Just some pictures. . .

[Beagle333]

Today, while waiting for it to get warm enough outside to pour concrete, I turned my attention to the brass on the old 1860.
This is what it looked like before:
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/Current%20guns/Army.jpg
And after some brasso:
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/tweaking%20the%201860/1860-1.jpg
It cleaned up pretty well. But the point wasn't to show that brass shines up when polished. The improvement was the triggerguard. I was pretty happy with it until I got my Colt last week and noticed that the edges of the brass were blended into the frame, whereas the Pietta had sharp edges on the triggerguard. So while I had it disassembled during polishing, I also slightly blended the edge.

Piettawith just 17 years of wear:
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/tweaking%20the%201860/sharp-1.jpg

Colt:
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/tweaking%20the%201860/smooth-2.jpg

Pietta after sanding:
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/tweaking%20the%201860/smoothed-1.jpg

It could use even more, but I want to take it gradually and will just hit it with the 800# whenever I take it off for a good cleaning, until it looks exactly like the Colt.

(and after looking at the pictures posted: No, I didn't use the steel file in the picture, it just happened to be on the bench. I used 240#, then 400#, 600#, 800# and then Brasso.)

[Beagle333]

And, as long as the triggerguard was off, I installed a new bolt/trigger spring. The old one was rusty and this is supposed to be one of the low power ones that won't peen up the cylinder as much.
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/tweaking%20the%201860/springs-label.jpg

But in looking at the two, the only noticeable difference is that the new one is flat on the trigger side.
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/tweaking%20the%201860/old-n-new.jpg

And after installation, I really can't tell any difference. I still had to back off the screw a little over a half turn to get it to sound like it engaged solidly, but didn't "slap" the cylinder. I guess it is a lower power spring, but only time will tell.

[Smokin'Joe]

Just use a safety pin:

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=467782