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Post by jamesjames on Jan 4, 2011 19:39:25 GMT -5
That's a really great Turnbull, gk2410! It does have many of the features of the Bowen Fancy Colt SAA Lightweight.
I'm in the middle of my project of building a 4-inch SAA. Does anybody know how to get the dovetail front sight used in the Turnbull and the Bowen mods? Is it produced by Colt? I've been on hold at the Colt customer service line a couple of times but haven't gotten through yet.
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Post by jamesjames on Mar 13, 2012 11:02:46 GMT -5
Well its been some time since I've been able to report any significant progress on this project. This gun has been just a box full of parts that sat on a shelf at my gun smith's shop for a couple of years while I tried to save up money for it. But something always came up to derail the project. So I picked up the box of parts and brought them home. I've been working on it off and on for the last couple of months with little more than some pattern files. fine sandpaper, a good hollow ground screwdriver, and Kuhnhausen's book. I also got the AGI video on Colt Single Action Revolvers presented by Bob Dunlap. Its terrific and gives valuable insights into slicking up the action on a Colt style SAA. I fitted the cylinder into the frame. I worked the trigger sear surface down get a good final lock-up click and polished it as per the AGI video. Adjusted the hand for positive clearance, engagement, and lock up with the cylinder ratchet. I've tried a couple of different cylinder bolts in it. I finally got it assembled for the first time this week. Its not in a shootable condition yet. The barrel torques up past vertical on the front sight. The timing is still off, dropping the bolt a little early before the lead into the notch, but its getting there. Its tight and feels good in the hand. Phase one is almost complete. Eventually, I still want to give it a haircut to a final 4-inch barrel length, install a new Colt pattern dovetail front sight, and Bisley the hammer spur as seen on Hamilton Bowen's custom Fancy Colt Lightweight. Maybe someday. But here is a look at the work in progress. The "bluing" is my hot application of a cold blue which gives an interesting faux antique patina. The grips are just a pair of Hogues in cocobolo to use as working stocks until the piece gets to the finish line.
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Post by jamesjames on Mar 17, 2012 15:45:08 GMT -5
Well, I finally figured out the last piece of the timing puzzle. Now the bolt, hand and trigger work together with the hammer like a silken symphony. Oh, joy, oh rapture, the rear end of the gun is all sorted out!
Now on to the gun smith for an 11 degree forcing cone treatment and to torque up the barrel. I hope to be shooting this thing in a couple of weeks.
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Post by jamesjames on Mar 26, 2012 11:43:28 GMT -5
Well the good-timing lasted until I got the gun back together with the mainspring installed.
This US Frame Specialists frame may be a little out of spec. I am suspecting the hammer pivot-screw-hole may be just a little far back in the frame. I've tried a long-legged bolt and still have the bolt falling just a little early, before the lead into the cylinder stop. I've ordered an over-sized hammer cam from Peacemaker Specialists and will press out the standard cam and install an over-sized cam on the hammer. I'll probably have to sculpt the cam a bit to get a perfect bolt lift and drop.
Did anybody say this going to be an easy learning process?
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Post by sackpeterson on Mar 26, 2012 12:20:25 GMT -5
You might be right, but you may want to try another hand before stoning the cam or the bolt.
I’ve been monkeying around with a piece myself. I had a new Uberti hand to use, along with a USFA hand.
This Uberti hand is the correct geometry to work in a Colt, as is the USFA hand. Uberti hand is shorter though, and the teeth / fingers are just a touch lower. Insofar as the bolt was going up early with the Uberti hand in this clone, that’s because the teeth weren’t engaging the cylinder ratchet as quick, ie, the cylinder wasn’t being rotated to the proper position fast enough.
USFA hand showed better timeing. Bolt drops in the lead. This hand did require a lot of stoning though, and actually had to take quite a bit of material off the top back side.
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Post by jamesjames on Mar 26, 2012 13:45:33 GMT -5
You make good points on the fit of the bolt and its legs. I didn't want to have to confess this, but I've fitted 3 different bolts in this frame trying to get the timing right. I've been able to see the differences between a couple of 3rd gen Colt bolts and a "modified" bolt from Wisner's Obsolete Gun Parts. The hammer cam still just tilts out of the way a bit too soon, allowing the bolt to drop prematurely.
The oversized hammer cam is already ordered, So I'll play with that. I didn't even know there was such a thing as an over-sized hammer cam. Learn something new every day.
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JM
.375 Atomic
Posts: 2,424
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Post by JM on Mar 26, 2012 13:59:08 GMT -5
Your "faux antique patina" looks pretty good. Those grips are nice also. I know the gun is nothing like you envision, but its not a bad looker as it sits.
~JM~
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