Help me fix this Uberti 1851 Colt Navy Reproduction

AdrianM

AdrianM

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I got this revolver from a neighbor. It's clean with a great bore and he says it was a good shooter 10 or 15 years ago. It's a Navy Arms but I read that they were built by Uberti.

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It's got issues though. When you put it on full ####, the cylinder it pressed forward but if you give it a little tug you can pull it right back and the gap measures .030". This can't be right. Would it even be safe to fire this way? It seems like an excessive gap. I also notice that when at half ####, the click is absent when you rotate the cylinder. If you hold pressure back on the cylinder while you spin it, you'll here the click.

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Also, the wedge spring doesn't hold it snug anymore and the wedge itself is deformed. Maybe someone shot excessively hot loads in it or something. But the barrel is held snugly in place. I can't even wiggle it.

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Nothing looks overly worn other than the wedge.

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This gap looks worse in the picture. Along the bottom and on the other side it appears tight.

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So can it be fixed? Is it a spring or some type of linkage that locks the cylinder forward? Am I over-reacting and should I just shoot it? I read that the brass frames could stretch on these? Any truth to this?How about parts? Should I replace the wedge?

I'm brand new to this, I mostly shoot modern stuff, well, if you call milsurp modern. I just want a safe plinker to try blackpowder.

Adrian
 
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There are reports that the brass frames are not as durable as the steel ones. I had one of these revolvers years ago, and had no problems with it.
It definitely needs to have a new wedge fitted. Keep in mind that the wedge, base pin, barrel and frame are interrelated.
I would fit a new wedge first, and if that didn't solve the problem, I would move on to a new base pin.
 
Looks like someone was prying on the lower portion of the barrel/frame, some of these guns are hard to take apart after shooting due to residue build-up on the arbour.
Sounds like a weak hand spring if there is no click at half ####, weak or broken hand springs are quite common with these guns (the hand is the thing that advances the cylinder by engaging the back of the cylinder) try cocking the gun with the muzzle pointed up..if the spring is broken it probably won't advance the cylinder when cocked because the hand won't engage cylinder.
If the wedge holds the barrel on tightly it is safe to shoot but keep an eye on it as you shoot, it may loosen up.
The gap is not ideal but is usable as is,to reduce the gap you would have to get a new wedge and modify the bottom part of the barrel where it joins the frame.
 
Thanks everyone.

I am working up the courage to disassemble the frame/action. Anyone care to tell me in what order I should take this apart? Looks like I should start with the backstrap.

I'm pretty sure after reading your comments and studying an exploded diagram that the hand spring is the most likely culprit. I'll also look into the wedge and possibly replace it.
 
I got it apart and it appears as though the hand spring was broken and then a groove was made and the spring soldered back into the groove in the hand. Unless that is how they are built. I found the spring just bent instead of springing. It looks to be all steel so I tried to temper the spring and the solder melted and it fell off the hand.

I think I'll look into new parts tomorrow.
 
Before ordering parts it would be helpful to identify your gun, there are four things about your gun that suggest that it is not a Uberti make.
The round barrel,brass frame,no roll marked Navy scene on the cylinder and the nipples.
In the early days Uberti made a brass frame 1851 in .44 cal. but soon changed production to steel frames in .36 cal.
If you could take pictures of all the marks stamped on the gun it may be possible to identify the maker, this would make getting the right parts more likely.
 
It's actually stamped on top of the barrel "Navy Arms". It is .44 cal.

I read online that Navy Arms went out of business and that Uberti made the revolvers for them; I got that off the website when I searched for Navy Arms. It is marked "made in Italy".
 
I bought a new hand spring and hand (all one piece) shipped to my door from VTI for under $10.00. Call them and tell them what you have and they will advise if they have the part. When I called I got a lady and was she ever knowledgeable!! Good luck, Dave ..... PS - could it be that the brass frame is bent? If so possibly a frame could be ordered?
 
I've sent an email to VTI this morning and I just got off the phone with theGunDealer in MacAdam. I spoke to Dan and he gave me a Canadian supplier to try as well as told me to talk to Stoeger Canada.

Thanks all. I'll keep you posted on how the it goes.
 
You are right David. VTI is great. I just got off the phone with them. They have sent the hand/spring, but the wedge is on back order. But they will contact me if they get them in (but he said it will probably be a while). Great service and great knowledge of these revolvers.

And here's a biggie...it's a Pietta! VTI figured that out for me! So anyone know where I can get Pietta parts in Canada? I'm going to keep trying to find the parts now, I want to shoot this bad boy!
 
Okay...parts are on the way.

I tried Marstar cause I like to try to stay Canadian when I can. They only sell parts kits and they include almost everything but the wedge! And they tell me they expect their next shipment of Pietta parts will arrive in 2 months. But they told me to try Dixie Gun Works down south. So I did and they had one left! Best of all it was dirt cheap.

Thanks to all. I can't wait to smell the black powder!
 
While I wait for parts I'm going to shine it up a little. The face of the frame is pretty grubby and black behind the cylinder. Hoppe's #9 a good solvent to use for black powder residue/soot?
 
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