black powder pistol problem

holt2010 · July 28, 2010, 11:18 PM

Hey guys, my cousin gave me a .44 black powder pistol today and the cylinder will not move, any suggestions?

jrothWA · July 28, 2010, 11:24 PM

need to soak over night in kerosene or Kano Kroil penetrating oil.

Then slowly attempt to remove and then coat with turpentine and scrub with fine BRASS/BRONZE wool or brush.

Get a manual from manufacturer,is unsure how to dis-assemble.

BP residue get EVERYWHERE, need to completely clean & oil

holt2010 · July 28, 2010, 11:26 PM

we took it apart and it was clean

troy_mclure · July 28, 2010, 11:32 PM

will the hammer cock?

if so does the trigger work?

holt2010 · July 28, 2010, 11:44 PM

yes the hammer cocks and the trigger works

salvadore · July 28, 2010, 11:52 PM

If you can turn the cylinder manually but it wont turn when cocked you need a hand.

holt2010 · July 29, 2010, 12:02 AM

it wont turn at all

salvadore · July 29, 2010, 12:14 AM

what model is it and how were you able to take it apart?

holt2010 · July 29, 2010, 12:18 AM

it says made in italy, it has no brand name and has pn's in two places on the gun. I think my cousin got it apart with a screwdriver

salvadore · July 29, 2010, 12:22 AM

A picture might help

zippy13 · July 29, 2010, 12:24 AM

A modern replica, most likely a Colt or Remington. Does the frame have a top strap or is the top of the cylinder exposed?

holt2010 · July 29, 2010, 12:29 AM

its exposed

zippy13 · July 29, 2010, 12:33 AM

Does it look like this...

or this

Images courtesy of Cabela's

holt2010 · July 29, 2010, 12:35 AM

yes, I'm about to post a picture, if i can figure out how ive never done it before.

holt2010 · July 29, 2010, 12:44 AM

its more like the first pic

holt2010 · July 29, 2010, 12:46 AM

holt2010 · July 29, 2010, 12:49 AM

here is the pic

azyogi · July 29, 2010, 01:39 AM

Is there any cylinder gap, space between cylinder and barrel. Wedge pin could be to tight [deep] causing the binding.

salvadore · July 29, 2010, 01:45 AM

or maybe the bolt isn't dropping out because the cam leg thingy has broken off.

salvadore · July 29, 2010, 01:48 AM

tap the barrel wedge out from right to left...that's the sticky out thingy on the lower rear barrel assembly...and the barrel should slide forward from the frame.

holt2010 · July 29, 2010, 02:01 AM

there is no space between the cylinder and barrel

zippy13 · July 29, 2010, 04:21 AM

You seem to have a Colt M1851-style variation marketed as the Confederate Navy .44 Sheriff's model.

Is the right side of the barrel marked "F.LLI PIETTA - MADE IN ITALY"? If yes, then instructions and parts are available from Cabela's.

Frontier · July 29, 2010, 08:07 AM

Sounds very much like the bolt leg is broken where it rides on the hammer and the bolt is locked in the "up" position.
Take the three screws out of the backstrap (2 on the shoulder and 1 in the base) and remove the assembly with grips. Slide the main spring sideways until it clears the hammer. Remove the three screws holding the trigger guard in place and remove the assembly. Remove the screw holding the forked spring and take the spring out. The trigger and bolt screws can now be removed from the side of the frame, when both parts will drop out.
The bolt should look like this:

If one or both of the legs are broken it needs replacing. Re-assembly is done in reverse to the instructions above.

Frontier

madcratebuilder · July 29, 2010, 08:19 AM

If you can move the hammer and the cylinder does not turn then the hand is broken, more likely the hand spring.

July 28, 2010, 11:18 PM	#1
holt2010 Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2008 Posts: 103	black powder pistol problem Hey guys, my cousin gave me a .44 black powder pistol today and the cylinder will not move, any suggestions?

