Leather loop for Walker loading lever?

Model12Win · January 20, 2015, 11:16 PM

Hello everyone, as some of you may or may not know, the 1847 Colt Walker has a problem with the loading lever popping down during recoil, this was true of the originals and it's true of many of the Walker replicas currently being made.

I have heard that a period-correct solution to the dropping loading lever problem is to tie a loop of leather or rawhide around the lever and barrel, keeping the lever from dropping when the gun is discharged. I assume it can then be pulled over the lever to allow it to swing free for loading the revolver again.

Does anyone out there have any personal experience with this? Does it work, what do you use? I am going to buy a replica Uberti 1847 Walker soon and would like to do this when I get it. It will hopefully solve this little issue and will look period.

Thanks guys!

hartcreek · January 21, 2015, 12:36 AM

I shoot mine with 50 grains equilivalent of FFF pyrodex. The loading lever stays in place with no need of string. 60 grains supposedly made the lever on the Ubertis fall but they rebuilt the clip/spring. Dont know if 60 will drop mine as I have not used 60 as it is reported that 60 grains caused the wedge to wear rapidly.

g.willikers · January 21, 2015, 09:04 AM

A leather loop might be authentic, but now we have better stuff.
Hose clamps, wire ties and paracord.

Wonder if the old timers just removed the danged thing, all together, until they needed to reload at their leisure.

DD4lifeusmc · January 21, 2015, 10:21 AM

you can take a file or a dremel to the loading lever latch to flatten it a bit and this helps.
But as to your loop.
I took a piece of scrap suede leather I had, punched two holes side by side.
One big enough to slip over the barrel the other the loading ram arm.
trimmed all the excess off.
Workd fine and dandy!

maillemaker · January 21, 2015, 10:41 AM

I have been meaning to do this. I'll do it today and take pictures.

I shoot my Uberti Walker with 45 grains 3F Goex and it is quite accurate but the loading leaver drops free at least after 2 shots. I have been given N-SSA approval to make a leather loop.

Steve

Model12Win · January 21, 2015, 11:04 AM

Wow cool Maillemaker! Please show us when you get done!

Sorry, but if I'm going to get a Colt Walker, I'm not going to use paracord or hose clamps to stop the lever drop. That's would be like putting LEDs on a Dusenberg!

Leather is the authentic way, cool to see it's NSSA approved!

Beagle333 · January 21, 2015, 12:59 PM

You can use a file to put a little more "tooth" on the catch and it will stop some of them from falling, and nobody can see it. Don't get crazy making the tooth though. 'Too much and you'll have trouble getting the lever down to load.

Model12Win · January 21, 2015, 02:22 PM

Thanks! I plan to do that too, but if it's not enough I'll make a leather/rawhide loop for it!

maillemaker · January 21, 2015, 02:31 PM

Here's what I whipped up in the shop. Took about 5 minutes. If I wanted to get real fancy I would do a butt-join with tunneling stitches that would be invisible.

http://imgur.com/a/Fuo3X

Probably would have been better with thinner leather, too, but this does not interfere with my custom front sight, and it slides on and off fine.

Steve

Magnum Wheel Man · January 21, 2015, 02:46 PM

fixing the spring looks like the best fix... however I wonder if it'll crack earlier or sooner, being thinner???

I was thinking a threaded hole on the bottom of the barrel with a thumb screw "C" clipped to the loading lever might be a good fix

... similar to what we did with my cartridge conversion 51 Navies ( only I used a screw into a beveled hole to fit smoothly, since I only had the levers on the shortened cartridge conversions, for traditional looks ) I'd think a small thumb screw, with a clip to keep it with the loading lever might work ok ???

I'm sure the leather loop would work, but think I'd find the loop of leather over the top of the barrel at the least distracting, & could even possibly require a different sight picture ???

here is a pic of my Navies... showing the load lever screwed to the bottom of the barrel... only bad thing I can think of about a thumb screw, would be possibly re-holstering, it could snag, depending on the shape or size of the thumb screw...

maillemaker · January 21, 2015, 03:10 PM

Quote:

I'm sure the leather loop would work, but think I'd find the loop of leather over the top of the barrel at the least distracting, & could even possibly require a different sight picture ???

