Richard Mason firing pin too sharp

[Sgt Ryan]

I recently purchased two Richard Mason Conversions from Taylor's.  Uberti guns but the firing pins were sharp to point.  I thought the pins would punchture the primer so I sent the guns back to Taylor for the gunsmith to inspect.  He said that the firing pins were installed backwards in the hammer, then sent for the color cased hardening.  The repair is to replace the hammer.

[Montana Slim]

?? The FP in my OT seems fairly long and pointy...but, does not puncture primers.
I'm not following the gunsmith's description of the problem....did you take & photos before sending them in?...if so, post one.

Regards,
Slim

[Pettifogger]

Yep, pictures would have been nice.  I can't see how it's possible for the firing pin can be installed backward.  The tip is far thinner than the base and there is certainly no room for a hole in the tip for the locking pin that secures the firing pin in the hammer.

[Abilene]

... He said that the firing pins were installed backwards in the hammer, then sent for the color cased hardening.  The repair is to replace the hammer.

I'm sorry, but that doesn't make sense.  Maybe some sort of miscommunication.  The firing pin can't be installed backwards, and if it was it would certainly NOT be pointy  , nor would it function at all.

As for the sharp firing pins, many OT's had them (recent production are better) but they can easily be stoned to a less pointy condition.  Many folks also replace them with firing pins from Happy Trails.  Others report primer piercing issues go away with installation of a lighter mainspring.

[buckskin billy]

i have had the same problem with my open tops
who is this happy trails and how do a man get in touch with them.

thanks

[Abilene]

i have had the same problem with my open tops
who is this happy trails and how do a man get in touch with them.

thanks

http://www.thesmithshop.com/openfire.html

[buckskin billy]

thanks alot that should get me fixed up

[Coffinmaker]

Abilene is correct.  An Open Top firing pin cannot be installed backwards.  PERIOD.  Somebody is blowing smoke up your skirt.  Also, the earlier firing pins were the devils own pain for pointy. 
Before attacking them with a file or stone, or replacing them, first remove the Ford Truck spring Uberti uses for a main spring and replace it with an after market spring.  I prefer "Lee's Gunsmithing Gunfighter" springs from Brownells or VTI gunparts has their own light main spring.  Usually these springs will cap off everything except CCI primers and give a much nicer action.

Coffinmaker

[Sgt Ryan]

no pictures fellas...sorry.  You can contact Taylor if you want to but that is what I was told.

[Major 2]

Abilene is correct.  An Open Top firing pin cannot be installed backwards.  PERIOD.  Somebody is blowing smoke up your skirt.  Also, the earlier firing pins were the devils own pain for pointy.  
Before attacking them with a file or stone, or replacing them, first remove the Ford Truck spring Uberti uses for a main spring and replace it with an after market spring.  I prefer "Lee's Gunsmithing Gunfighter" springs from Brownells or VTI gunparts has their own light main spring.  Usually these springs will cap off everything except CCI primers and give a much nicer action.

Coffinmaker

Agreed 100% ..... That just does not sound like Taylor's Gunsmith  
Light springs will help or even cure as Coffinmaker said...

Bill English AKA Happy Trails is the man to contact about the FP 's, I use his in my Type 1's (which are frame mounted ) just because they are the best...
He's still retailing and doing light smithing @ the Smith Shop
I use Happy or Longhunter (Jim Finch)

[Sgt Ryan]

.!

[Major 2]

Actually I was writing my response, when you were responding the first time.....

I posted it and I got the standard "someone has posted'' or something like that ...
I did not mean to imply I did not believe you ....

I merely meant knowing what I know about OT's,   ... and  knowing Coffinmakers reputation ( he knows his poop )
as well as Abilene's (whom BTW works for Cimarron)... I believe you were handed a CROCK !
And I know Taylor's normal Gunsmith personally, in fact I could call him at home 
  I'd like to see someone try to install a finished FP installed Backwards   
Now if the FP was installed and not ground to finish spec's, I might buy that 

I meant no disrespect or flamed hurt feelings ...  