July 28, 2010, 11:24 PM	#2
jrothWA Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2006 Posts: 2,519	Most likely the cylinder is rusted.. need to soak over night in kerosene or Kano Kroil penetrating oil. Then slowly attempt to remove and then coat with turpentine and scrub with fine BRASS/BRONZE wool or brush. Get a manual from manufacturer,is unsure how to dis-assemble. BP residue get EVERYWHERE, need to completely clean & oil

July 28, 2010, 11:32 PM	#4
troy_mclure Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2008 Location: gulf of mexico Posts: 2,716	will the hammer cock? if so does the trigger work? __________________ There is only one tactical principle which is not subject to change. It is to use the means at hand to inflict the maximum amount of wound, death, and destruction on the enemy in the minimum amount of time."

July 28, 2010, 11:26 PM	#3
holt2010 Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2008 Posts: 103	we took it apart and it was clean

July 28, 2010, 11:44 PM	#5
holt2010 Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2008 Posts: 103	yes the hammer cocks and the trigger works

July 28, 2010, 11:52 PM	#6
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	If you can turn the cylinder manually but it wont turn when cocked you need a hand.

July 29, 2010, 12:02 AM	#7
holt2010 Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2008 Posts: 103	it wont turn at all

July 29, 2010, 12:14 AM	#8
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	what model is it and how were you able to take it apart?

July 29, 2010, 12:18 AM	#9
holt2010 Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2008 Posts: 103	it says made in italy, it has no brand name and has pn's in two places on the gun. I think my cousin got it apart with a screwdriver

July 29, 2010, 12:22 AM	#10
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	A picture might help

July 29, 2010, 12:24 AM	#11
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	A modern replica, most likely a Colt or Remington. Does the frame have a top strap or is the top of the cylinder exposed?

July 29, 2010, 12:29 AM	#12
holt2010 Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2008 Posts: 103	its exposed

July 29, 2010, 12:33 AM	#13
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Does it look like this... or this Images courtesy of Cabela's

July 29, 2010, 12:35 AM	#14
holt2010 Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2008 Posts: 103	yes, I'm about to post a picture, if i can figure out how ive never done it before.

July 29, 2010, 12:44 AM	#15
holt2010 Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2008 Posts: 103	its more like the first pic

July 29, 2010, 12:46 AM	#16
holt2010 Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2008 Posts: 103

July 29, 2010, 01:39 AM	#18
azyogi Member Join Date: June 12, 2010 Location: Tucson Posts: 88	Is there any cylinder gap, space between cylinder and barrel. Wedge pin could be to tight [deep] causing the binding.

July 29, 2010, 01:45 AM	#19
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	or maybe the bolt isn't dropping out because the cam leg thingy has broken off.

July 29, 2010, 01:48 AM	#20
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	tap the barrel wedge out from right to left...that's the sticky out thingy on the lower rear barrel assembly...and the barrel should slide forward from the frame.

July 29, 2010, 02:01 AM	#21
holt2010 Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2008 Posts: 103	there is no space between the cylinder and barrel

July 29, 2010, 04:21 AM	#22
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	You seem to have a Colt M1851-style variation marketed as the Confederate Navy .44 Sheriff's model. Is the right side of the barrel marked "F.LLI PIETTA - MADE IN ITALY"? If yes, then instructions and parts are available from Cabela's.

July 29, 2010, 08:07 AM	#23
Frontier Member Join Date: February 21, 2010 Posts: 32	Sounds very much like the bolt leg is broken where it rides on the hammer and the bolt is locked in the "up" position. Take the three screws out of the backstrap (2 on the shoulder and 1 in the base) and remove the assembly with grips. Slide the main spring sideways until it clears the hammer. Remove the three screws holding the trigger guard in place and remove the assembly. Remove the screw holding the forked spring and take the spring out. The trigger and bolt screws can now be removed from the side of the frame, when both parts will drop out. The bolt should look like this: If one or both of the legs are broken it needs replacing. Re-assembly is done in reverse to the instructions above. Frontier

July 29, 2010, 08:19 AM	#24
madcratebuilder Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2007 Location: Northern Orygun Posts: 4,923	If you can move the hammer and the cylinder does not turn then the hand is broken, more likely the hand spring.