Deal for some member here on Uberti unfired Walker at GB.

[Bill Akins]

I found this one doing my daily search on gunbroker.
If it doesn't go up, $250.00 for an Uberti, unfired, Walker is a great deal.
I had one years ago (very first BP revolver of mine) but not in the market for one today. I have no affiliation with this auction. Just wanted someone from here to benefit from a good deal (as long as it doesn't go up too high).
Here's the link, let me know if you get it. Will make me feel good for passing on the good deal info here

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=217280918


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[arcticap]

The same seller also has an unfired Pietta 1860 for $150.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=217283644

[Tanker6]

Yep, the 1860's on my watch list.

[starbuck125]

only one bidder!!!!!

[HisSoldier]

What do Walker owners do to solve the apparent design fault of inadequate latching of the loading lever, is there a latch farther back that I can't see? If I were going to buy an open top revolver I always thought the Walker was the most interesting.

Do people snap a rubber band over it?

[Bill Akins]

HisSoldier wrote:
What do Walker owners do to solve the apparent design fault of inadequate latching of the loading lever, is there a latch farther back that I can't see?

The loading lever latch is a thin spring that is dovetailed and projects down from the barrel and engages and holds in the section of the loading lever that has the screw in it to hold the actual ramming part. As in this below photo. Look carefully at the thin spring piece projecting from the bottom of the barrel. It snaps into the middle of the loading lever and is the only catch, and that is why even with the loading lever snapped in place, sometimes you see the long end of the lever droop a bit. That's because the lever is not latched at it far end, but in its middle so when the spring gets weak,the lever droops down a bit even when it is latched (poorly latched).


and in this picture as well....


It is a poor retention system and under recoil the spring will "jump out" of the recess in the loading lever and your lever will drop.

There have been several ways shooters have adapted to keep the lever from falling under recoil. As in this description from Wikipedia....
"Period-correct fixes for this often included placing a rawhide loop around both the barrel and loading lever, to prevent the loading lever from dropping under recoil and locking the action."

Then there is this link where it shows a cut down barrel and lever Walker with an unusual modified toggled rammer and also an interesting dovetail retainer for the loading lever. Obviously whoever did it dovetailed a latch into the bottom of the barrel and then spring loaded a piece inside the loading lever to engage the latch. Look at it carefully in the 2nd photo down on the left side at this link. Click on the pictures of this link to enlarge....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ctarchives/4522700447/

Then there's this link where the shooter simple modified his rammer by slotting it and spring loading a latch and then dovetailing a latch retainer into the bottom of his barrel on his Walker....
http://blog.did-art.fr/3_5_Fixing-th...ing-Lever.html

And a couple of pics of that modified Walker loading lever from that above link....




Now the above shooter has two lever latches, one in the middle and one at the far end of the loading lever (the most secure one). It won't drop under recoil now.

Hope this helped you understand and answered your questions HisSoldier.


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