1875 hand assembly

[Deadeye Don]

1.  Ok,  during the NCOWS Nationals, my hand spring broke.  A couple of pards helped me out by swapping a hand assembly from one gun to another.  I ordered a hand assembly from VTI.  It was obviously too long so I gound it down some and now the cylinder turns just fine, but now the trigger won't let the hammer go.  The hand assembly I got from a pard still works fine, but I need to give that one back to him.  Any ideas what else I need to do to get this thing fitted correctly.


2.  Is there another company that perhaps has a better fitted hand assembly that I could order from? 

Thanks pards.

[Raven]

Hi Deadeye,

There is no such thing as a factory fitted spare hand. Really no such thing as a drop in parts.
You lucked out that the hand you got from Lisa is long....this is good!!
Now just use the one you borrowed as a guide and make the new one the same length, width, with the same angles on top etc.

If your trigger will not engage at full cock the hand is probably still to long.

If you don't feel comfortable there are several Pards around here who can install it for you.
Raven

[Deadeye Don]

Hi Deadeye,

There is no such thing as a factory fitted spare hand. Really no such thing as a drop in parts.
You lucked out that the hand you got from Lisa is long....this is good!!
Now just use the one you borrowed as a guide and make the new one the same length, width, with the same angles on top etc.

If your trigger will not engage at full cock the hand is probably still to long.

If you don't feel comfortable there are several Pards around here who can install it for you.
Raven

The hand is now the same length as the one that works in the gun.  I think the problem might be the assembly is a different shape with a bit more of a curve to it.   Do you think I should still grind it down a bit more?  When I first started the cylinder would not even turn, but now it turns just fine on half and full cock.   The one positive note is that I am becoming an expert at putting the main spring back in.   

PS thanks so much for your reply.

[Raven]

Hi Deadeye,

Dissassemble the revolver.
Then put the Hammer, Hand, and trigger (no bolt/trigger spring) back in it and the cylinder as well.
Turn the gun upside down so that you can see the bolt notch on the cylinder through the bolt window in the frame.
Pull the hammer back to full cock and engage the trigger....look to see that the bolt notch in the cylinder is lined up with the bolt window.
if the notch goes past the hand is long.
If it doesn't come up to the window the hand is to short.
You want that notch to center in the window.

Another idea is to swap the spring from the new hand to the old hand and reinstall.....but you may need to make a tool to drive out the old spring without damaging the hand.

Raven

[Fox Creek Kid]

Dremel it Deadeye!! Files & stones are for pansies!! 

[Montana Slim]

I maintain a stash of small parts for most of my shooters. I like to keep one spare hand assembly AND 4-6 hand springs in the bin.
Much easier to replace a spring than fit a new hand..and then get more service from a good hand.

Last time I bought, VTI was my source.

BTW, I often use 1873 Colt hand springs as spares for other revolvers (whitle out what is needed)....and I keep broken leaf springs fom other applications that are of sufficient length for other repairs. Interesting that you can make a functional hand spring from an old broken one...or trim-out a replacement from a different spring. Keep this in mind if you need bolt or hand springs for Model 1892 series Colt revolvers 

Slim

[Deadeye Don]

Raven,   I attempted to fit a new hand, but the shape of the hand I got from VTI was so much different, it did not work.  Therefore, I think I will try your other idea of using my existing hand and fitting a new spring in it.  Do you use some sort of glue such as JB weld to make sure the spring stays in place or do you simply use pliers to squeezing the gap shut?

[Patrick Henry Brown]

Deadeye:

I used the edge of a single edge razor blade to drive the old spring out and then tapped the new handspring in place. Then I peened the hand lightly with a punch to "stake" the spring to the hand. YMMV. Good Luck.

[Raven]

Deadeye,

I couldn't have said it any better than PHB

Raven