Older Uberti 1861 Navy

[RWMC]

A friend of mine has one for sale.

According to the date code, it was made in 1970.

Not for sure who did it, but a previous owner tried their skills at making the gun look “antique”. No bluing is left on the gun anywhere but there are plenty of nicks scratches and pit marks on the outside of the barrel and cylinder. The inside of the barrel and the chambers of the cylinder are free of pits or corrosion, so it appears it should shoot well. But right now, the hammer will not stay back in it’s locked to full cocked position, so something on the inside (possibly a trigger and the related spring) is possibly broken.

My friend is asking only $25 less for this revolver that was made in 1970, than what it would cost me to buy a brand new Uberti 61 Navy. Thought about just offering him $200 For his antique, non-functioning Uberti. Am I in the proper ballpark with this offer?

 

[hawg]

I would spend the 25.00 and get a new one that works. You're probably going to spend that much fixing it.

 

[grter]

It sounds like a failed trigger job too ???? I don't think this is a good deal for a 1970s Uberti let alone one in this condition unless the gun has outstanding accuracy or some other exceptionally redeeming trait.

The hammer trigger engagement that you described is a big problem and a real safety issue.

A newly manufactured one is made on a CNC machine so new parts are likely to be a simple drop in without adjustments to fit when or if the time comes to replace them. New parts are also more likely to be widely available. Older models not so. Newly made parts may not fit and/or work in older models and even if you find vintage parts they are more likely to need fitting.

The trigger hammer setup on full cock is an issue because those surfaces in addition to being precisely fitted at critical angles are usually case hardened (surface.) Setting up the trigger full cock hammer notch engagement requires know how and precision work. The surfaces will then have to be re hardened after all the filing and fitting work is done or they will grind each other down in use. This is assuming new or vintage parts won't work, A possibility to be considered.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Could send to me, I can fix it, so can Mike. Shame to let it waste away.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Wouldn't pay that kinda money for a broke one, maybe offer 150.00 with explanation that you would spend another 200 to fix it and get it properly set up.

 

[RWMC]

Thank you for all of the helpful suggestions.
Don’t you just hate it when you find those guns for sale that begin that love-hate / tug-of-war relationship?
I knew I should not have walked into my friends shop last week!

 

[RWMC]

Wouldn't pay that kinda money for a broke one, maybe offer 150.00 with explanation that you would spend another 200 to fix it and get it properly set up.

I just now got it for $150.

 

[Navy Six 2]

For $150 I would have grabbed it too in the hope that things might not too bad inside. I just fixed an Uberti 1860 that had a similar Issue and in that particular case I could simply deepen the full cock notch, so I was lucky. I know how it feels with neglected guns. They seem to have a sign on them to "please fix me"
and I hate to see a gun just waste away.

 

[RWMC]

The company who imported it was Replica Arms Inc., out of Marietta, Ohio. The importer mistakenly stamped the barrel with 44 caliber and then x’d out the number 44, and stamped 36 above it.
One thing that threw me off is that the serial number is not the same as the revolvers matching parts number.

 

[RWMC]

Well I finally got the 61 navy apart and discovered that the cause of the previously described malfunction was a broken combination trigger / bolt lock spring.
Hopefully it should be an easy fix if the current Uberti 51/61 navy springs are similar to this one that was made in 1970.

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

There are several options to fab up or fit your own spring
You will be fine and shootin soon

 

[RWMC]

So far, the hammer will not lock in the full cocked position. Also, I cannot get the cylinder bolt to lock into the cylinder bolt cuts. It’s going to be a while before I start making smoke with this 61’ Navy.

 

[44 Dave]

Don't get to worried until you replace the hammer/bolt spring
I would go with a Wolff wire spring, because they can be bent to adjust to fit.
Another option is to make your own using music wire (available at hobby stores) and some people reshape a bobby pin

 

[RWMC]

I have been working on the old 61’ Navy since around 7 o’clock this evening, and around a half an hour ago, after probably five times taking off and on the trigger guard plate and making adjustments, and doing some deburring and smoothing out the bevel‘s on parts, I have an operating and nicely timed Uberti 1861 navy colt replica that was manufactured in 1970.
I sincerely appreciate all of ya’lls comments, helpful hints and suggestions. I am indeed thankful for the wisdom that you have shared with me.