Help please - CVA pistols stuck

Jim.Harrison · November 2, 2011, 10:32 AM

I have two CVA .44 Army Colt replication pistols purchased new from Gander Mountain in the late 80's (brass frame). Other than the barrels they are the same guns (one is the round 1860's style and the other is a octagon 1850's). After a recent move I discovered that both of them are stuck - hammer will not pull back. After removing barrel and cylinder, inspection shows they are clean and in good shape with no rust. It has probably been over 15 years since these guns were last fired.

I am looking for suggestions/procedures to get these working again. I suspect that these guns will never be worth more than I paid for them, so I want to do the work myself. I am thinking that for this to happen to both guns, it must not be an uncommon problem. I have searched the net, but so far I have not found a schematic or any other pointers, so I thought I would give this forum a try before I tear them down and have a blind go at it.

Thanks for reading and any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Jim.

Joe the Redneck · November 2, 2011, 12:30 PM

I would guess the grease inside has hardened.

Fisrt heat it with a hair dryer and see if that helps.

Second hit is with a little engine cleaner to see if you can dissolve the gunk. Take the grip frame off, (The screws are sefl evident.) to get a good look at the inside.

Let us know how it goes.

Legionnaire · November 2, 2011, 06:13 PM

You are saying the hammer will not pull back after you removed the wedge, barrel, and cylinder? Just clarifying ...

Jim.Harrison · November 2, 2011, 06:22 PM

Thanks Joe. I skipped the hair dryer trick as anything that simple never works for me. I removed the grip frame and used PB Blaster penetrating oil spray on it. After letting it marinade for awhile I was able to loosen it up and now the hammer cocks and the cylinder rotates fine. Now for the next one!

I do have another irrelevant question - The two guns have different hallmark stamps even though they were ordered at the same time from the same place, the only difference being the barrel style. Was CVA importing these from such a variety of suppliers during the 80's that this is not unusual? If anyone is interested I can make a pic. I can't tell a nickels worth a difference between them, though I'm kind of partial to the 1860's style barrel with the blade sight.

Anyway thanks again to Joe and the forum in general, and I'm sure I'll have more questions in the future as I continue to unpack toys and realize I have a lot of powder and shot just sitting around making no one smile.

Jim.

Jim.Harrison · November 2, 2011, 06:27 PM

Yes - It must have been the linkage to rotate the cylinder. I have fixed one of them with a little cleaning and surprisingly even less cursing, and believe the other should not be a problem.

Thanks for your response.
Jim.

Hawg · November 2, 2011, 06:35 PM

AFAIK all CVA revolvers were made by Jukar in Spain.

Legionnaire · November 2, 2011, 06:47 PM

Great! Glad you got it working.

Doc Hoy · November 2, 2011, 07:48 PM

Welcome aboard Jim. You can tell that you came to the right place.

Okay...Now I feel better. ;o)

Hawg,

I have about a half dozen CVAs made by ASM. I have two very sweet 1860 brass frame versions and one 1860 pattern five shot pocket which is okay. Owned two 1863 Remingtons in .31 brass. The last one is a brass frame 1858 Remington that started out as a kit. All of these are ASM built.

Only Jukar made CVAs I ever owned were single shot pistols. I had a Colonial Pistol in.45 percussion cap which was a real tack driver.

Hawg · November 2, 2011, 08:04 PM

You're right Doc. Dunno where my mind was. I saw a CVA/Traditions at the last gun show I went to made by Pietta.

Joe the Redneck · November 2, 2011, 10:19 PM

Sorry, no idea on the makers.

Glad the lads are feeling better.

