1849 Colt project

[Kent Shootwell]

This Colt was tagged as needed work, that's nearly a fool proof way to draw me in.
The issues,
Wedge missing and a brass rivet beat in its place.
Wedge screw missing.
Loading lever broken, parts missing.
Main spring missing.
Arbor bent, barrel points left.
Back strap screws replaced with zinc plated pan head screws.
Hammer screw replaced with incorrect short screw.
Hand spring weak.
Dirty!

Of coarse I bought it and have been making and fixing pieces parts for it after a thorough cleaning. I have found out that it was made in 1860 and all numbers match.
IMG_0631 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Be Happy In Your Work! it's not like you are destroying "collectoers value".

[DeaconKC]

Kent, I am a sucker for "mud puppies" like that too! Mine are usually S&W K frames though. Good luck!

[Major 2]

Ditto to what the good Deacan said...

I love project guns ...

[Baltimore Ed]

Gotta love a 160 year old challenge. If it could only talk. A very neat project Kent, good luck. My old choice of a project gun was the Colt Woodsman but in my retirement it's been milsurp rifles. Keep us posted.

[Coffinmaker]

A very worthy project indeed   

[Kent Shootwell]

So far I have done though cleaning, straightened the arbor, made new screws, fixed the hand and a from scratch wedge. The loading lever is yet to be repaired.
Before:
IMG_0633 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr
After:
IMG_0663 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

[Coffinmaker]

OUTSTANDING advances.  I was going to suggest you may be able to adapt many Uberti parts to work quite well.  Understanding, of course, you actually prefer solving problems the long and challenging way around.  Looking really good Sir Kent!!

Really fun thread to follow.  Be really cool when you make it "bark" again.

PS:  I have worked on several similar Problem guns.  Unfortunately, too far gone to return to serviceability, but returned to just "function."  Nice display pieces.

[Pettifogger]

I have some 49 parts for a gun I was restoring 40+ years ago.  I got them from Dixie Gun Works and think they are around some where.  I'll look and see if I can find them.

[Kent Shootwell]

Very interesting!  Maybe a lever latch?

[Major 2]

One of the those unfortunate , "   too far gone to return to serviceability, but returned to just "function pieces."

[Kent Shootwell]

Finally got the lever fixed, I welded on some steel and filed it to shape. Then turned a piece of 8620 to form the catch and milled the tip flat. Hand filed the groove to depth and installed a spring and keeper pin. A bit of browning and wire brush to blend it to the old fellow so it's a functional pistol now. It could be shot but I'll just shoot the replicas instead.
IMG_0732 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

[Fingers McGee]

Great project.  to look at it, one would never know it went down that path.

[Kent Shootwell]

Thanks, Fingers. That's what I was shooting for.

[Oldgold]

Fantastic work.