Black powder frames

[Don Nix]

 I have a couple of Cimarron Thunderers with BP frames that I like. But yesterday I had to take a  little trip and decide to take one of the Thunderers instead of my !911 .
When I got out of  the truck I slipped the pistol in my vest pocket and walked in the house and pulled it out of my pocket to unload it and the cylinder almost fell out.
Seems  the cylinder pin had fallen out. Luckily it was in my vest pocket. The screw had loosed enough for the pin to  fall out.
My question is is there some way of preventing this . I've thought about a drop of blue locktite or fingernail polish..
If this is a major problem I'll be afraid to carry them in holsters for fear the screws will loosen and the cylinders will fall out.
Any solutions ?

[Abilene]

Okay, first of all are you using the knurled finger screw or the slotted screw to hold in the cylinder pin?  The knurled screw is handy but you can't get it as tight as the slotted screw (and the looks of the gun are cleaner with the slotted screw).  Very often the knurled screw is installed in the gun as it comes from Italy, but the slotted screw is in a little plastic bag inside the box cutout.

Next, the base pin must be in EXACTLY the right position so that the end of the screw is perfectly aligned with the groove in the cylinder pin or it can come loose (especially after firing).  When you are installing the screw, wiggle the base pin in and out a tad, screw the screw in a tad, wiggle the base pin some more, screw in some more, etc. until the screw is tight.  This makes sure you are properly aligned in the groove of the base pin.

Here is what I suggest:  grind off about 1/8" off the rear of the base pin and polish it smooth.  This eliminates the "Italian safety" aspect of the two-position base pin (required by import laws) and makes it like Colt intended.  Now, when you push the base pin all the way into the frame, it is perfectly aligned for the screw.  No wiggling required.

And finally, yes you can use a little loctite (blue) or fingernail polish on the threads if you wish, although it normally isn't needed (YMMV) if the screw is properly installed.

[Don Nix]

Thanks for the reply.
I have the knurled screw. I bought the pistols after they had been reworked and set up .
I assume that they have Colt cylinder pins because there is only one groove in the pin and it doesnt appear as though the end has been ground off. Also the there is no hammer block.
The dealer I bought them from said that all the screws were included but I never found a slotted screw and the box is long gone.
But I have just looked at the Cimarron website and the screw is all of $2.25 so tomorrow I will call them and get them ordered.
Thank you again for the help.
'preciate it