Uberti 1851 Navy London Model

Biermeister · July 30, 2009, 08:04:08 PM

Howdy, Was at a local gunstore today and they had an 1851 Navy they had just received. When I cocked the hammer it was very smooth until just before it was fully cocked. It felt either stiff or rough and required a little more force just prior to full cock. What is the cause of this ? Could it be a burr, debris ? If you cock the handgun with more force it seems fine. The dealer cycled it(with more authority) probably two full turns of the cylinder and it seemed to function fine and there were no scratches or gouges on the cylinder. I am interested in this gun and just want to know if will be an easy fix. Thanks in advance.

Pettifogger · July 30, 2009, 08:16:49 PM

All the C&Bs need a smoothing up before you shoot them a bunch. If you are a member of SASS, there is a four-part article on tuning Ubertis running in the Chronicle. I've got four of the Londons. They are great revolvers, especially after they have been tuned.

Biermeister · July 30, 2009, 10:45:22 PM

Thanks Pettifogger, I 'll use my Chronicle for a guide. I have an 1861 Navy Uberti, smooth as silk.

Harley Starr · July 30, 2009, 10:54:34 PM

Quote from: Pettifogger on July 30, 2009, 08:16:49 PM
All the C&Bs need a smoothing up before you shoot them a bunch. If you are a member of SASS, there is a four-part article on tuning Ubertis running in the Chronicle. I've got four of the Londons. They are great revolvers, especially after they have been tuned.

Hey Pettifogger, would a Lee's Gunslinger Spring for C&B revolvers be a good choice?

Pettifogger · July 31, 2009, 12:17:18 AM

Quote from: Ridgway on July 30, 2009, 10:54:34 PM
Hey Pettifogger, would a Lee's Gunslinger Spring for C&B revolvers be a good choice?

Nope. Not enough pressure and the caps will blow off.

Fingers McGee · July 31, 2009, 11:11:12 AM

Quote from: Biermeister on July 30, 2009, 08:04:08 PM
Howdy, Was at a local gunstore today and they had an 1851 Navy they had just received. When I cocked the hammer it was very smooth until just before it was fully cocked. It felt either stiff or rough and required a little more force just prior to full cock. What is the cause of this ? Could it be a burr, debris ? If you cock the handgun with more force it seems fine. The dealer cycled it(with more authority) probably two full turns of the cylinder and it seemed to function fine and there were no scratches or gouges on the cylinder. I am interested in this gun and just want to know if will be an easy fix. Thanks in advance.

Pettifogger's articles will help you make the Navy a smooth running machine. From your description, it sounds like the hammer spring is just a scoshi bit long and is binding up on the hammer. About half of my Navies (Colt, Pieta, and Uberti) have had this problem. A little judicious file or grinder work on the end of the spring will eliminate it.

Harley Starr · July 31, 2009, 01:54:26 PM

Quote from: Pettifogger on July 30, 2009, 08:16:49 PM
All the C&Bs need a smoothing up before you shoot them a bunch. If you are a member of SASS, there is a four-part article on tuning Ubertis running in the Chronicle. I've got four of the Londons. They are great revolvers, especially after they have been tuned.

Since I'm not a gunsmith, who or whom would you recomend that I send my C&B revolvers to for tuning?

Pettifogger · July 31, 2009, 04:45:25 PM

Quote from: Ridgway on July 31, 2009, 01:54:26 PM
Since I'm not a gunsmith, who or whom would you recomend that I send my C&B revolvers to for tuning?

Rowdy Yates at Lee's Gunsmithing.

Biermeister · July 31, 2009, 06:42:58 PM

Thanks Fingers McGee. I will try that first.

rifle · August 01, 2009, 12:36:26 PM

I've tuned them cap&ballers for people around the country. Hat Creek Kid was one I did for a CASS forum member. I just did a purty San Marcos for an older gentleman with some sight problems so I put a copper based silver blade dovetailed front sight on his Navy. Opened the rear sight. I've fixed or tuned a lot of them.
I've typed out replys on forums that get pretty long about just about everything about cap&ballers revolvers. Even Pettefogger may have read one or two of them.

I'm a little shattered

that Rideway didn't think of me for a tune up on his cap&baller. Oh well...I do call myself "The Shadow" at times. I'm a hermit in a rural area and tend to have more hunting hounds for company than people.