[Major 2]

Just to clearify ...these are OT firing pins

the one on the right are Happy trails replacements.

on the other hand you said .."The hammers have the pins attached by two pins pressed into position "
Unless your talking about Type 2 Richards which is not a 72 Open Top... Type 2's are a side mounted wedge design with 2 rivets ....  
note: two rivet holes ( I fail to see how that could be installed backwards )

[Pettifogger]

Well if you don't beleive me I guess you should call Taylor ask for the gunsmith.  His hours are 7am to 9am EST.  Or send him an email.  I am a gunsmith.  When I returned these guns I asked that somebody call me and let me know what the problem was so I could tell my customers.  He called and that was the response.  The hammers have the pins attached by two pins pressed into position. The Hammer is then color case hardened and installed.  He said he has no way of removing the pin and installing it correctly with the attaching pins pressed or the color case hardening so Uberti said to replace the hammer.

No miscommunication, no studdering, no slight of hand, thats what I was told.  I know you guys have your guru of firing pins opinions and thats fine...I'm just telling you what I was told.

If you don't like the message please feel free to shoot the messenger!

Well, there's your problem.  What you have are not 1872 Open Tops if the firing pins are riveted to the hammers.  The conversions used riveted hammers.  Either you have a conversion or the factory erroneously put conversion hammers in the 1872.

[Abilene]

Well, a conversion hammer won't work in a '72 OT.  The frame opening is different at the top.  So there is some confusion as to whether these are '72 OT's or conversions.  Howsomever, Sgt. Ryan, your further clarification of your communication with their gunsmith leads me to believe that the word "backwards" was improperly used and confused us, if these are '72's.  Or if they are conversions, well those FP's are different and I would have to look closer to see if it is possible to install those backwards.  It might be.  At any rate, I have replaced those FP's before and it is a pain in the rear to get the locating pins back in position, but it can be done.  And then the coloring can be touched up but it wouldn't look exactly right without re-case coloring the hammer.  So perhaps they figured that since it was a new gun the best thing was to replace the hammers so the cosmetics would be correct.  Now, Taylors doesn't sell the Type II Richards conversion, but they do sell the Richards-Mason.  However, they call it an 1871 C. Mason conversion.  Possibly that is what these guns are?

[Sgt Ryan]

My sincere appologies.  The best time to eat crow is when it is still warm.  These were Richard Mason Conversions.  Makes more sence huh!!  Sorry about that.

So Uberti is putting firing pins in those darned old RICHARD MASON Hammers backwards.  Those scoundrels!!

[Abilene]

Howdy Sgt.
Well, that clears that up.  That's the first time I've heard of that problem, but the fact that you got TWO of them might indicate that there are more out there!  Thanks for the heads up.

[Cherokee Reb]

I have two Uberti Open Tops and nary a problem. I just got a Uberti M-R Conversion and the firing pin punched through every primer in the first cylinderful I shot. Did a little careful stoning on the tip and now , not a problem.

When I first picked it up , I remember thinking the firing pin would probably make a good leather punch and I was not far off....

[Crow Choker]

""WOW""!!! Unless I've read something wrong myself in all the above responses, this whole series of replies to Sgt. Ryans 'original post' reminds me of a game I use to play when I was younger. A large number of people would sit in a circle, one person would draw a written statement out of a box, then whisper it to the  person to their right. That person would then do the same and each succeeding person would whisper what they were told until it reached the last person who would tell everyone what he/she was told. The purpose was to see how far off/different the original statement had become, in which it always did. If you go back to poor Ol' Sgt. Ryans original post, he never said anything about his problem being with Open Tops or Richard-Mason Type II's. He wrote he had purchased two Richard-Mason conversions from Taylor. The post topic heading even changed from "Richard Mason firing pin too sharp" to "Open Top firing pin too sharp". If you read the following posts, the conversation turns to problems associated with Open Tops and how the firing pins couldn't be this and that, hammers being different, what the Sgt. had or didn't have, what he was told or wasn't told, etc. Finally Sgt. Ryan is eating 'warm crow' admitting and apologizing that he really had Richard-Mason Conversions, which he had said from the get-go. Reminded me of some guy being given the 'hot light and rubber hose treatment' into making a final statement of what he had been saying all along.  Hey, I'm not pointing fingers, I've gotten off original information myself, it's easy to do if you 'stray' from what you've read or been told and get talking about other aspects of the original post or other subjects. I'm not being critical of anyone who posted, actuality good information was given, but just thought it amusing on the path the post took. If I'm out in left field, well, I'll take a 'cyber-space kick in the rear'.

[Abilene]

Howdy Crow Choker,
Guess you got here a little late.  When Sgt Ryan realized the guns were R-M's and not OT's, he edited the original post and the subject title.