Walker Lever Dropping Suggestsions

[Cemetery]

I know there are Walker shooters on this forum, and I was wondering what some of you might have whipped up to help prevent the loading lever from dropping every time the trigger is pulled.

I recall seeing a leather craftsman who created a wrap of some kind, but I don't recall who it was.

Currently I'm using wiring, which likes to slip and slide around.

[PJ Hardtack]

Cemetery

Try using a leather thong or latigo lace. I used to use a wrap of masking tape (!) saying that it was really raw hide.

You could have a 'smith build a Dragoon-type latch, dovetailing the stud into the barrel. How badly do you want to fix the problem?

[hellgate]

 Cut a slight shelf on the upper portion of the ram retaining spring. This creates some resistance to the rammer gliding over the smooth rounded bulge of the spring. Careful too much of a shelf and you can'rt pull the rammer down. I bought a spare spring before getting out the Dremel. Both my Walkers have this mod and no rammer drops. Another thing. Use FFg powder rather than FFFg. My load=44grs FFg+lube wad+.454 ball

Cemetery, I am unable to attach a photo of my Walker spring. I'll send you a PM so I can email it to you.

[Fingers McGee]

Check this Walker out Cemetery.  http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=491320&highlight=walker a copper sliding levef holder

[Cemetery]

Check this Walker out Cemetery.  http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=491320&highlight=walker a copper sliding levef holder

thats interesting.  i wonder if he, or who, made that.......

[hellgate]

Hey! I just got the picture of the spring modification to upload!

[Cemetery]

Hellgate:  I was working on modifying that spring last night, haven't had any luck yet, but I decided to stop in the event I broke it.

My Walker is one of those San Marco Armi ones, will Petta or Uberti latch spring fit?

[hellgate]

I don't know if they are interchangeable. Wish I could help. You might need to talk to VTI parts.

[Drayton Calhoun]

Cemetary, I have an ASM Walker too, all I have ever done is just made sure the pivot screw was good and tight after loading. It's a pain, but it has always helped with mine.

[rifle]

Puttinng the slight self on the spring to hold then lever is the best way. Doit so much for a 40gr. load.....more for a 50 gr.load.....more fora60gr. load. If you can get it to hold at 60gr. usually it'll take a small screw driver to depress the spring to release the lever.
You can use a single edge razor blade to scrib a good line to show where the spring needs the self to hold the lever. Just turn the barrelupside down when the lever is in place and you'll see where the spring needs the self and where to scrib a line to make the self. Leave a little angle to the self so the spring can move away when the lever is pulled down. The heavier the load the less angle.(heaviest load......90 degree angle and a screw driver is needed to depress the spring to release the lever.
It's better to do the spring shelf thing instead of leather or copper holders stuck on a nice Walker. Extra qizzmos on the gun get to be a hassel.

[chris hickey]

I run three dragoons with Kirst Konverters and a standard Walker and have put a thin oring over the barrell and loading arm.Works a treat

[fourfingersofdeath]

I have never had the pleasure of firing a Walker, but they have always spikedmy interest and I have pondered long and deep regarding possible solutions to the lever dropping coming upwith alll sorts of therotical fixes.

Then I saw a youtube video recently and the guy was shooting two Walkers in gunfighter class. he was awesome and had developed a deft flick of the bbl everytime as he cocked it. Problem solved. He was pretty quick! easy fix maybe worth a try.

[wildman1]

Lever droppin' should not be a problem if ya keep yer muzzle velocity at or below SASS max level of 1000 fps for revolvers. WM

[rickk]

Mine doesn't drop the lever until I exceed about 45 grains of 3F.

[fourfingersofdeath]

Lighter loads would no doubt be the trick, butttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt, those big cylinders would be awfully inviting!

[rickk]

If mine did it more often, I would use a rubber O-ring,,, they sell them in various sizes in bags of 10 at Home Depot.

[Noz]

You can use a scrap of period correct bandana to hold it up.

[Drydock]

I used a strip of wet rawhide, tied around the barrel and rammer with a square knot, dried to tighten, then dyed black.  Knot on the side, slid on and off to load, stayed around the base of the rammer lever while shooting.

[wildman1]

I like that, sounds like it would be PC and practical. WM

[Jake MacReedy]

Or you can do what was done to a number of the original Walkers, install a Dragoon-style lever latch, and make sure it has a good, strong spring in it.  There are several surviving originals that have had this modification.

Regards,
Jake

Here's a photo of an original so modified: