1851 Colt navy .44 question

[Blakefromminnesota]

So I have a question, I have an 1851 colt navy, pietta in .44. So the cylinder stop broke on it. No problem. Ordered a new one from Dixie. Threw it in. Works kinda. I can pull the hammer back then all of the sudden the whole gun will lock up. If I hit the cylinder or (sometimes) pull the hammer back to either side it will unlock itself. I took it apart. And on the pin that's on the hammer that contacts the bolt (cylinder stop) theres a chunk missing. I'm assuming it's from when the other bolt broke. I took a sanding wheel too it and it seemed to help a bit. I'm gonna try to smooth it out later. But do you think I have to buy a new hammer? Or is it the bolt itself?

[Junk Yard Dog]

The problem with these brass frame "Navy" model Colt .44's is that there were multiple makers over the years, and sometimes slight changes as company's changed hands. Lucky for you Pietta is still alive and doing well, you can contact them directly for actual Pietta replacement parts. The internal parts shouldn't be that expensive as the revolver itself isn't expensive, replace anything that looks worn or damaged. Pietta today and for the last 10-15 years has been making some high quality firearms, but for some years before that their quality control was spotty. You may have to retime the entire works when you install new parts, a job any gunsmith worth their salt should be able to handle. You have new parts with no wear that might be slightly off spec. You could be putting a part made in 1974 in a revolver made in 2006, some fitting will be required. It goes without saying, you see any worn parts in there replace them, or replace the revolver, I see these go for under $200 when Cabelas has a sale brand new and I pick them up at flea markets for around $50 if they are in good shape. No need here to shoot a possibly unsafe revolver.

[Blakefromminnesota]

I've shot it it's perfectly in time. And it's a steel framed. But every one in awhile it will just lock up. Can't pull the hammer at all

[Junk Yard Dog]

Yea, that needs a going over, the new part is probably slightly out of spec and the old parts have wear. Try calling the company directly, it could be they offer warrantee service, this could even be free. If they don't then any gunsmith should be able to handle the job, nothing is more basic than Colt 1851 lockwork.

[entropy]

You have your terms mixed up. The cylinder stop is the nub that protrudes up from the frame under the cylinder to hold the cylinder in place while firing. The pin that's on the hammer? that contacts the bolt ? Do you perhaps mean the pin on the hand that sticks into the hammer? (to hold it and provide a pivot point? )
Read this schematic and restate your problem using the correct terminology, please.

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/gun-manufa ... /1851-navy

[Blakefromminnesota]

I'm using the terminology from the original 1851 exploded view. The cylinder stop or "bolt" is the new part. The pin on the hammer is not the hand. It's on the other side. It contacts the cylinder stop or "bolt" it has a Nick in it which I e just decided to smooth out to see how it goes. The gun shouldn't have that much west as I only fired 3 cylinders from it before the Cylinder stop broke lmao only using a 20 grn charge .451 roundball with crisco over top so nothing to stout. I called and called both pietta and traditions and got no answers or anything. If I can't fix it off to the Smith it goes. I'll try a new hammer before that though as they are cheap :p

[Blakefromminnesota]

I actually figured out the problem. The curved ears on the cylinder stop were too thick. I took out metal from inside the curves and I took off the burr on the hammer. Works perfect now, there was also a nasty burr on the hand that I took off.

[Junk Yard Dog]

How old is the revolver? I have bought many Pietta revolvers over the last 18 or so years and found all of them to be vastly improved quality wise from the ones I bought in the 70's and 80's that always seemed to need tinkering before working correctly. I have always shot .454 balls in all of my .44's as they allow for a tighter chamber seal, this because I found slight variances in the diameter of some chambers. I could feel it when I levered the bullet down, some slid in easier than others, this was an issue with the older models, not the more recent ones, and never with Uberti. My steel frame Colts I use 30 grains FFFG Goex, this is not the full house load, that would be around 45 grains.

[entropy]

Glad you got it!

[Blakefromminnesota]

1 year old. As I have fixed the lock up problem, a new problem occurred. On half cock the cylinder doesn't rotate. If I bring the hammer back slightly I can rotate the cylinder. I believe the problem to now be that "pin" on the hammer. Removing the burr from it has taken too much metal off. So a new hammer is needed. Otherwise timings perfect. No lock up and all I need is a new hammer and she'll be good to go. I was a little discouraged with it only being a year old and breaking. But as with any manufacture a lemon always slips through its cracks. And parts are available so no problem there!

[Junk Yard Dog]

Pietta makes a good revolver however remember that a new Colt or S&W revolver runs $500+ or more, the Pietta replica Colt '51 is under $300. There is only so much quality they can build into a revolver selling in that price range. You will pay more for the Uberti '51 Colt, Uberti is part of Beretta, Beretta is the oldest forearms manufacturer in the world and their products are higher quality, but you will pay for this. The Colt company themselves have used Uberti to supply both parts and revolvers for their own sales. Piettas give many years of good service, but these little issues have to be expected from time to time. Pietta has some higher end offerings, and they are expensive, like the Starr SA and DA revolvers, or the Lemat.

[Blakefromminnesota]

Oh yeah, it's no biggy to me. At least I get to learn stuff in the process! Got the parts on order. And maybe a uberti '61 in the future. My hawken comes first tho!

[Junk Yard Dog]

Hawken's a good pick, lots of them around in the basic calibers .45, .50, .54. From the basic CVA offerings of the 70's to the high end custom made models, something for every price range.