Since I had already put on a taller front sight to correct the point of aim at 25 yards, the leather does not get in the way of my front sight at all.

Steve

Model12Win · January 22, 2015, 12:10 AM

Look really good Mail!

BirchOrr · January 22, 2015, 08:31 PM

If you do a search on this forum, you will see pictures of a sweet brass loading lever holder that Doc Hoy posted. He made one for me and I have it on my Colt Walker. He doesn't post here much anymore I don't know what happened to him.

I hope he is well,

Birch

**4V50 Gary** · January 22, 2015, 09:32 PM

How about two pieces of brass pipe that are soldered together? Of course, the top will be cut partially away so it can slid past the front sight. It'll look like a figure 8 and can be slipped on/off as needed.

maillemaker · January 23, 2015, 09:02 AM

I think that's the one Birch is talking about.

I've seen it before. It's a figure-8 of brass with a slit cut in the larger circle for the front sight.

Steve

BirchOrr · January 23, 2015, 02:30 PM

... I just did a search of the forum and cant find that pic. I' ll take a pic of mine and upload it.

Birch

hartcreek · January 23, 2015, 10:02 PM

Supposedly Uberti re did the spring catch on their later Walkers so if you have a later one like me you might not need anything else.

Mk VII · January 24, 2015, 08:36 AM

Rubber bands also work well and are infinitely replaceable.

maillemaker · January 24, 2015, 10:54 PM

Yup if you get a package of those tiny rubber bands from the orthodontist I best it would last you a long time and be nearly invisible.

Steve

g.willikers · January 25, 2015, 02:10 PM

My wife sez to use a pink ribbon.

maillemaker · January 25, 2015, 11:01 PM

Quote:

My wife sez to use a pink ribbon.

For breast cancer?

Reminds me of a joke.

A little boy dressed up like a cowboy walks into a drug store and up to the counter. He says to the girl behind the counter that he would like an ice cream sundae with nuts on it.

The girl asks him, "Ok, would you like your nuts crushed?"

The little boy whipped out his six shooters and said, "You want your tits shot off?"

Steve

January 20, 2015, 11:16 PM	#1
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	Leather loop for Walker loading lever? Hello everyone, as some of you may or may not know, the 1847 Colt Walker has a problem with the loading lever popping down during recoil, this was true of the originals and it's true of many of the Walker replicas currently being made. I have heard that a period-correct solution to the dropping loading lever problem is to tie a loop of leather or rawhide around the lever and barrel, keeping the lever from dropping when the gun is discharged. I assume it can then be pulled over the lever to allow it to swing free for loading the revolver again. Does anyone out there have any personal experience with this? Does it work, what do you use? I am going to buy a replica Uberti 1847 Walker soon and would like to do this when I get it. It will hopefully solve this little issue and will look period. Thanks guys!

January 21, 2015, 09:04 AM	#3
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	A leather loop might be authentic, but now we have better stuff. Hose clamps, wire ties and paracord. Wonder if the old timers just removed the danged thing, all together, until they needed to reload at their leisure. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

January 21, 2015, 10:21 AM	#4
DD4lifeusmc Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 2012 Location: Wyoming Posts: 351	loop you can take a file or a dremel to the loading lever latch to flatten it a bit and this helps. But as to your loop. I took a piece of scrap suede leather I had, punched two holes side by side. One big enough to slip over the barrel the other the loading ram arm. trimmed all the excess off. Workd fine and dandy! Last edited by DD4lifeusmc; January 21, 2015 at 12:08 PM.

