Original Colt 1849 pocket, take apart and/or load?

[Daybreak Dave]

You folks always have the answers - here goes.  I own an original Colt 1849 pocket. Nice gun, with all matching numbers, except wedge.  I DO NOT intend to shoot this original, but was wanting to clean it better, and understand it's operation. I have shot a few percussion caps in it just to hear it go "bang", and want to clean the residue better and clean the cylinder.

1)How do you remove the cylinder after removing the wedge?  I know there must be a simple secret.
2) Was this style of gun commonly loaded with the cylinder in the gun, or with the cylinder removed? (I realize the final ramming of ball would need done with cylinder in place, but was not sure about the adding of powder, wad, and ball ).  I see just below the rear of the barrel on right side there is a cutout in the frame, was this where access to each chamber was obtained while loading the powder, etc. with the gun assembled?

Thanks,
Daybreak Dave

[Danny Bear Claw]

DD, first off let me congradulate you on owning a fine old piece of history.  Pocket pistols were very popular in the old west, given all the towns with anti-firearms ordinances in place.  Hide out type pocket pistols were the way to go around armed without being noticed. 

Once the wedge is removed the barrel/ram rod assembly will come off the foward end.  Then the cylinder will slide right off the front end as well.  You are correct in assuming the cut out on the right side of the gun was for loading purposes.  The powder charge and wad would be loaded there, the ball started then the cylinder rotated till the chamber was under the ram-rod where the ball would be firmly seated on the powder using the ramrod.  Clean up was when the gun was disassembled into the 3 main parts - frame, cylinder and barrel/ramrod assembly.  Cleaning being done with hot, soapy water, Ballistol, Windex, etc.

Suggested reading - "Shooting Sixguns Of The Old West" by Mike Ventorino.

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Since it does have a rammer, with the wedge removed, rotate the cylinder till one of the webs between chambers is under the rammer. Then use the rammer to work the barrel assembly off, carefully of course.........Buck

[Daybreak Dave]

Thanks to both of you.  I appreciate being able to get both answers within an hour of when I posted.  I will take the old Colt apart and clean it up.  Very Carefully.

Daybreak Dave

[Yankee John]

Dave- Congrats to owning an original Colt!  There is nothing that compares (I own a original Colt 1860 and a Remington New Model Army).

Be very careful cleaning these;  Definately get the crud, dirt, dust and debris out of it,  but be very, very careful NOT to remove any "patina".  Patina would mean any of the current aged or remaining original finish. The guns value could be highly diminished if you went too far in cleaning it.

Some collectors even like these to be untouched (meaning NO cleaning),  but I can't stand a filthy dirty gun, old or new.

Post some pics- I'd love to see it!

Just my 2 cents,
John

[Montana Slim]

I like shooting my dad's original....helps keep the "patina" fresh
(10 gr 3f & .320 RB)

Slim

[Daybreak Dave]

I will be sure to not over clean the revolver.  As a collector of old lever Winchesters, I know how paranoid alll collectors are on this matter.  No, I just needed to separate it into the main parts to get the gunk out, get the residue cleaned off, and oil it up to protect it.  As far as photos, I don't have a clue how to post anything.

As far as shooting it, I said I would not, but I have surprisinly talked to a couple people who do actually shoot the original Colts.  It sure seems like a delicate type frame to me, when compared with everything we shoot nowadays.  But I guess with appropriate loads of blackpowder, they did the job in their era.

Thanks to all,
Daybreak Dave