since he last shot it, but it cycled fine, so I stripped it to give it a good cleaning.

Now, I replaced the cylander and tried a few cockings, but the hammer will only stay in half cock(saftey) position. I try to get it in full cock, but it won't stay locked in that position, it slips back into half cock.

Could someone diagnose my possible problem, what part I may need from Dixie Gun Works, and directions on changing the part I need.

I have replaced the mainspring in my 1858 Enfield 3 band, so I know a little about gunsmithing blackpowder weapons, but a pistol is a new task for me and I need some advice before I start.

Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank

Dixie Ken

 

[tom e gun]

i would first suggest checking to ensure you correctly put the pieces back together before buying parts. look at numrich gun parts or where ever you can find a schematic and check how it all goes together, then if its still inoperable look into replacement parts. first part i would look at would be the trigger and bolt spring shown here: http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Detail.aspx?pid=782710G&catid=11655
ensure it is installed correctly and that the screw is tightened down enough. my first time completely tearing down my 1860 led to me finding certain things out, like when that screw isnt tight enough can cause the cocking to be off a bit. (i think thats what it was anyway )
heres a schematic for ya by the way...
http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Products.aspx?catid=6629

 

[rdstrain49]

All the information you need will be found here. Pay attention to Mr. Pettifogger.

http://www.theopenrange.net/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=0753596a4d267fe9da5f0280fa06089e&board=17.0

 

[Dixie Ken]

Tom E Gun,

I just stripped down the cylinders, soaked the nipples and scrubbed the barrel and frame of fouling and powder residue. I owned this exact gun a few years ago and just bought it back from the guy, who unfortunately never cleaned it.
I basically just did a field cleaning, then cycled the cylinder a few times after I reinstalled the barrel and wedge pin. Then, today, the gun would only stay at half cock, so I figured it must be a spring inside the frame, so I'll open it tomorrow and check it out.

Thanks fer ya'lls info and help. I'll keep ya updated on what I find.

 

[tom e gun]

good luck friend! i wasn't sure of your knowledge on the subject so figured i would throw it out there just in case it could help. i'm still pretty new to these lovely revolvers myself though i dont yet have an 1851 yet (next on the list i swear! )

 

[Foto Joe]

Don't be surprised if you find a "cap frag" in there somewhere that just found its way into the wrong place.

 

[Fingers McGee]

Sounds suspiciously like the trigger spring either broke, or isn't installed correctly.

 

[Dixie Ken]

Ok ya'll, I really screwed it up now. I took it apart and it was a piece of broken cap that fell ot once I took the springs(ALL of them) and cleaned up all the fouling and such.

So I've now put the gun back together, it won't cock at all, and things are not at all well.

Does anyone know a step by step on reassembling. I searched the web, but no luck. If not, guess I'll find a gunshop.

 

[1KPerDay]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VqpeRre7IY

you can kinda see the steps there if you watch close. I'm going to make a better vid with closeups when I get a Round Tuit.

 

[mykeal]

At the top of the Blackpowder Shooting forum (that's this forum) there's a sticky thread entitled "Black Powder Essentials". Within that thread there's a link called "How to disassemble a Colt black powder revolver - started by mec."

Do that backwards, step by step.

 

[Lunie]

Supposing nothing is broken (like the trigger/bolt spring), I'll chime in with the "you can do it" crowd. Reassembly is simple enough that even an engineer can do it. It should be a breeze for folks with even the slightest bit of mechanical aptitude.

If something is broken, most of the parts should be easily replaceable at home. "Yew can dew eet!"

 

[Skinny 1950]

If it won't cock at all check the hand (the thing that moves up and down to rotate the cylinder). This needs to be attached to the hammer when reassembling and should slide back and forth easily.

 

[CarbineWilliams]

Rebuild it.

http://www.scorrs.org/articles/1858disassembly.htm

pretty nice set of instructions, but surf around until you find a good explanation that works for you.

This guy recommends "a good set of screwdrivers made for guns" but I've found that my computer repair toolkit works pretty well too!

 

[scrat]

Watch the Video that was posted. At the 5.56 minute mark the gun is put together or the frame is without the main spring. you should be able to pull the hammer to half cock and full cock.

 

[crazyjennyblack]

If you did it, you'll eventually find a way to put it back together. There aren't THAT many pieces... lol. However, I would caution you to inspect the parts carefully and look for signs of wear. I bought a brand-new Dragoon almost a year ago that when I converted it had major issues with cocking, etc... The parts wore out that quickly. Look at the bolt, the hand, and the hammer and look for wear where the parts fit together. Worst case scenario: order a set of innards from VTI and pay a gunsmith to re-assemble.

 

[Dixie Ken]

Ok. The wife and I worked on it tonite folowing the youtube video 1KPerDay posted. Now, the gun will go into full cock, but then slip into half cock and fire when you pull the trigger. Also, the trigger pull is HARD now!!! I thought we did it right. Any thoughts on what its doing now?? I will not let this pistol beat me, and I appreciate all the adv ice and info from you all, but I'm at another point where something just ain't right!!!

 

[junkman_01]

Bring it to a gunsmith to get it fixed. It seems it's already beaten you.

 

[kBob]

Slipping off full cock and pulling out of the half cock knotch when the trigger is pulled CAN indicate that the trigger is broken off short and slightly bent on the sear end. Just a sliver of metal breaks off and the trigger LOOKS OK .....until you compare it with one that works and discover it has a little bend to it. this offers the hammer notches a rounded bit instead of a sharp edge and the trigger just rolls out of the hammer knotches.

I can not guarentee that is the problem, but you might check.


-kBob