Richards No 1 conversion question

[noller]

I have two revolvers with Richards No 1 conversions on them. Neither of them have intact firing pins. I want to replace both firing pins but since these guns are so rare no one seems to know if they had floating pins or rebounding pins.
Have any of you guys had any experience with these and can answer the question? Thanks

 

[Tommygunn]

According to A Study of Colt Conversion and Other Percussion Revolvers byR. Bruce McDowell they have rebounding firing pins.

"The new breech-plate contains a rebounding firing pin, a narrow channel to guide the rotating arm or jointed pawl..." ~~ Page 139 of same book.

 

[noller]

Tommygun:

I do have the book and I read that passage and there lies the problem. I suspect that the term that he is using "rebound" may in fact mean "floating". I have found several places in the book where wrong terms were used to describe a feature. I have been checking with a lot of sources and can find no reference to a firing pin spring in any Colt documents. If they were actually a true rebounding pin that is fine, I am just trying to find out for sure. I really appreciate the help, this has been driving me crazy for a year. I was hoping that someone might have a pistol and could actually look at the pin for me.

Thanks

 

[Malamute]

You might try contacting the folks at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center to see if anyone on the staff can tell you, or could research or look at their guns and tell.

 

[Old Dragoon]

Come to the CAS City Forums at www.cascity.com click on the forums index on the left side of the screen, scroll down to STORM forum and ask you question there. There are a couple guys that have just built these conversions exactly like the originals, and they can tell you for sure. One is Ottawa Creek Bill . Ask for his advice and he'll answer you.

I believe that the firing pin has small spring under it that keeps it in tension. I used to have a couple and the firing pins did not move like there wasn't a spring in them. I.e they were not free to float forwards or backwards Like a shotgun firing pins sometimes are.