Was watching Unforgivin yesterday?

GunClick Rick · September 30, 2012, 05:52:46 PM

Why did the sherriff say when talkin about Bob in jail,that the Walker had a problem of blowing up in the hand and that's how Bob got the edge on his opponet,shot his liver out~

PJ Hardtack · September 30, 2012, 06:47:11 PM

Colt cap & ball guns had a rep for burst cylinders. The metallurgy of the era wasn't up to par. I've read a few references to this effect.

GunClick Rick · September 30, 2012, 08:23:37 PM

Ah Ha,wy i be $:-\$

Professor Marvel · September 30, 2012, 10:35:05 PM

As our good Hardtack said.

The Walker in particular was prone to such cylinder blowups , there is much speculation that this is what led to the shorter cylinder and smaller charges in the Dragoons.

Around 1860 Colt begain making stronger cylinders from imported "Swedish Steel" instead of iron which allowed for "heavy" charges in "thinner" cylinders.

yhs
prof marvel

Wolfgang · October 01, 2012, 04:55:24 AM

Yep . . them Walkers wuz made with iron cylinders . . . and were loaded with much heavier charges than any pistol had ever been loaded with befur . . . . so a bunch of them blew up when they were first issued to the Texas Rangers . . . . blow ups were less frequent after a while as the weakest ones had blown . . . but occasionally one would still GO with a BIG BANG.

Bugscuffle · October 02, 2012, 03:25:56 PM

The iron cylinders weren't the only reason that they could blow up. If the gun was kept in the holster for several days in hot weather, the grease used to seal the chambers would melt and run out. Then, when the gun was fired, the fire from the fired cylinder could jump to the next cylinder and fire it in the out of battery position causing all kinds of problems.

PJ Hardtack · October 02, 2012, 07:02:43 PM

This summer, I shot 'Frontiersman' class in a 10 stage match along with a guy who shot a pair of Walkers. That was impressive, but most significantly, he didn't use any lube on his chamber mouths and didn't suffer one 'chain fire'. Nor had he EVER experienced such a mishap shooting without greasing up the chamber mouths.

I really need someone to explain the physics on how the flash from a discharge can get past a swadged lead ball to the powder when a lead ring is shaved seating the ball and it is flattened by compression. This is one of the common knowledge, "everyone knows" myths about cap & ball revolvers.

In none of my Colt reference books is chamber mouth greasing ever mentioned, and they were commonly loaded with paper/foil/skin cartridges using conical balls with a slight taper.

Delmonico · October 02, 2012, 08:24:17 PM

The only chain fires I ever know of came from the back when a cap fell off a loaded cylinder.

GunClick Rick · October 02, 2012, 10:13:53 PM

I'm with Delmonico on that one.

Major 2 · October 03, 2012, 05:38:11 AM

Quote from: Delmonico on October 02, 2012, 08:24:17 PM
The only chain fires I ever know of came from the back when a cap fell off a loaded cylinder.

Ditto Del... GCR beat me to it

wildman1 · October 03, 2012, 05:38:55 AM

Just don't use .451 balls, use .454 or 457's. WM

Bugscuffle · October 03, 2012, 02:53:34 PM

I don't know that "back in the day" that they had either the selection or the quality control that we have tooday.

Delmonico · October 03, 2012, 04:09:29 PM

Quote from: Bugscuffle on October 03, 2012, 02:53:34 PM
I don't know that "back in the day" that they had either the selection or the quality control that we have tooday.

It was far better than most folks who have not studied history well would believe. Tolerances beyond 0.001 were common on many items. To many think the people of the timer period were backward yokels. How well do you think an Elgin RR watch would work with out tight tolerances?

GunClick Rick · October 03, 2012, 04:48:40 PM

I wish you would hurry up with them noodles,i'm gettin hungry~

Delmonico · October 03, 2012, 06:02:49 PM

Quote from: GunClick Rick on October 03, 2012, 04:48:40 PM
I wish you would hurry up with them noodles,i'm gettin hungry~

Them noodles were all eaten up in July at the DOM GAF Muster, I will make them again next year if you want to show up.

It's up there over the hill:

GunClick Rick · October 03, 2012, 08:11:21 PM

Now that looks like the place to have it! I'd love to be there

Bucket List
Eat at Delmonicos chuck wagon!

I already panned for gold in and around Yosimitie
damned near drowned with a jar full of worms,you ever see worms swim?In a lake?They were no better than i was,took me ahile but i finally let go of the jar
painted the town red,sanded it down and started over.
learned to play guitar,harmonica,and native flute.
Got my guitar signed by Lorretta,Merle,Bonnie,Buck,John McQuen,Rudy Parris (he's on the voice tv program right now)Trace Atkins,Willie Nelson ~

Yep Delmonicos chuck wagon outta top it off