November 2, 2011, 10:32 AM	#1
Jim.Harrison Junior Member Join Date: November 2, 2011 Posts: 3	Help please - CVA pistols stuck I have two CVA .44 Army Colt replication pistols purchased new from Gander Mountain in the late 80's (brass frame). Other than the barrels they are the same guns (one is the round 1860's style and the other is a octagon 1850's). After a recent move I discovered that both of them are stuck - hammer will not pull back. After removing barrel and cylinder, inspection shows they are clean and in good shape with no rust. It has probably been over 15 years since these guns were last fired. I am looking for suggestions/procedures to get these working again. I suspect that these guns will never be worth more than I paid for them, so I want to do the work myself. I am thinking that for this to happen to both guns, it must not be an uncommon problem. I have searched the net, but so far I have not found a schematic or any other pointers, so I thought I would give this forum a try before I tear them down and have a blind go at it. Thanks for reading and any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Jim. Last edited by Jim.Harrison; November 2, 2011 at 10:40 AM.

November 2, 2011, 06:13 PM	#3
Legionnaire Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2000 Location: Central TX Posts: 1,503	You are saying the hammer will not pull back after you removed the wedge, barrel, and cylinder? Just clarifying ... __________________ Cogito, ergo armatus sum.

November 2, 2011, 06:22 PM	#4
Jim.Harrison Junior Member Join Date: November 2, 2011 Posts: 3	Many thanks to Joe the Redneck Thanks Joe. I skipped the hair dryer trick as anything that simple never works for me. I removed the grip frame and used PB Blaster penetrating oil spray on it. After letting it marinade for awhile I was able to loosen it up and now the hammer cocks and the cylinder rotates fine. Now for the next one! I do have another irrelevant question - The two guns have different hallmark stamps even though they were ordered at the same time from the same place, the only difference being the barrel style. Was CVA importing these from such a variety of suppliers during the 80's that this is not unusual? If anyone is interested I can make a pic. I can't tell a nickels worth a difference between them, though I'm kind of partial to the 1860's style barrel with the blade sight. Anyway thanks again to Joe and the forum in general, and I'm sure I'll have more questions in the future as I continue to unpack toys and realize I have a lot of powder and shot just sitting around making no one smile. Jim.

November 2, 2011, 06:27 PM	#5
Jim.Harrison Junior Member Join Date: November 2, 2011 Posts: 3	Response to Legionnaire Yes - It must have been the linkage to rotate the cylinder. I have fixed one of them with a little cleaning and surprisingly even less cursing, and believe the other should not be a problem. Thanks for your response. Jim.

November 2, 2011, 07:48 PM	#8
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	I can not believe no one said this yet! Welcome aboard Jim. You can tell that you came to the right place. Okay...Now I feel better. ;o) Hawg, I have about a half dozen CVAs made by ASM. I have two very sweet 1860 brass frame versions and one 1860 pattern five shot pocket which is okay. Owned two 1863 Remingtons in .31 brass. The last one is a brass frame 1858 Remington that started out as a kit. All of these are ASM built. Only Jukar made CVAs I ever owned were single shot pistols. I had a Colonial Pistol in.45 percussion cap which was a real tack driver. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

November 2, 2011, 12:30 PM	#2
Joe the Redneck Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 1998 Location: New port richey FL us Posts: 473	I would guess the grease inside has hardened. Fisrt heat it with a hair dryer and see if that helps. Second hit is with a little engine cleaner to see if you can dissolve the gunk. Take the grip frame off, (The screws are sefl evident.) to get a good look at the inside. Let us know how it goes.

November 2, 2011, 06:35 PM	#6
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,376	AFAIK all CVA revolvers were made by Jukar in Spain.

November 2, 2011, 06:47 PM	#7
Legionnaire Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2000 Location: Central TX Posts: 1,503	Great! Glad you got it working.

November 2, 2011, 08:04 PM	#9
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,376	You're right Doc. Dunno where my mind was. I saw a CVA/Traditions at the last gun show I went to made by Pietta.

November 2, 2011, 10:19 PM	#10
Joe the Redneck Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 1998 Location: New port richey FL us Posts: 473	Sorry, no idea on the makers. Glad the lads are feeling better.