1851 Navy Tamping Lever Hole

MikeM. · November 07, 2012, 06:17:36 AM

Ok, here is a crazy one!! Can anybody tell me the size of the tamping lever hole in the barrel lug of a Colt 1851 Navy Revolver?? I am thinking of having a machinist drill this hole in the lug of my Uberti 1851 RM Conversion just for added authenticity and then having the whole thing nickel plated. Thoughts or opinions?? Can anybody tell me somebody that will do such a drilling job for me?? Would like to send it to someone that has done it before. Crazy notion but would add to the looks of the gun I think....Thanks!!

Pettifogger · November 07, 2012, 09:42:09 AM

Tamping lever? In fifty years of collecting and shooting these things that's a new one on me.

If you mean the loading lever hole it runs right at .365". Added authenticity on an Italian reproduction? The metal is soft and since you are just doing it for a decoration it doesn't have to be precisely located. Anybody with a drill press and a vice should be able to do it for you. A lot of "conversions" were made at the Colt factory from new parts and don't have the lever hole in them.

MikeM. · November 07, 2012, 10:04:34 AM

Ok, loading lever hole. Sorry I didn't know the correct terminology. If what you say is true,that some didn't have them,I won't worry with it. I was told that some didn't have the ball loading cutout but they ALL had the loading lever hole.. IDK???

MikeM. · November 07, 2012, 02:17:48 PM

I think I will have the hole drilled....can anybody help me with this??

MJN77 · November 07, 2012, 03:34:25 PM

As stated, anyone with a drill press could do it. Check out your local gunsmith and ask them.

MikeM. · November 07, 2012, 05:12:57 PM

I don't really have a local gunsmith. I am a history buff and not very mechanically inclined. I will have to send it off somewhere to get it done so I just wanted to know if I could send it to someone on the forum to do . Thanks

MikeM. · November 07, 2012, 05:23:43 PM

I would be happy to pay someone to do it...

Pettifogger · November 07, 2012, 06:23:01 PM

Do you have a local machine shop? Probably cheaper to have someone local do it than mail it around the country.

MikeM. · November 07, 2012, 07:06:33 PM

There is a couple of machine shops around. I will get with a couple of em and see what I find out.

St. George · November 07, 2012, 10:44:35 PM

You 'may' want to hold off - most of the originals I've dealt with were plugged in some manner - a couple with rosewood.

Scouts Out!

MikeM. · November 08, 2012, 08:59:42 PM

Got hole drilled today by local machinist....Looks Awesome!!!

Paladin UK · November 09, 2012, 12:51:22 PM

Fer MikeM.................

QuoteGot hole drilled today by local machinist....Looks Awesome!!!

It`d be nice ta see some piccies

Paladin (What lurvs his opentops

) UK

MikeM. · November 10, 2012, 03:34:53 PM

I can't get em to upload!! I can email them to someone if they will put em on here for me.. Looks real nice and actually got ball loading cut milled into the barrel lug this morning. A little cold blue and it looks great!!!!

Abilene · November 10, 2012, 05:14:18 PM

I wanna see it when you get it nickle plated!

MikeM. · November 11, 2012, 12:12:18 PM

It may be a little bit before I can get that done. Gotta save some $$$$$ first. It really looks good touched up with the cold blue though. I am going to have the loading lever slot plug and the dove tailed plug for the loading lever catch laser engraved to look like they are actually there (anybody got an original that they could send me measurements off of??) and then my percussion conversion project will be complete until I can get it plated...

if anyone can send me a picture of these areas that I am going to have engraved, I sure would appreciate it...They could be sent to: noahsark08@hotmail.com