Colt Walker and Dragoon nipples

[lv2tinker]

Did they have nipples that used #12 caps?

No, #10 CCI

 

[44 Dave]

Do you know what the thread is on the nipples? If theyre 1/4-28 would you be willing sell them to me or to trade if I bought you any replacement nipples you'd like?

It is An early ASM Colt '49 Pocket the cones are #12-24 (almost impossible to find) and quite small, Rem.# 10s fit.

 

[Troy J.]

I have an early ASM with #12s


I misunderstood you when you said #12's, I thought you meant the cap size and not the thread size. It seems like all the smaller frame pistols use metric threads but the Walkers and Dragoons are 1/4-28. From the research I've done, the originals used 1/4-32. Before finding that out, I ordered a set from Lodgewood Mfg that were copies of originals and they were 1/4-32. So far it's been impossible to find any nipples that use #12 caps.









3

 

[dickydalton]

These should answer your concerns.
https://possibleshop.com/s-s-nipples-cb.html

slixprings.com

I get all my Treso nipples from the Possible Shop including the ones for Italian Walkers and Dragoons.

 

[Troy J.]

I get all my Treso nipples from the Possible Shop including the ones for Italian Walkers and Dragoons.

I just ordered some 1/4-28 musket nipples from Track of the Wolf. I'm going to turn the cones down until #12 caps fit snugly.

 

[hawg]

I just ordered some 1/4-28 musket nipples from Track of the Wolf. I'm going to turn the cones down until #12 caps fit snugly.

I don't know exactly how big a #12 cap is but a #11 cap will fit inside a musket cap with lots of wiggle room. You're not going to have much cone left if any.

Edited to add pic.

 

[Troy J.]

I don't know exactly how big a #12 cap is but a #11 cap will fit inside a musket cap with lots of wiggle room. You're not going to have much cone left if any.

Edited to add pic.

View attachment 1156280

That pic is not very encouraging!

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

A # 12 cap is just a bit bigger than a #11. Since you have a bunch of #12 s it makes sense to have a way to use them. After you burn through them you can always retro fit the nipples to accept #11 s. #11 nipples are sized .165 to .170 about halfway on the cone. I chuck the nipple in a drill and turn it size using one of those diamond coated files.

 

[Troy J.]

A # 12 cap is just a bit bigger than a #11. Since you have a bunch of #12 s it makes sense to have a way to use them. After you burn through them you can always retro fit the nipples to accept #11 s. #11 nipples are sized .165 to .170 about halfway on the cone. I chuck the nipple in a drill and turn it size using one of those diamond coated files.

I have enough #12 caps to last me forever. My problem is, I don't have any nipples that the caps fit well. I need some 1/4-28 nipples with a hair bigger cones.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

What may work is to slightly shorten the cones, it's gonna depend on how where the hammer rests and the length of the nipple. Does the hammer rest solid on the nipple or is there a tiny gap between them with the hammer down? I have set up a few revolvers to be able to dry fire without damaging the nipples, like Ruger Old Army setups, with a .005 gap with hammer at rest. You could pull one nipple out and see where the hammer rests then compare it to the one next to it and see if there's enough room to slightly shorten the length and get a tighter fit for the cap. May be worth a look.

 

[44 Dave]

Would cleaning the cones and the tinning them with solder make them a bit larger and would solder hold up to the heat when fired?

 

[Troy J.]

What may work is to slightly shorten the cones, it's gonna depend on how where the hammer rests and the length of the nipple. Does the hammer rest solid on the nipple or is there a tiny gap between them with the hammer down? I have set up a few revolvers to be able to dry fire without damaging the nipples, like Ruger Old Army setups, with a .005 gap with hammer at rest. You could pull one nipple out and see where the hammer rests then compare it to the one next to it and see if there's enough room to slightly shorten the length and get a tighter fit for the cap. May be worth a look.

That's exactly what I did for my Walker. The cone of the nipple was long enough and had enough angle to hold the cap securely after I took some off the tip. I ended up taking about an 1/8th" off! I'd take a bit off then reinstall the nipple and put a cap on it to make sure it would fire.

Would cleaning the cones and the tinning them with solder make them a bit larger and would solder hold up to the heat when fired?

 

[Troy J.]

Would cleaning the cones and the tinning them with solder make them a bit larger and would solder hold up to the heat when fired?

That might work. I ordered some musket nipples that I hope I can machine down to #12 caps size. It'll depend on how large the hole in the center of the nipples are. They sound be in in a couple of days...got my fingers crossed!

 

[Troy J.]

A # 12 cap is just a bit bigger than a #11. Since you have a bunch of #12 s it makes sense to have a way to use them. After you burn through them you can always retro fit the nipples to accept #11 s. #11 nipples are sized .165 to .170 about halfway on the cone. I chuck the nipple in a drill and turn it size using one of those diamond coated files.

I have enough #12 caps that I'll never burn through them.

 

[hawg]

That might work. I ordered some musket nipples that I hope I can machine down to #12 caps size. It'll depend on how large the hole in the center of the nipples are. They sound be in in a couple of days...got my fingers crossed!

I just looked at my P53 Enfield. A #11 cap won't fit in the hole in the nipple but it's close. I don't think you could even put them in a revolver cylinder without doing a lot of machining on the cylinder because they're so big. Here's a #11 nipple next to a musket nipple.

 

[Troy J.]

I just looked at my P53 Enfield. A #11 cap won't fit in the hole in the nipple but it's close. I don't think you could even put them in a revolver cylinder without doing a lot of machining on the cylinder because they're so big. Here's a #11 nipple next to a musket nipple.

View attachment 1156517

The musket nipples I ordered are 1/4-28. I'm just afraid the hole in the center is going to be too big and not give a good 'face' under the cap for the hammer to strike.

 

[hawg]

The musket nipples I ordered are 1/4-28. I'm just afraid the hole in the center is going to be too big and not give a good 'face' under the cap for the hammer to strike.

If there's any cone left after you turn it down it's going to be paper thin or close to it. After looking at mine I doubt there's going to be any cone left.

 

[Troy J.]

If there's any cone left after you turn it down it's going to be paper thin or close to it. After looking at mine I doubt there's going to be any cone left.

I'll know in a couple of days. I never realized it would be so hard to find these nipples!