DGW Colt Style Hammer Cam

[Fox Creek Kid]

I know rifle who posts here used these in the past if I recall. I believe he said they were made by Pietta. I thought all Italian revolvers have, and have always had, cams integral with the hammer(?).    I know of one gunsmith who has a jig to drill out integral cams but he then fits Colt cams afterward. Has anyone here ever drilled out an old cam and press fit a new one?



http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_434_435_441&products_id=1069

[45 Dragoon]

Yes, and make cams for them. Ive had to "dress" about half the cams in the new guns and have two waiting for cams this weekend. The "installed" can is much better!

Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com

[Coffinmaker]

Same answer as 45 Dragoon.  I have replaced cams, and made cams myself.  The replaced cams always seem better than the "as cast" integral cams. 
However, since I've retired, Mike at goonsgunworks would be your best bet.  Unless your gonna DIY.

Coffinmaker

[45 Dragoon]

Thanks Coffinmaker! (check's inna mail !  )

Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com

[Montana Slim]

Of, course......I've used the DGW cams for many years, and posted several times regarding it. Cheap and relatively easy.
DGW used to sell two sizes. They dropped the smaller size from inventory. It perfectly fitted my old Piettas.
Several of my older model C&B Colts had a replaceable cam in the as-built condition. In others, I've modified myself, using a grinder (grind off the worn cam) and drill press to place the new hole. So far I've retrofitted two Pietta 1860's, two Unberti 1860s and one Uberti 1860 RM with the new cams.

Simple to do. I've never used a "jig". Just a good eyeball spot and tap with a center punch after grinding the old cam flat. Once the hoel is drilled, grind off the remaining cam. Using just the "large" version cams available today, I've had to modify the cylinder stop (aka "bolt") to work with the larger cam (reset feature). If I had a lathe, I'd likely dress the cams down to the old size. Either way works.  If ya make a mistake, can always buy a new hammer & bolt.

Slim

[cheatin charlie]

Just curious how much of a press fit do you use to hold them in place?  Or how else do you hold them in place.  Loctite?

[Montana Slim]

Never calculated the press-fit values...obviously to have success I measured the cam and selected the closest smaller bit, drilled and test-fitted. If this was not a good fit, I selected the next larger bit that did not exceed the OD of the cam.  I do recommend adding a slight chamfer to the hole in the hammer to get things started. A most useful item would be a small tool to hold the angle cam surface for seating (with rebated face)...but I've done pretty well tapping them in with a small ball-peen hammer and an angled brass punch.

Overall, the parts are pretty cheap considering the fun of learning & doing.....And someday you might repair an antique Colt using a small cam or other part, maintaining the authentic original parts (hammer or other), thus maintaining the history & value of a piece of history.

I spend all-day being a hard-a$$, anal, SOB to folks "working out the minutia" (as I'm told), but when I'm doing simple tasks at home for myself, its more fun to learn-it & do-it more/less on the fly. Some see this as a conflict to my training and occupation...however, many friends get a bigger chuckles comparing my C&B/Antique/BP addiction to my day to day work on modern, smokeless "type" stuff.

Slim

[Fox Creek Kid]

M.S., that would make a great "how to do it"  Youtube video of this process.