Armi San Marco arbors too big?

[Willie Dixon]

howdy all  

sorry it's been a while.

I have come into possession of two ASM remingtons.  One a New Model Army, the other a Pocket Model.

They came in a displayed cased set titled "Officer and Gentleman" and have limited edition numbers.
NMA:

Pocket:


Honestly, they aren't really my thing, too much bling, but I love, absolutely LOVE ASM Remingtons.  I think they feel the closest to the real thing in the hand.

I have a problem though.  After two hours of basically soaking in Kano Kroil I was finally able to get the arbors out to remove the cylinders.

basically, I'm thinking they've never been fired and sat in that case for Lord only knows how long.  Everything is incredibly tight.  The hammer pull on the NMA is basically ridiculous, it's heavier than my Walker.  My lady can't even get it move, and she's actually pretty tough, just with small hands.

Once I got them apart, and went to get the arbor back in, I couldn't.  It was too tight.  I'd literally have to hammer them in just like I basically had to hammer them out.  I'm thinking either the notches are just too small, or the arbors are just too thick, or a combination of both.  My bet is on both, thinking it's because of the nickel plating.

I'm just wondering what it is I should do?  I'm thinking about just filing the arbors down a bit.  Maybe not even filing them, but just polishing them out to see if that'll work.  

I know some people on here still have ASMs.  Anyone experience this problem before?

for the record:
I'm not thinking about them being my main revolvers, it looks like the barrel is in way too tight too to make them not jam up too quickly.  I can't even get a sheet of paper between the cylinder and barrel lug.  That, and finding parts to replace on an ASM is getting very tough these days.

but... I don't own paper weights.  And it's a fun challenge for me to try and make em work.

Especially since I got them for cheaper as a set, in their case, than one new NMA replica anyway.

[hellgate]

Get a magnet and check the frames for whether they are steel or brass. A lot of the nickeled revolvers are brass frames rather than steel. Is the arbor hanging up at the front or the back of the frame? If just the back then you might be able drill it out after removing the hammer (not sure if there is enough clearance, don't have a Remmie in hand) or else sand down the end of the arbor to a smaller diameter. Also, the guns might have been fired once to proof them and then not wiped down. You can get corrosion on the arbor or arbor hole in the front of the frame.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

A random thought

If WD40 has been used, it might have left a sort of lacquer buildup

[Blair]

I have found on the Remington type/like revolvers that have a very tight fitting arbor/cylinder pin, it comes from a bit of the frame just below where the barrel screws into the frame.
This area of the frame is left just a bit proud (high) so that it helps to hold the pin in place.
I would suggest cleaning that area up just a bit with a fine file.
In the case of Nickel plating this will remove the nickel from that area and may cause the nickel to start to peel from that area.

I suspect these are brass frames that are nickeled. However, they could be Stainless Steel.
Unfortunately the frames in most SS (C&P) revolvers have no carbon steel in them (the frames). For the most part SS C&B revolvers are cast in plain nickel. These will have no magnetic connection anymore than brass does. One will have to go into a hidden area of the revolver and scratch off the finish to see what color the metal is underneath.
I hope this info helps.
My best,
Blair 

[Major 2]

"....suspect these are brass frames "....

almost 'gar on tee', the Pocket Model is, more that likely the NMA as well ...
serous doubt SS in either ...

Sir Charles has a good random thought.... or they could also has slight bend in them 

[pony express]

Had a guy try to sell me a two tone "Stainless" frame with blued barrel and cylinder Remmy once. But when you look even a little bit closely at it, you could see the casting marks in places like the sight groove and the corners in the frame window. I didn't need a magnet to figure out it was really nickel plated brass.

[Willie Dixon]

well,

the magnet didn't work.  I used my girls ASM brass framed Navy and my Walker as "base lines."  There's a definite difference.

no idea on them being maybe stainless either, but then again, I doubt it now too.  Makes sense Italy would gaudy up their brass frames and then charge three times as much for that model just cuz it has "engraving" and "nickel and gold."  And yeah, the casting looks just about what Pony Express is saying as well.

The only good news is, I paid $200 for this set of remingtons.  The arbor won't fit because the metal in front of the cylinder is too proud.  Either that or the arbor is too thick.  I think it's both.  There's no way WD40 or any other petroleum based product is left on these guns.  I stripped them with the Kano Kroil, then soaked them in practically boiling water for about an hour.  Then I cleaned them up, and sealed them with some bore butter after cleaning them up with moose milk.

it's definitely where it just doesn't want to fit.

now I'm debating on what to do.

I'm thinking about selling them all - the nickel navy, the walker, these, just to get a pair that's worth a darn.