Removing stuck barrel and wedge on Conversions

[reno]

I don't know if this has been covered or not, about removing a stuck barrel or wedge from a Conversion. I have heard about the plastic hammers, wooden dowels etc. I took a piece of 1/2" oak and cut a wedge about 5 to 6" long, and 1 1/2" to 2" wide, used a belt sander and sanded down to a point that would fit the size of the wedge thickness and width. Use it to tap out the wedge from the right side, and then stick it in between the the lower part of the frame between the frame and barrel and pry off the barrel, or put in the opening and tap with your hand or anything you can use handy for a hammer. It's worked for me for many years. I have seen alot of Conversions buggered up in the wedge and frame area using screwdrivers or other metals. Just thought I would throw in my 2 cents worth.
Reno NCOWS #810

[Mogorilla]

I have one of the brass wedge taps made for hawkens.  It works well and the nurled top unscrews to have a nipple pick.  That and a wooden mallet and no problem.  Now, my 1860 colt has some marks on it when some primate was trying to put the wedge back in though.

[Mean Bob Mean]

I don't know if this has been covered or not, about removing a stuck barrel or wedge from a Conversion.

Great advice

[Coffinmaker]

When still gainfully employed Gunsmithing CAS guns, I provided all my Open Top and Conversion customers a special tool for disassembly.
It's a clothes pin.  The spring kind.  Take the clothes pin apart and use the skinny end to remove the wedge.  Then put the skinny ends do the clothes pin between the frame and cylinder.  Tap together till the barrel comes off.  You should only do that once.  Dress the end of the Arbor so the barrel slides on and off with light pressure, then fix the barrel to arbor fit and fit the wedge.

Coffinmaker

[Fox Creek Kid]

When still gainfully employed Gunsmithing CAS guns, I provided all my Open Top and Conversion customers a special tool for disassembly.
It's a clothes pin.  The spring kind...

That's what I've used for years. 

[reno]

Coffinmaker,
You are right on about the clothes pin, and a lot less trouble. Your also right about the arbor. It should help people from buggering up a nice revolver.
Reno NCOWS #810

[Pettifogger]

What is this clothes pin thing you are speaking of?  Is that something from the 19th Century?

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

What is this clothes pin thing you are speaking of?  Is that something from the 19th Century?

April 1

[Coffinmaker]

Actually, the device I speak of was invented in Vermont in the mid 19th century.  Patented around 1853 or so.  Quite period correct (I hate that term) for use on our Open Top design guns.  With a little stain, they'll even look old    .  Sort of like ........ Pettifogger?? 

Coffinmaker

[pony express]

No need to stain them, just leave them on the clothes line for a while, till the turn period correct gray.

[rifle]

What's with the conversions and the stuck barrels? Fouling? Tight barrel holes for the arbor?

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

No need to stain them, just leave them on the clothes line for a while, till the turn period correct gray.

"Clothes line" ??

[Pettifogger]

"Clothes line" ??

When I originally posted I didn't realize it was April 1.  My comment was serious ( ) I haven't seen a clothes line or a clothes pin in over 50 years.  (Except in movies about the old days.)  I didn't know they still sell them.

[Abilene]

A lot of time the barrels fit tight on new guns and loosen with use.  But getting it off that first time can be tough.  What I do is to use a wooden dowel that will fit down the bore and is an inch or two longer than the barrel plus cylinder.  Stick it down the bore so it is pushing up against the recoil shield.  Hold onto both the end of the barrel and the protruding dowel with one hand and tap the end of the dowel with a wooden or plastic mallet.  This will push the frame straight away from the barrel.  Be sure the frame is supported somehow so it doesn't drop on the floor or somesuch when it comes loose.

[pony express]

When I originally posted I didn't realize it was April 1.  My comment was serious ( ) I haven't seen a clothes line or a clothes pin in over 50 years.  (Except in movies about the old days.)  I didn't know they still sell them.

Everyone out in the country around here still used them. Maybe in the city there's HOA rules against them, but I don't(and won't) live anywhere they have an HOA. Wife's got them all over the back yard, I have to duck 2-3 times every time I cross the yard, since they're set for her height, she's 5'4" and I'm near 6'2".