Thread: Colt I frames.
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Old July 10, 2013, 12:43 PM   #15
Webleymkv
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Join Date: July 20, 2005
Location: Indiana
Posts: 10,435
I think that much of Colt's reputation for being "delicate" comes from a misunderstanding of how their old lockwork was supposed to function as it's quite different from most other common DA revolvers like S&W or Ruger.

The Colt double-pawl hand creates two very distinctive features for the revolvers' lockup: the cylinder stop may not engage until the revolver is in full lockup (trigger fully to the rear) and the cylinder should have no perceptible rotational play at full lockup.

Unlike most other revolvers which have their hands not in contact with the ratchet when the gun is at full lockup, an older Colt's hand is in contact with the ratchet from the time the cylinder begins to rotate until the time that the trigger is released. This means that the cylinder is not rotated fully into position until the trigger is fully depressed because the action would bind otherwise. Also, because the hand is pushing the cylinder against the cylinder stop, Colts should not have any rotational play at full lockup. This is in contrast to S&W and Ruger which have their cylinders locked in place by the cylinder stop only and thus typically have a small degree of rotational play.

Where the confusion starts is when someone familiar with S&W and/or Ruger revolvers tries to evaluate a Colt based on the same criteria. Because a cylinder which does not lock into place prior to the hammer coming to full cock on a S&W or Ruger is indicative of timing issues, many would assume that a Colt which displays such a characteristic is also out of time when such is not the case. Conversely, because rotational play a full lockup is normal on a Ruger or S&W, many might assume that such is also the case with a Colt when, in reality, it is indicative of problems and the need for a gunsmith's attention. When Mr. S&W/Ruger's new-to-him Colt starts spitting lead or otherwise behaving badly in very short order, he liable to assume that it's "delicate" because he did not realize that it already had issues when he bought it.
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