bent pistol frame?

[backpacker336]

Just got a chance to try out this old gun I purchased couple weeks ago (1892 mle). Had a feeling it would shoot to the left when I took a closer look.... Any thoughts? Mechanics all function as they should and machining all lines up. Shoots about 12"++++ to the left at 15 yards, keyholes at farther ranges.

 

[dan belisle]

Frame looks ok, but it looks like the barrel is threaded crooked. - dan

 

[can14]

get a gunsmith to take out the barrel and see if it is cross threaded

 

[4n2t0]

As others have said, the barrel looks to be crooked. Also, keyholing is usually caused by poor bullet stabilization. Is the rifling worn? Is the barrel leaded? Are you using undersized bullets?

 

[beltfed]

First and fourth photos - that frame totally looks bent.

 

[tiriaq]

Any marks indicating that someone has messed with it?
IIRC, the M92 production date is on the barrel, serial on the frame. Is the barrel date appropriate for the serial number?

 

[Yarbo]

Frame in the 3rd pic looks pretty bent. Could it be twisted from installing the barrel without the proper fixture?

 

[vagrantviking]

Sure looks like a bent frame to me. Probably got run over or fallen on or the like.

There's no binding or anything with the cylinder arbour pin or ejector rod?

I think you need an old school smith who's dealt with many badly abused revolvers from military service (too far back), police use (probably at least 30 or 40 years back too), or maybe hunters or trappers in the woods of Alaska or Montana. Someone who has run into a few of these situations and has a little practice in rigging up something that can bend it back to straight.
Normally I would have said you don't have much to lose if you want it as a shooter but maybe you can find someone who wants it as a collection piece and isn't worried about the point of aim issue. They're too damn expensive and irreplaceable to want to break it.

The keyhole issues might be from being out of square at the forcing cone but may be from undersized bullets or other factors.

Let us know if you find a way to get it fixed. Best of luck!

 

[4n2t0]

In some pictures the frame looks bent, in others the barrel looks crooked. It's like an optical illusion of bent $hit.

The keyhole issues might be from being out of square at the forcing cone

That's a good point.

 

[backpacker336]

Thank you for the posts.

 

[Masterrblasterr]

Is this an antique pistol variant of the T81??

 

[marshall]

#### tjhe hammer , when empty, hold up to light at rear of frame, look down the barrel from front and see if the rear of frame at firepin notch looks in center of bore.
You could also tell of you had a brass rod that fits the bore and see where the chamber end is at rear of cylinder.
It is not that hard to bend these old frames. I have seen a s-w686 frame that was bent from a drop.

 

[Can-down]

I'd be tempted to try and carefully bend it back while supporting the frame as best as possible to control the area being straitened out.... it definitely looks like the frame is bent.
The barrel seems to fit perfectly flush with the receiver and appears to be threaded correctly.

Otherwise you could shoot it "drive by style" with the guy held sideways, right hand for 0-50 yards keeping the shots low and left hand past 50 yards to lob the shot....

 

[backpacker336]

So I went to the hardware store and picked up a wooden dowel that fits perfect down the barrel. It catches ever so slightly at the cylinder but fits all the way down to the hammer. When it strikes it is slightly off center by maybe a 1/64 nothing major. The strikes on my empty brass looked pretty center on the primers as well. I spoke to the person that I bought the gun from and he suggested the fiocchi ammo I am using might have bent the frame ( I called fiocchi and they said 8 mm lebel was designed for this gun). Everything on this gun still functions flawlessly (accept the sights) even after putting 60 rnds of fiocchi down range.

 

[Can-down]

It sounds like you didn't notice the bend until after you shot it?

This picture sure looks like the bend starts in the frame right where the cylinder ends before the barrel. It's possible that the lens on your camera has bent the image a bit though and maybe you don't see it in person?

Can you take a picture with your ruler running parallel to the top of the frame?
Is the measurement from the cylinder to where the barrel meets the frame the same on both sides?

It looks like the end of the cylinder and the end of the barrel are not quite parallel in this picture but maybe the cylinder has some play in it?

 

[4n2t0]

I spoke to the person that I bought the gun from and he suggested the fiocchi ammo I am using might have bent the frame

That sounds like something someone who knowingly sold a bent firearm would say.

 

[Can-down]

That sounds like something someone who knowingly sold a bent firearm would say.

It is a bit of a strange theory given that all the rounds fired without issue save them being off target in the direction of the bend.

I suppose if the gun was not well protected in transit and the package got squished by a heavy load it may have been bent in transit, but I would assume the buyer would notice a damaged package on delivery and inspect the gun for damage.

 

[OkayShooter]

Don't revolvers buldge the strap?

Wonder if timing off was and bullet hitting the forcing cone?

 

[Can-down]

Don't revolvers buldge the strap?

Wonder if timing off was and bullet hitting the forcing cone?

I'm no expert, but I think heavy loads could stretch the strap, and a "ka boom" could blow the cylinder and bulge the strap upwards..... I just can't see what would cause a bend to the side like we are seeing, other then an impact to the gun from the side which is easy to imagine.

 

[backpacker336]

Can-down, all the mechanics on the gun work flawlessly. The machining in the swing out cylinder line up perfectly and flush. I sent it off to a gunsmith today and the person who sold it to me said he would cover the cost if they can straighten it. So far the person who sold it to me has been very good.