Numbered Cylinders on El Patron

[half-hitch]

I keep reading this about the Uberti El Patron.

"When Uberti decided to make a full competition single action for SASS matches they sent the best parts to the custom shop where the cylinder and frame were stamped so they would not be mixed up with other parts. One artisan hand fits each revolver until completed. In the picture you can see that each cylinder is marked 1 through 6. "

They never say why the cylinders are numbered or what it has to do with making it a custom shop piece.  From what I gather from this is that each hole is manufactured precisely and then inserted by craftsmen into the cylinder.   

Can anyone answer this question for me?

[Major 2]

"...each hole is manufactured precisely and then inserted by craftsmen into the cylinder. "


WTH ?

[half-hitch]

"...each hole is manufactured precisely and then inserted by craftsmen into the cylinder. "


WTH ?

Did ya like that?  Just a little humor, Major.  

Maybe just the fact that they're numbered makes it a better gun.  

[Coffinmaker]

It's called "HYPE."  It serves no purpose to number the "chambers" 1 thru 6.  Except it does give the manufacturer an opportunity to exercise their new stamping machine.
Normally, when fitting a cylinder to a specific frame, it's common to stamp the last three numbers of the frame serial number into the front face of the cylinder to prevent inadvertently assembling a cylinder into a gun is doesn't fit.  Once fit to a specific frame, a cylinder/bushing combo won't fit any other frame.  Some folks stamp the last three numbers into the back face of the cylinder which is actually a better place to put it (the number).

Coffinmaker

[Professor Marvel]

If my poor caffeine deficient brain can recall correctly, There was a time during the heyday of slow-fire revolver bullseye pistol shooting, that some practitioners wanted to  number their cylinder chambers in order to determine if one chamber or other was more accurate than any other.  Remember these fellows were obsessive about gaining an advantage and few gunsmiths were willing to go to the extent to rebore cylinder throats or "line bore" a new cylinder.

or I could be wrong :-)

hth
prof marvel

[45 Dragoon]

You are right Professor.
That way the competitor can use the most accurate set up.  It is strange to me that when loading, the numbers descend in order rather than  1,2,3 . ..

Mike
www.goonsgunworks.com

[Coffinmaker]

Another agreeable fact.  Wandering around in the "way back" machine, I was shooting Bullseye for the Military with a 1911.  My 1911s were set up and tuned by the armorer to shoot tiny little groups out of a ransom rest.  Then I got it.  Oh, Right, my point ..........

At the same time, there were a bunch of old fuddy duddies who were competing with those "old fashioned" revolvers.  The armorers built those guns too.  It was not unusual to see a cylinder line bored, then chambered and custom throated, special fit to the crane, trigger job and a big ol wide trigger shoe.  Then the guys numbered the chambers.  Spend days and days with a ransom rest to get the perfect load for that particular gun and to shoot each chamber to determine which was the most accurate.  I've seen service revolvers shoot into one ragged hole in the ransom rest.  Some chambers would shoot 12 rounds into one slightly oversized hole.  Amazing.  Not, however, practical for anything other than Bullseye competition.  Heven help ya, if you wanted to fondle one of those guys guns.

Ah, the "good old days."  walk over to the armory and pick up my allowance of 1000 rounds ....... a week!!  Brass went in a range bucket.
Never reloaded a round.  Working up to an inter service match, allowance went up to 1000 rounds a day!!

Coffinmaker

[Major 2]

Just curious  Coffin  

can one install the same size precisely manufactured hole,  in 45 ACP for both the 1911 style guns & say the 1917 service revolver with moon clips ?  

[half-hitch]

Great answers guys and makes a lot of sense. 

BTW....  manufacturing precision, close tolerance holes is an art all in itself not to mention setting up a hole press to insert them into a solid steel cylinder without distortion.

[Professor Marvel]

not to mention setting up a hole press to insert them into a solid steel cylinder without distortion.

Now THAT'S funny !  I have a couple thousand postholes I can sell you.... free shipping!

yhs
prof marvel

[Blair]

WOW,

Perhaps, it is little more than load one, skip one, and load four for the normal CAS/WAS revolver matches in a Colt style/type revolver?
The only way to know for sure, is to ask the Manufacture what it is for.
My best,
Blair

[Good Troy]

I'm thinking it is so you won't shoot the cylinders out of sequence!