tpelle
Member
I have a Pietta 1860 Army that I am putting back into commission. I thoroughly cleaned this revolver, using a brass brush to get rid of fouling on the front and rear cylinder faces, and on the forcing cone.
Prior to this cleaning, the barrel wedge could only be inserted so that the right end was approximately flush with the side of the breech end of the barrel. Otherwise the cylinder would drag, or not turn at all.
After cleaning, the wedge can be tapped in so far that the leaf spring hook on the wedge comes through the slot and hooks on the right side. The cylinder turns free and the action cycles smoothly.
On another site I read that the wedge should not be driven in that far. They specifically state that the wedge should only be flush with the frame:
http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/shenandoah/Choy.html
In examining the wedge design, it appears to me that it was intended that the leaf spring should, in fact, hook itself on the right side. This prevents the wedge from loosening up under recoil, and backing itself out. (One doesn't want to convert one's revolver to a pepperbox on the fly, so to speak.)
So, what does the group here think? Why would the other site maintain that the wedge not be tapped in so far? Is there something I'm missing?
Prior to this cleaning, the barrel wedge could only be inserted so that the right end was approximately flush with the side of the breech end of the barrel. Otherwise the cylinder would drag, or not turn at all.
After cleaning, the wedge can be tapped in so far that the leaf spring hook on the wedge comes through the slot and hooks on the right side. The cylinder turns free and the action cycles smoothly.
On another site I read that the wedge should not be driven in that far. They specifically state that the wedge should only be flush with the frame:
http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/shenandoah/Choy.html
In examining the wedge design, it appears to me that it was intended that the leaf spring should, in fact, hook itself on the right side. This prevents the wedge from loosening up under recoil, and backing itself out. (One doesn't want to convert one's revolver to a pepperbox on the fly, so to speak.)
So, what does the group here think? Why would the other site maintain that the wedge not be tapped in so far? Is there something I'm missing?