1849 Pocket Colt-Chopping Barrel

Grenadier · July 13, 2012, 07:33:51 AM

I was given a pocket model Colt replica marked EIE Italy on the bottom of the grip. I would like to chop the barrel down to 3.5 inches and tune it up to operate a little smoother.

Any input?

Thanks!

St. George · July 13, 2012, 08:33:35 AM

A waste of time - the Pocket Colt is already short.

If you actually cut it - and the hardened loading lever - will you still be able to use enough pressure to load a lead ball?

Making it smoother is but a matter of patience, as you stone the roughened bearing surfaces you'll find upon disassembly.

Scouts Out!

Grenadier · July 13, 2012, 08:56:43 AM

Well, its not as short as I would like it. It is just under 6 inches at the moment. I'd like to have at least 2.25 inches chopped off the barrel to mimic some of the originals I have seen with shorter barrels.

I am pretty sure I could still load it, possibly with a short length of pipe for a cheater bar.

Raven · July 13, 2012, 09:48:08 AM

If you want it short......cut it short!!

Plenty of originals out there with short barrels and no loading lever......... the old timers figured out how to load them.

Raven

Sir Charles deMouton-Black · July 13, 2012, 09:54:21 AM

Quote from: Raven on July 13, 2012, 09:48:08 AM
If you want it short......cut it short!!

Plenty of originals out there with short barrels and no loading lever......... the old timers figured out how to load them.

Raven

There you have it!

But, on the other hand, you could buy another.

Paladin UK · July 13, 2012, 01:11:26 PM

SC says...........

QuoteBut, on the other hand, you could buy another.

+1
Paladin (Whats ALWAYS got room fer `nother smokepole

) UK

Grenadier · July 13, 2012, 01:51:44 PM

;)I like the way you think, but I am headed to Europe for a 16 day visit to family...........money will be tight when I return.

Flint · July 13, 2012, 04:17:51 PM

The Pocket may have a concave nose on the arbor, the Wells Fargo does. That is for seating a ball with the cylinder out of the gun.

pony express · July 13, 2012, 07:32:13 PM

Somebody used to offer a colt style pocket pistol with no loading lever, it came with a brass rod that fit closely in the hole for the rammer, you could either use the rod like a regular muzzle loader, or it was strong enough you could seat the ball by holding the pistol and pushing the rod against something.

Jamie · July 14, 2012, 08:44:36 AM

Relative to Pony Express's comments, I know that at least Colt re-issued a "Trapper" model of the 1862 Pocket - no rammer, short barrel. Not the most attractive thing in the world to my eye, but I'd sure take one! Another thought - cut the barrel where you want it, and carry the uncut rammer, with screw (figure out a way to keep them connected, and use it when loading. If you're reloading, you've got to be carrying some sort of container with more balls, caps and a powder source anyway...
Jamie

pony express · July 14, 2012, 01:18:28 PM

You might also check with VTI or other parts suppliers for different length barrels, then you could have 2 guns in one.

Jamie · July 16, 2012, 05:11:04 PM

Be careful about buying another barrel - I bought a second pocket police with a brass frame (both were Traditions = one with steel frame, one with brass frame) and figured on cutting one barrel, in order to have two barrels for the steel framed gun. They weren't even close. I would have to fill the stud holes and re-drill, or cut off the studs and move them in order to even see if the barrel would actually line up with the cylinder, and it looks pretty much like it won't by eyeballing.

If you can check it out, or are a machinist, it might be worth trying, however. I still think it was a great idea pony, but... Of course I have two pocket polices with two different barrel lengths (I did cut the barrel) and that's fine. The longer barreled steel framed gun shoots plenty good for squirrel hunting out to 20 yards, but I haven't shot the shorter barreled gun yet.
Jamie