Colt 1892 Questions

[Bowie]

Hi,
I am thinking of picking up a local 1892 .41 revolver that looks like a decent deal, but is a touch loose at lockup. How are these to work on? Are there parts available? Are they difficult to time properly?
Thanks

 

[Tyockell18]

I would talk to starpuss about this one, he would know.

 

[Darkwater]

Starpuss had a gunsmith that could work on these, but apparently he passed away? Is this gun antique status or restricted?

Some parts are available, like the hand. Other commonly worn parts, like the ratchet and latch, are VERY hard to find in serviceable condition. I have some parts, but probably not the parts you'd need to fix that loose lockup issue. Best case scenario, you just need to have the hand replaced - there are aftermarket hands made for he 1892, you can buy them from numrich. They need to be hand fitted for your revolver, a task that requires some skill.

Some parts may be able to be rebuilt, but it takes a skilled smith. If you find one in Canada that can competently work on an 1892, please let me know!

 

[mkrnel]

These Colt's have extremely complex actions that get out of order or break easily. Due to a lack of usable parts and few gunsmiths willing to even attempt repairs, these guns should be treated very gently.

The gun should fully lock up if the hammer is slowly cocked. If you can #### the hammer slowly and push the cylinder slightly farther until it locks, the gun is out of time.

The cylinder should have little fore and aft movement in the frame when closed. End shake is the amount of movement of the cylinder in the frame. Grab the cylinder and push it back toward the rear and then toward the front.

To actually measure it, push the closed cylinder to the rear and hold it there while you use an automotive feeler gage to measure the gap between the barrel and the cylinder. Then push the cylinder forward and gage the gap again. Subtract one measurement from another and that's how much end shake it has.

More modern Colt's have a maximum spec of 0.003" before the gun needs repair. It should be similar.

Repair of end shake in Colt's is totally unlike any other revolver and you can't use washers like you do S&W's.

Side to side rotational movement of the cylinder when the action is at rest is unimportant.

With the trigger pulled the cylinder should be tightly locked with no rotational movement.

There should be little to no movement of the cylinder crane if the cylinder is pushed side to side. If the gap between the cylinder crane and frame opens and closes much the gun is worn.

 

[stampede]

Full lock up on an older colt is when you:
1 fully #### the hammer,
2 pull and hold back the trigger
3 while holding the trigger back slowly lower the hammer.

You are now at "full lockup". There should be no rotational movement.