January 21, 2015, 12:59 PM	#7
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	You might also try.. You can use a file to put a little more "tooth" on the catch and it will stop some of them from falling, and nobody can see it. Don't get crazy making the tooth though. 'Too much and you'll have trouble getting the lever down to load. __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

January 21, 2015, 02:46 PM	#10
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	fixing the spring looks like the best fix... however I wonder if it'll crack earlier or sooner, being thinner??? I was thinking a threaded hole on the bottom of the barrel with a thumb screw "C" clipped to the loading lever might be a good fix ... similar to what we did with my cartridge conversion 51 Navies ( only I used a screw into a beveled hole to fit smoothly, since I only had the levers on the shortened cartridge conversions, for traditional looks ) I'd think a small thumb screw, with a clip to keep it with the loading lever might work ok ??? I'm sure the leather loop would work, but think I'd find the loop of leather over the top of the barrel at the least distracting, & could even possibly require a different sight picture ??? here is a pic of my Navies... showing the load lever screwed to the bottom of the barrel... only bad thing I can think of about a thumb screw, would be possibly re-holstering, it could snag, depending on the shape or size of the thumb screw... __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

January 21, 2015, 12:36 AM	#2
hartcreek Junior member Join Date: April 22, 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 1,549	I shoot mine with 50 grains equilivalent of FFF pyrodex. The loading lever stays in place with no need of string. 60 grains supposedly made the lever on the Ubertis fall but they rebuilt the clip/spring. Dont know if 60 will drop mine as I have not used 60 as it is reported that 60 grains caused the wedge to wear rapidly.

January 21, 2015, 10:41 AM	#5
maillemaker Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 1,635	I have been meaning to do this. I'll do it today and take pictures. I shoot my Uberti Walker with 45 grains 3F Goex and it is quite accurate but the loading leaver drops free at least after 2 shots. I have been given N-SSA approval to make a leather loop. Steve

January 21, 2015, 11:04 AM	#6
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	Wow cool Maillemaker! Please show us when you get done! Sorry, but if I'm going to get a Colt Walker, I'm not going to use paracord or hose clamps to stop the lever drop. That's would be like putting LEDs on a Dusenberg! Leather is the authentic way, cool to see it's NSSA approved!

January 21, 2015, 02:22 PM	#8
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	Thanks! I plan to do that too, but if it's not enough I'll make a leather/rawhide loop for it!

January 21, 2015, 02:31 PM	#9
maillemaker Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 1,635	Here's what I whipped up in the shop. Took about 5 minutes. If I wanted to get real fancy I would do a butt-join with tunneling stitches that would be invisible. http://imgur.com/a/Fuo3X Probably would have been better with thinner leather, too, but this does not interfere with my custom front sight, and it slides on and off fine. Steve

January 22, 2015, 12:10 AM	#12
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	Look really good Mail!

January 22, 2015, 08:31 PM	#13
BirchOrr Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2012 Location: Eaton Rapids, MI Posts: 445	If you do a search on this forum, you will see pictures of a sweet brass loading lever holder that Doc Hoy posted. He made one for me and I have it on my Colt Walker. He doesn't post here much anymore I don't know what happened to him. I hope he is well, Birch __________________ Black Powder: Not because it is easy, but because it is hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win...

January 22, 2015, 09:32 PM	#14
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,833	How about two pieces of brass pipe that are soldered together? Of course, the top will be cut partially away so it can slid past the front sight. It'll look like a figure 8 and can be slipped on/off as needed. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

January 23, 2015, 09:02 AM	#15
maillemaker Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 1,635	I think that's the one Birch is talking about. I've seen it before. It's a figure-8 of brass with a slit cut in the larger circle for the front sight. Steve

January 23, 2015, 02:30 PM	#16
BirchOrr Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2012 Location: Eaton Rapids, MI Posts: 445	Yep... ... I just did a search of the forum and cant find that pic. I' ll take a pic of mine and upload it. Birch __________________ Black Powder: Not because it is easy, but because it is hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win...

January 23, 2015, 10:02 PM	#17
hartcreek Junior member Join Date: April 22, 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 1,549	Supposedly Uberti re did the spring catch on their later Walkers so if you have a later one like me you might not need anything else.

January 24, 2015, 08:36 AM	#18
Mk VII Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2000 Location: England Posts: 455	Rubber bands also work well and are infinitely replaceable.

January 24, 2015, 10:54 PM	#19
maillemaker Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 1,635	Yup if you get a package of those tiny rubber bands from the orthodontist I best it would last you a long time and be nearly invisible. Steve

January 25, 2015, 02:10 PM	#20
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	My wife sez to use a pink ribbon. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”