Repairing Percussion Hammer Noses

Niederlander · January 21, 2011, 08:48:59 PM

Hello!
I've got two Uberti 1860 Army's I've been using with conversion cylinders, and the noses are all battered out of shape. Does anyone know of a gunsmith who can fix this? Thanks!

Hoof Hearted · January 21, 2011, 09:17:19 PM

Where are you located?

Niederlander · January 22, 2011, 07:51:34 AM

The center of Nebraska (Ord). Just south of Fort Hartsuff!

Pettifogger · January 22, 2011, 09:43:30 AM

If the hammers are stock it might be cheaper just to buy new ones.

Niederlander · January 22, 2011, 10:55:18 AM

I tried that once, and the replacements looked nothing like the originals. Thanks!

Stu Kettle · January 22, 2011, 11:10:25 AM

Have you tried Run-N-Iron out of Bertrand? Don't know if that's something they'd do, but if it were me they'd be the first I asked.

Flint · January 22, 2011, 11:17:10 AM

Never had a problem with Uberti hammers matching, 1851/60/61 all the same. Are you sure you got Uberti parts when you ordered them? Are the guns definitely Uberti? I even replaced the hammer in a 3rd gen Colt that was shaped wrong (Not all Colt parts were by Uberti) with an Uberti hammer that is shaped right.

Niederlander · January 22, 2011, 12:39:35 PM

When I ordered hammers the spurs weren't even close to what the Uberti ones were. The Smith Shop used to do the repair I needed, but they evidently don't do that anymore.

Mako · January 22, 2011, 01:49:08 PM

Quote from: Niederlander on January 22, 2011, 12:39:35 PM
When I ordered hammers the spurs weren't even close to what the Uberti ones were. The Smith Shop used to do the repair I needed, but they evidently don't do that anymore.

Niederlander,
I need to ask the obvious question...Just who did you order those hammers from?

~Mako

Coffinmaker · January 22, 2011, 02:19:12 PM

You don't necessarily need a smith to weld the hammer nose. Just someone good with a TIG welder.
I do agree with Pettifogger though. In the long run, it just may be cheaper to replace the hammers. It may also matter just "who" you ordered a hammer from. Many of the folks in "big box" outfits (Midway) don't have a clue what you need. They just look at part numbers on a computer screen and may opt for a "suitable substitute" in a pinch. You'll need to be very specific to Manufacturer and model. There are differences.
My suggestion is always VTI Gunparts.

Coffinmaker

Pettifogger · January 22, 2011, 02:23:40 PM

It would help a lot if you posted a couple of pictures. If the hammers or cylinders aren't fitted correctly they are simply going to batter again. Is this gun going to be used solely with the conversion cylinders or are you going to shoot it cap and ball?

Hoof Hearted · January 22, 2011, 03:46:15 PM

The Pietta Hammers have a notch (instead of a round hole) in the hammer face. This is to "park" the hammer betwwen caps. It creates a very week hammer face. It could be that your pistols are Piettas if the face is as I described.

I reweld them, reshape them and then use kasenite to reharden them. While this is not the "best" way to harden them it does hold up better than the Cyanide case that the Italians use (which is not Hardening at all). You will lose the pretty colors but the hammer will be a plum to brown color afterwards.

Shoot me an email if you want me to fix 'em!

buckoff at windstream.net

Mako · January 22, 2011, 06:00:15 PM

Quote from: Hoof Hearted on January 22, 2011, 03:46:15 PM
The Pietta Hammers have a notch (instead of a round hole) in the hammer face. This is to "park" the hammer betwwen caps. It creates a very week hammer face. It could be that your pistols are Piettas if the face is as I described.

Hoof,

That is inaccurate. ALL 1860 reproductions I have ever seen have notches, not holes or ovals. That includes Uberti, Pietta, ASM Centaur and some other unknowns. The original Colt's 1860 has a notch just like your Pietta and every other reproduction.

Telling him they are Piettas is only going to confuse him. He has already correctly identified the pistols as Ubertis.

You are confusing the hammer with another Colt's model.

Regards,
Mako

Niederlander · January 22, 2011, 06:37:29 PM

No problem with being confused. I've shot cap and ball revolvers for about twenty five years, off and on. The hammer faces on these seem to be softer than they should be. Was this ever a problem on the originals? I would think not, since they were actually case hardened instead of just colored, more or less.

