Fitting a new bolt in a 1860, Pettifogger are you out there?

[Capt. Augustus]

I started fitting a new bolt fot a 1860.  I've got the bolt fitting the cylinder notches, but after dropping the hammer, the gun will sometimes not cock on the first try, it seems locked solid, then I hear a faint click, which I believe is the leg of the bolt slipping over the part of the hammer it rides on.  The question is how do I adjust for this, this same problem defeated me 15 years ago and I ended up returning the pistol.  But this one I did, so I need to get it going.  Thanks in advance for any assistance anyone can give me.

[Coffinmaker]

I ain't Pettifogger, but ...... remove the grip frame and trigger guard.  Turn the gun upside down so you can watch the lock works.  Look very carefully at the leg of the bolt and the hammer cam.  The hammer cam may be hitting the bolt leg and the bolt leg may not have sufficient bevel at the very end to allow it to slip over the hammer cam.  The bolt leg may also be sitting on top of the the hammer cam, preventing hammer movement, then slips off (hence the "click") allowing the hammer to move.  A little more "fitting" may be required.

Coffinmaker

[Abilene]

I have seen situations before where the cylinder is trying to turn before the bolt head has completely retracted from the bolt slot in the cylinder.  This will be easy to determine by trying to cock the gun with the cylinder removed.  If it cocks then but not with the cylinder installed, that could be it.

[Capt. Augustus]

Thanks everyone for the clues.  Coffinmaker, I never realized how much you can see inside the action, I always thought it was a mystery inside.  The leg of the bolt was not slipping under the cam, it sometimes was between the cam and the frame.  So I took a little off the curve portion of the bolt where it hooks the cam.  Now it is working great.  On to the next pistol!

[Coffinmaker]

Kool!!