1851 frame stretch

[Battlerifleelitist]

I've got some troubles with an 1851 I bought, now of course every single gun is precious and almost "desperate" measures should be taken to repair otherwise what we could've considered "parts/scrap" guns before.

The cylinder is slack on the arbour with the wedge in, suggesting "frame stretch" or more likely cylinder arbor/cylinder base pin has managed to pull somewhat out of the "upper frame".

Do you think this is an advisable repair? To reface the upper to screw the base pin in deeper to take up the slack. Or is the upper frame too far gone due to the localized thread damage there?
Or any other ideas... Braze the upper there completely, then redrill and thread would be my other solution, but it's kind of the nuclear option.

 

[Claven2]

If it's the cylinder pin, it's a replaceable part. Threaded 8n with a lock pin that would be drilled out. Gunsmithing job though, realistically.

Brass frame or steel? A steel frame is unlikely to stretch, the pin slot is a more likely culprit.

 

[tiriaq]

I would have a really good look at the base pin, barrel and wedge inter-relationship. A refitted custom wedge might solve the problem.
I did make a new base pin for a Centennial Arms .44 1869 reproduction. Interesting project. The fit is more sophisticated than would appear at first glance.

I do have a replacement base pin on hand which would not work on the Centennial Arms. These reproductions have been made for a long time by various manufacturers. Would not assume anything approaching interchangeability for a part like a base pin, which is a semi-permanent installation. It is threaded in, with a longitudinal blind lock pin.

The frame stretch reported on brass framed revolvers is often not stretch at all. It is battering and set back of the ring on the breech face that supports cylinder back thrust.

 

[Battlerifleelitist]

You know, a custom wedge was my first idea "to do", maybe I'll go ahead with that plan first after checking out the breech face ring when I get home in December (work). Although I got to reading about base pins walking out of the "breech face".

 

[Battlerifleelitist]

It's a brass frame revolver, so a steel cylinder pin stretching would be last on my list of things to go (due to the relative weakness of the brass to the steel).
I didn't see much battering/mushrooming on the base pin slot there but I'll look closer.