Too many screws on my Colt 1860 Army ....

blackpowder · August 10, 2019, 07:01:50 AM

Howdy,

I am well aware that I may sound very stupid asking this question - but it's been bugging me for a long time. There is an extra screw on my colt which seems to serve no purpose. I am talking about the screw on the left side barrel just on top of the wedge. iI doesn't have any effect on the wedge. The wedge can be removed and inserted regardless of this screw and the pistol shoots and operates well enough with or without this screw in place. So what the He.. is it fer ??

River City John · August 10, 2019, 07:18:31 AM

Meant as a stop so wedge isn't pulled out all the way.

Abilene · August 10, 2019, 09:22:00 AM

Yeah, the little lip on the end of the spring on top of the wedge should catch against the screw head and prevent the wedge from falling all the way out easily. If yours can fall out easily when tapped out the maybe that spring is goobered?

blackpowder · August 10, 2019, 01:02:33 PM

well, I don't need to tap it. I just push the wedge in with my finger on the right and pull it out on the left side. It does slightly catch on the screw but falls out all the same. Maybe it's just worn out.

Abilene · August 10, 2019, 01:15:18 PM

No big deal unless you are afraid it might fall out when handling or shooting it.

Coffinmaker · August 10, 2019, 03:19:20 PM

PLUS ONE too Abilene.

So long as the wedge stays in place while your shooting, it's a "No Call." Often when Cap Guns are set up to be loaded on a cylinder loading stand, the wedge is set just as you describe. Makes it mush easier and faster to take it apart for the loading stand.

PS: Forgot to add .... It's not too many screws. That screw is suppose to be there. For the purpose Abilene mentioned. Keep ya from dropping it inna gravel (suppose to anyway).

Oh Bother ... forgot to mention ... Often CAS shooters will turn down the screw head so it doesn't do anything. Just fills the hole. This is done to facilitate easy removal for "reloading" on a Cylinder Stand. I personally just make em easy to pull out.

Drydock · August 01, 2020, 10:30:22 AM

It actually had, or had, another more important function. You would use it as a stop to limit how far the wedge could be driven in, adjusting as needed to maintain proper barrel/cylinder gap. But this function was abandoned soon enough, and it is mostly used to help retain the wedge. By the 1870s that would largely be it's only function, as witness the elimination of the spring for the simple short cut slot on the wedges of the factory built conversions.

The Pathfinder · August 01, 2020, 02:29:01 PM

"Too many screws on my Colt 1860 Army", huh I would've sworn he was talking about the two on the side of the frame that don't do nuthin'. That's why I prefer the civilian models or the Centennials. Altho I have found one Italian Replica with the 3 screw frame with the cutouts, made by 'MARFA'?

Professor Marvel · August 01, 2020, 04:20:25 PM

Quote from: The Pathfinder on August 01, 2020, 02:29:01 PM
"Too many screws on my Colt 1860 Army", huh I would've sworn he was talking about the two on the side of the frame that don't do nuthin'. That's why I prefer the civilian models or the Centennials. Altho I have found one Italian Replica with the 3 screw frame with the cutouts, made by 'MARFA'?

My Good Pathfinder - did you perhaps mean "MOFRA" ?

during the heyday of importation of C&B revolvers there was
MOFRA di Mainardi A. - Brescia 1971

Regarding "too many screws" I thought perhaps he meant one like this

Professor Marvel · August 01, 2020, 04:35:32 PM

BTW MOFRA di Mainardi A. - Brescia
logo of MOFRA was two elongated Diamonds with side points touching.

the Italian manufacturer later became Euromanufacture ~ 1980, later became Palmetto.

yhs
prof marvel

Major 2 · August 01, 2020, 06:43:56 PM

Hex nut escutcheon on the grips is unique too

Professor Marvel · August 01, 2020, 09:23:21 PM

Quote from: Major 2 on August 01, 2020, 06:43:56 PM
Hex nut escutcheon on the grips is unique too

Special feature of the Modern Pennsylvania Dutch Transitional C&B revolvers, miniature Hex sign....
also features extra screws as spares in case one breaks.

yhs
prf mumbles

45 Dragoon · August 01, 2020, 10:53:33 PM

Quote from: Drydock on August 01, 2020, 10:30:22 AM
It actually had, or had, another more important function. You would use it as a stop to limit how far the wedge could be driven in, adjusting as needed to maintain proper barrel/cylinder gap. But this function was abandoned soon enough, and it is mostly used to help retain the wedge. By the 1870s that would largely be it's only function, as witness the elimination of the spring for the simple short cut slot on the wedges of the factory built conversions.

Nope. The arbor length determines the barrel /cyl clearance. The wedge is driven in and out and has no affect on the bbl/cly clearance on a properly fitted Colt open top revolver. To date, I have yet to find a copy with a correct length arbor except for the Piettas of the last several years. All the originals I've had the pleasure to work on have been correct.

Mike

The Pathfinder · August 02, 2020, 11:29:09 AM

My dear Professor, yes you are correct it should have been MOFRA, still the only Italian I've seen with a three screw frame besides the civilian models. I must have been suffering from a bout of cranial flatulence while typing. And I love your definition of 'too many screws' even more than my own.