Great Western Arms Co. base pin screw assembly?

[Karl]

I recently acquired an old Great Western Arms Co. .45 Peacemaker clone.  It is a bit of a Frankengun and missing the base pin, nut and spring to hold the cylinder pin in place.  An Old Vaquero pin is too large to fit.  Numrich does not seem to have parts for these old Great Western Arms revolvers although I read that many Colt parts were interchangeable(?)  

Does anyone here happen to have a base pin/nut/spring assembly that you will part with cheap?  Worst case I can probably slightly overdrill the hole to fit a larger pin but I would prefer not to.  

While I am asking.   Despite seeming to have been assembled out of the parts of at least 5 guns this revolver seems to be sturdy and safe (had a flock of gunsmiths look it over too.)  Is anyone aware of any safety problems with Great Western Arms Co. Peacemaker clones?    The only thing that concerns me and one or two other folks is the odd, flat, almost Parkerized finish in at least three distinct shades on different parts.    It just might get stripped, polished, and blued.  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Western_Arms_Company

[August]

Karl, if I may, could I please ask you to clarify the question you're asking.

The "base pin" is the long pin that runs through the cylinder.  The cylinder rotates on the "base pin" as the revolver is operated.

The "latch" is the cross-pin that holds the base pin in position in the revolver.

If you're looking for a base pin, it's a pretty simple matter to chuck one up in your drill press and hone it down to the proper size to run in your cylinder.

If you're look for a latch, I suspect any part from Uberti (VTI), USFA, or Colt's can be made to work with little effort.

[Karl]

"Base pin screw."  Parts 7, 8, & 9 shown on this diagram.  This is why I am hesitant to mailorder parts.  I already checked the local gunshop and they do not have these parts. 

[August]

I'd give you better than a 90% probability that a Base Pin Nut, Screw, and Spring from VTI (Uberti) will work on your pistol with very little fitting, if any.  Here's a link to the VTI page with those parts:

http://www.vtigunparts.com/store/shopdisplayproducts.asp?page=2

[The Pathfinder]

Karl, as the Great Western was the original Colt clone and did use some Colt parts early on, I would suggest going to Brownells and ordering the parts for a Colt. Another option would be to try to contact Sack Peterson on the wire, check under the Clones category for any past posts, as he is the moderator of the Great Western Forum and may know your answer off the top of his head. I've also got a .45 GW, but with a 7 1/2" barrel. Good luck.

[sack peterson]

Colt basepin works.  Brownells had the USFA basepin for a while.  That also works.  Same with basepin retainer assembly.

They're are no safety problems specific to the Great Western.  Like Ruger, they used a chrome moly casting for a frame, and thiis was very robust.  Cylinders were a high quality carbon steel, and hardened.  Modern factory loads and normal handloads should be no problem.

All of them are over 50 years old now, and it is wise to assure yourself that its working well before you fire it.

[Karl]

Just a quick follow up - I finally located a base pin screw assembly for this old gun and the rest of the work is going quickly.  

Thank you all. 

[Curley Cole]

We need pictures!!!