Mako · January 22, 2011, 06:41:04 PM

Niederlander,

Where did you get those replacement hammers from?

~Mako

Niederlander · January 22, 2011, 06:54:13 PM

I don't remember any more, as it's been quite a while since I messed with them. I do remember they came from one of the major parts distributors. After looking at pictures of Pietta hammers, I think they may have sent me the wrong ones.

Mako · January 22, 2011, 07:16:49 PM

Quote from: Niederlander on January 22, 2011, 06:54:13 PM
I don't remember any more, as it's been quite a while since I messed with them. I do remember they came from one of the major parts distributors. After looking at pictures of Pietta hammers, I think they may have sent me the wrong ones.

You can't tell from a picture. The hammers look identical except for some very subtle features that differ between the two. New ones are $46 at VTI, Cimarron also sells them.

http://www.vtigunparts.com/store/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=15&cat=Uberti+1860+Army

They all look like this:

http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/Mako_CAS/1860/Hammer.jpg http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt358/Mako_CAS/1860/Hammer2.jpg
As Flint said earlier, Uberti hammers drop right in, you obviously didn't have a Uberti hammer.

And don't think the Colt's hammers were harder, they deform more than the modern hammers do. I can show you close ups of an original.

Mako

Hoof Hearted · January 22, 2011, 11:29:42 PM

Quote from: Mako on January 22, 2011, 06:00:15 PM
Hoof,

That is inaccurate. ALL 1860 reproductions I have ever seen have notches, not holes or ovals. That includes Uberti, Pietta, ASM Centaur and some other unknowns. The original Colt's 1860 has a notch just like your Pietta and every other reproduction.

Telling him they are Piettas is only going to confuse him. He has already correctly identified the pistols as Ubertis.

You are confusing the hammer with another Colt's model.

Regards,
Mako

My signature series (3rd gen Colts) have round holes..hell what do I know maybe Uberti didn't make 'em.......
Just trying to help but offer withdrawn (as usual I screwed up by offering an opinion)

Mako · January 23, 2011, 02:23:11 PM

Hoof,
You're probably saying to yourself, "here he goes again..." But I need to say this, and I want to do so publically instead of by PM so that others will know I have respect for you and your experience in particular areas.

There's nothing wrong with opinions. But consider the following:

Do you ever see me post on the SCORRS board? It's not because I don't read the board, I read it every time there is a new post. For instance, I've recently been reading your posts about the conversion on the small frame revolvers. However, I do know a bit about Remington reproductions, I have a '58, I've owned several, I had a '75 and a '90 once. But I don't post. You should ask yourself why.

I make enough mistakes on this board and the others I do post on without spreading mayhem all over the other boards. I overlook details, misunderstand questions or make assumptions that I shouldn't, even on the ones I limit myself to. One of my downfalls with Colt's (and the reproductions) is that there is always an exception to the rule which continually burns me when I say something unequivocally.

However, I try to be very specific and circumspect when answering a newcomer. They have come to us (these boards) for the member's expertise and hang on every word we say.

You admonished Driftwood last week for expressing an opinion instead of checking the facts. Maybe he thought the same thing you posted above

Quote(as usual I screwed up by offering an opinion)

when you answered him.

Please don't hold back on your posting, you have been very helpful to me and others in areas I haven't played in yet. For instance your pictures of the heeled bullet crimping was invaluable year before last and many other posts have been informative and I enjoy reading them. I always give you credit for ideas and things you have taught me.

However, in all of this you may have forgotten my question about whether you were a Pietta shooter or a Uberti man. I "knew" it was Pietta based on your answers over the course of several years. I asked because you did not come out and profess to primarily be a Pietta user, but I was pretty sure of it based on your past answers and observations. I sometimes avoid answering Pietta specific questions because once again I am not an expert.

That's all.

Your friend, and sometimes student,
Mako

Flint · January 23, 2011, 03:03:04 PM

I looked for the hammer I took out of my 3rd Gen Colt to check on the hole or slot question, and couldn't find it... As I am one of those who never throws anything away, I'm perplexed... Maybe it will turn up somewhere it doesn't belong and I'll make a report.

Flint