What's the secret? (Wedge installation)

[SleazyRider]

Today was my first time out with my 1851 Pietta Sheriff's model .36 caliber, and I just took it apart for cleaning. I'm having a heckuva time installing the wedge, however. I can't seem to compress the spring enough to re-insert it.

Is this accomplished with the retaining screw in or out? Is there a secret to installing the wedge and compressing the spring?

Thanks!

 

[rdstrain49]

The screw is only meant to prevent loss of the wedge and has nothing to do with assembly-reassembly. If your barrel is properly seated to the frame, the wedge should slide in with just a little wiggling around. You should not have to compress the spring on the wedge to install the wedge. A picture would help diagnose your problem. Here are a few links that should help.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=137102

http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/index.php?topic=120714.0

http://blackpowdersmoke.com/forum/index.php?board=44.0

 

[SleazyRider]

Thank you, Rdstrain49, for the links and information. Here's a picture of the wedge after I finally wrestled it in:



In retrospect, I probably should have photographed it while it was out of the gun, as the spring seems very stiff and possibly "sprung," that is, a sticking up a little too much.

 

[rdstrain49]

A picture of the other side of the weapon would be informative.

 

[SleazyRider]

My pleasure. Appreciate your time.

 

[SleazyRider]

Addendum ...

Is it possible that the screw acts as a stop, so that the wedge really doesn't have to be removed, but remains "captured" in the frame just enough to permit disassembly without total removal of the wedge?

 

[Mike OTDP]

That's exactly what the screw is for.

 

[robhof]

The traditional Colt type wedge springs are flat springs with no notched end. That one would seem to require some depressing to start. I've got a Walker clone and a 31 pocket and both have the flat spring that is bent up enough to add some retention, but not notched to hold it in.

 

[junkman_01]

I've never seen a Colt type wedge that had a spring without the nib on the end!

 

[robhof]

I stand corrected, the nubs are worn relatively smooth from years of removal and assembly, got out the magnifier and there they were. Both my Colt style guns date to the 70's and have been well used, but still shoot fine.

 

[45-70 Ranger]

Well, now here all these years I thought that the screw was there to restrict the depth of the wedge as it entered the basepin and providing a uniform tention on the wedge to further its ability to seat at the proper position of the barrel and frame. Learn something every day.

 

[junkman_01]

The arbor positions the barrel on the frame and sets the barrel to cylinder gap uniformly every time. The wedge holds the barrel on, and the screw keeps the wedge from falling out when the barrel is taken off.

Pietta C&B revolvers have been getting the arbor length correct as of late, but Uberti hasn't gotten it right yet.