IAB 1858

[Jamie]

I'm trying to piece back together an IAB (I assume that's what it is, aside from that tiny faint inscription there's only the assertion that it was made in Italy, and the admonition that it is only to be fired with black powder) 1858 Remington copy and need some parts.  It could use a new hand spring, or hand and spring, I'm not sure how easily that item separates, and haven't been willing to push it too hard.  It also needs a trigger/bolt spring, one leg is snapped off and gone, and it needs a new rammer and link.  The hole in the rammer is majorly elongated and breaking out, as is the hole in the link.for the link pin.  The pin that holds the link to the actual ram that engages the ball itself has been sheared off, with the ends of the pin still in that part.  The really curious point is that the gun looks pretty much unshot.  Very little cylinder scoring and perfect bluing.  Overall the thing is rougher than a cobb, but the bluing is perfect over a really unpolished surface.  The triggergaurd (brass)  looks like it was lightly filed (with a horseshoe rasp) after coming out of the mold, and screwed on.  No lines match, etc.  The rammer is unusable, doesn't really fit, hence the tearup of the holes I suspect, and neither of  the rammer systems from my brass framed ASM and steel framed Pietta fit - worser.  Yep, she's a winner.  Any suggestions for parts?  It's a .44, and the cylinder from the Pietta seems to fit OK, but the overall dimensions are not the same in most of the rest of the gun.  If it were mine, I'd be very tempted to send it to Hoof Hearted for reconstructive surgery, just to see the sort of alchemy that turns base metal into gold, but it isn't mine.  So does anyone know if there is a general size/fit in parts?  I could take my guns down and check it out, but at this point I'd prefer to test brain power before going to that effort. 
Thanks!  Jamie 

[Danny Bear Claw]

I agree with Raven...  buy a new one.  C&B revolvers are reasonably priced even when not on sale.   

[Wolfgang]

I agree with Raven...  buy a new one.  C&B revolvers are reasonably priced even when not on sale.   

A greed as well . . . . buy a new one . . or a used one that functions . . . . 

[Jamie]

Yeah, it's clearly unanimous, cause I agree myself, but I'm not the owner.  It could work without the rammer, just load it with an external power source, but it does need a bolt/trigger spring.  I've got the old hand spring bent back out (say, you're really NOT supposed to be able to do that with a spring, are you=) and the hand works.  but it is a pile of junk.  We'll see what he wants to do with it. Thanks for the input.  It confirms my thoughts.  Put next to my Pietta, or even my ASM which started life as a kit gun, it really looks weird and undone.
Jamie