I'm aka Wayne,Wayner,Waynerinskistiener,The Shadow, Rifle,on forums. I'm a forum menber over at Frocs too but I visit there rarely.There's a narrative there I think I posted about the finished Centaure I rebuilt. Came out nice. Post was called,"Centennial 1860 Army revilalized" or something like that.
Anyway, I've been around for years on these forums. I like them and like people that like cap&baller revolvers. Good people...the cap&baller shooters.
Anywhoooo, the gun the post is about.....the fix about the long mainspring sounds like it's right on the money. There can be drag from the trigger on the crossways mill tool marks on the hammer also but that doesn't require a lot of extra force at the end of the cycle. Just a little. An annoying feel to the action.
Gotta go jump on the tractor work.

Major 2 · August 01, 2009, 02:05:23 PM

I've known of your expertise with C&B for sometime, Rifle ..I remember the fine work you did on Bill Morgan's Centaure Centennial 1860 Army.
I was the fellow that suggested he grab it when he saw it on GB, course I did not know of the under laying issue it had.
I felt a bit guilty but he got it right price wise and you made it righteous.
Bill said you worked wonders on it and he still has it.

You are a well kept secret, there Shadow, but I'll indorse your work

Fox Creek Kid · August 01, 2009, 07:40:41 PM

Rifle is my cap 'n ball man as he knows what he's doing + he's familiar with all the oddball variations that Italy has spewed out for decades.

Harley Starr · August 01, 2009, 11:30:51 PM

Quote from: rifle on August 01, 2009, 12:36:26 PM
I've tuned them cap&ballers for people around the country. Hat Creek Kid was one I did for a CASS forum member. I just did a purty San Marcos for an older gentleman with some sight problems so I put a copper based silver blade dovetailed front sight on his Navy. Opened the rear sight. I've fixed or tuned a lot of them.
I've typed out replys on forums that get pretty long about just about everything about cap&ballers revolvers. Even Pettefogger may have read one or two of them.
I'm a little shattered that Rideway didn't think of me for a tune up on his cap&baller. Oh well...I do call myself "The Shadow" at times. I'm a hermit in a rural area and tend to have more hunting hounds for company than people. I'm aka Wayne,Wayner,Waynerinskistiener,The Shadow, Rifle,on forums. I'm a forum menber over at Frocs too but I visit there rarely.There's a narrative there I think I posted about the finished Centaure I rebuilt. Came out nice. Post was called,"Centennial 1860 Army revilalized" or something like that.
Anyway, I've been around for years on these forums. I like them and like people that like cap&baller revolvers. Good people...the cap&baller shooters.
Anywhoooo, the gun the post is about.....the fix about the long mainspring sounds like it's right on the money. There can be drag from the trigger on the crossways mill tool marks on the hammer also but that doesn't require a lot of extra force at the end of the cycle. Just a little. An annoying feel to the action.
Gotta go jump on the tractor work.

Hey rifle, sorry I didn't think of ya, my mind has been on other things and I just plain forgot.

Captain Bob Masterson · December 03, 2009, 11:06:39 PM

rifle,
Sent you a PM

Captain Bob

Quote from: rifle on August 01, 2009, 12:36:26 PM
I've tuned them cap&ballers for people around the country. Hat Creek Kid was one I did for a CASS forum member. I just did a purty San Marcos for an older gentleman with some sight problems so I put a copper based silver blade dovetailed front sight on his Navy. Opened the rear sight. I've fixed or tuned a lot of them.
I've typed out replys on forums that get pretty long about just about everything about cap&ballers revolvers. Even Pettefogger may have read one or two of them.
I'm a little shattered that Rideway didn't think of me for a tune up on his cap&baller. Oh well...I do call myself "The Shadow" at times. I'm a hermit in a rural area and tend to have more hunting hounds for company than people. I'm aka Wayne,Wayner,Waynerinskistiener,The Shadow, Rifle,on forums. I'm a forum menber over at Frocs too but I visit there rarely.There's a narrative there I think I posted about the finished Centaure I rebuilt. Came out nice. Post was called,"Centennial 1860 Army revilalized" or something like that.
Anyway, I've been around for years on these forums. I like them and like people that like cap&baller revolvers. Good people...the cap&baller shooters.
Anywhoooo, the gun the post is about.....the fix about the long mainspring sounds like it's right on the money. There can be drag from the trigger on the crossways mill tool marks on the hammer also but that doesn't require a lot of extra force at the end of the cycle. Just a little. An annoying feel to the action.
Gotta go jump on the tractor work.