Questions about my .44 Colt Navy revolver

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I finished refinishing my repro Colt but there are things about it that I'm unsure about.

When I put it on half cock I can't rotate the cylinder without holding the hammer back to almost full cock. Is that normal?

It also is very stiff to cock even with the spring removed but it wasn't always like that. What could make it stiff and how could I fix this?

Does the screw where the barrel wedge is go over the wedge or behind it?

Thanks!

 

[Skinny 1950]

Take the cylinder off the gun and look at the bolt as you cock the gun...it should start retracting into the frame as soon as you start cocking the gun. If it doesn't there is something wrong with the bolt.
The hammer may be rubbing on the back-strap try loosening the two screws that hold it on to the frame and see if it is still stiff.
The screw for the wedge should ride in the channel cut in the wedge and stop the wedge from coming out, in any case you shouldn't have to take the screw out to remove the wedge.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

how do I fix the bolt if the bolt is the problem?

 

[towboat_er]

Definitely internal problems. Take er apart. Youll probably find the problem.

Ya can get the parts from Cabelas.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I've had the thing apart many times, I don't see anything obvious.

 

[arcticap]

Check out the last 2 posts with photos that are located on page 3 of this sticky thread about Colt Type Revolver Disassembly to see if a part is not correctly installed such as the trigger bolt spring.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=6730916#post6730916


If that's not helpful then read the whole thread over and/or search for
assembly/disassembly videos on Youtube.

 

[arcticap]

Also see posts #47 & #49 on page 2 of the same sticky thread:

Hey guys Im another noob when it comes to black powder and recently picked up a colt navy replica in 44. I dont know who made it but I assume it was a kit. Ive noticed it was just slapped togeather, without anything being fitted too well. Anyways when I have the revolver level, the cylander will not rotate when the hammer is pulled, but will when the gun is pointed on an upwards angle. I think it has something to do with the bolt, or maybe te cylander isnt sitting back far enough. Any ideas on how I can fix it?

Mk VII has a good suggestion. The most likely cause of that symptom is a broken or weak hand spring. It's also possible the trigger/bolt spring leg that controls the bolt position is bent/broken.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

The bolt only starts moving just before reaching half cock. What exactly is wrong? Can someone explain that?

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

Never mind, I figured out what is wrong with it. The bolt seems to be too short.

 

[arcticap]

Did the action work before it was refinished?

 

[TheRodDoc]

I think you have something assembled wrong. (bolt/trigger spring ,maybe)
Starting with the hammer at rest, as soon as you start to pull it back, the bolt should start to move out of the cyl. notch. The hand is also moving but is just short enough to not turn the cyl. till the bolt is out of the notch. Then as you continue to pull the hammer back, the hand now against the end of the ratchet ramp at the back of the cyl. rotates the cyl. (Not to half cock yet) If the bolt for some reason didn't come out of the cyl. notch, then this is as far as you will be able to pull the hammer back.

If the bolt leg was too short it so far would make no difference for the end of the bolt leg hasn't been near touching anything yet.

By the time you have the hammer pulled to half cock the cyl. should have rotated about half way to the next chamber. And free to be rotated by hand the opposite direction. And will be free this direction till full cock when the bolt finally drops into the cyl. notch again.

In movie below, Move the slider with your mouse and carefully watch how thw colt action works. When the slider is moved just a little more then an inch along, that would be about where the cyl. starts to rotate. (As bolt just moved out of cyl. notch)

http://www.theroddoctor1.com/180.mov

 

[TheRodDoc]

I see I had A different movie that was from another angle on that link. I guess I should have opened my own link and looked.

I changed it for a much better view. And a little closer up. It takes a bit of time to open but not too bad.

Just click on link again in above post to see it. Or any link of it I already posted elsewhere on the site.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I wasn't able to view that movie. Know another place that I could see it? When I first got it, it was always stiff to rotate the cylinder at half cock. Is that normal or does the cylinder smoothly rotate at half cock?