Normal wear pattern?

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Howdy!

I have a new (to me) Colt 2nd Gen. 1848 Dragoon, 1st Model.  You know - the one with the oval shaped bolt holes on the cylinder.  As I shoot it more'n'more, I notice that the front (as the cylinder turns) of the oval is developing a slight bevel, where the bolt is popping up just prior to locking IN the slot.  Now, on a SAA I think that'd be a problem, but on the BP guns, I don't know.  This slight bevel MAY measure .020"-.025" - in other words, not much. (less than 1/64th")

From what I can tell, the timing is rock-solid and exactly right, but I don't have any experience with real Colts or any friends who have C&B Colts.

Any ideas or hints will be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks - Jeff  "Steel Horse Bailey"

[St. George]

They do that...

You can alleviate some of it by polishing the top of the bolt to a mirror finish - but be sure to keep the factory angle exact.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Halfway Creek Charlie]

Also you can loosen the bolt/trigger spring a tad. usually they are really tight and you can back off the screw by an 1/8 of a turn and that might delay the bolt just enough to clear and drop into the slot without hammering the edge. I'd try that before grinding on the bolt.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Thanks, gents

[Capt. Augustus]

Both my Walkers did the same thing.  I also noticed it on Remingtons.  I reckon they were optimistic by not using a a leadin like the 1851 Navy.  A problem you might eventually have is the bolt damaging the back edge of the cylinder`s oval bolt slots. It is caused by the fast cocking of the pistol. A little damage messes up the timing.

[St. George]

The 'Model 1848' preceded the 'Model 1851'...

The rectangular cylinder stop didn't appear until the Second Model Dragoon, but work on 'belt revolvers' was proceeding concurrently, and it was featured on the Model 1849'.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!