AAAGGH! Problem with Cattleman

steelbird · May 20, 2012, 04:12 PM

For starters, thanks to those who answered my question about BP loads for my newly-acquired Cattleman.

I've got a problem right off the bat, though. I disassembled the gun, to see the workings, and how they compared with my old 1860 by Pietta. I was surprised to see a small silver rod fall out of the hammer area; I believe this to be a part of the hand and spring assembly - I re-assembled the gun without it, and sure enough, the cylinder won't advance without being pointed downward. The schematic doesn't make it clear to my eyes what this is, and where it goes. Can anyone tell me what I need to do here?

Kadmos · May 20, 2012, 04:23 PM

With the grip removed there is a very small flush screw on the frame by the left side grip screw, This must be removed. First the hammer and hand must be installed, then the pin drops into the hole, then a tiny spring, then the screw replaced.

I have a bad feeling the spring may have launched somewhere across the room when you pulled the hammer/hand.

In the future take the little screw out first, do not pull the hammer out without pulling the hand spring and pin out first.

g.willikers · May 20, 2012, 04:55 PM

Here's a parts view:
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/sid=3...Cattleman_S_A_

steelbird · May 20, 2012, 05:10 PM

Thanks!

That solved the problem. I can see that feature is very different than my 1860 copy. I didn't know that the spring and the pin could be inserted from the exterior of the frame after removing the screw. And no, I didn't lose the spring. When I removed the hammer, the pin came out ( the small rod ), but the spring stayed behind, it didn't go flying off somewhere.

Hellgate · May 20, 2012, 11:40 PM

Steelbird,
Same thing happened to me. Both spring & plunger rod fell out (much to my surprise!). Luckily I found them both. The next time I disassembled it I did it in the tub/shower stall with the drain closed and the area enclosed. Eventually logic won out and I figured that I needed to take the screw, spring & plunger out right after taking the grips off and putting them back in AFTER getting the hammer & hand in (as was stated by Kadmos). Obviously it is a superior design but had me scared to touch them for a while. Now I feel like an old pro but not without a lot of aformentioned angst and at least one "Oh s**t!".

Throckmorton · May 22, 2012, 11:53 AM

a local cowboy shooter modified my sixguns,and said he takes the spring out of BIC lighters,and cuts them a skosh longer than the depth of the hole with the pin inserted.one spring makes several of these hand springs.
He makees the pins out of a piece of drill rod and rounds the inward end a tad.

btw,i'm sure that 'tad' and 'skoshe' are real gunsmith terms,lol

this conversion made my old 'clunker' sixgun a lot smoother,there was too much tension on the original hand,AND the old flat hand springs are very prone to breakage.

May 20, 2012, 04:12 PM	#1
steelbird Senior Member Join Date: July 19, 2010 Posts: 180	AAAGGH! Problem with Cattleman For starters, thanks to those who answered my question about BP loads for my newly-acquired Cattleman. I've got a problem right off the bat, though. I disassembled the gun, to see the workings, and how they compared with my old 1860 by Pietta. I was surprised to see a small silver rod fall out of the hammer area; I believe this to be a part of the hand and spring assembly - I re-assembled the gun without it, and sure enough, the cylinder won't advance without being pointed downward. The schematic doesn't make it clear to my eyes what this is, and where it goes. Can anyone tell me what I need to do here?

May 20, 2012, 11:40 PM	#5
Hellgate Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2010 Location: Orygun Posts: 881	Steelbird, Same thing happened to me. Both spring & plunger rod fell out (much to my surprise!). Luckily I found them both. The next time I disassembled it I did it in the tub/shower stall with the drain closed and the area enclosed. Eventually logic won out and I figured that I needed to take the screw, spring & plunger out right after taking the grips off and putting them back in AFTER getting the hammer & hand in (as was stated by Kadmos). Obviously it is a superior design but had me scared to touch them for a while. Now I feel like an old pro but not without a lot of aformentioned angst and at least one "Oh s**t!". __________________ With over 15 perCUSSIN' revolvers, I've been called the Imelda Marcos of cap & ball. SASS#3302 (Life), SASS Regulator, NRA (Life), Dirty Gamey Bastards #129 Wolverton Mtn. Peacekeepers (WA), former Orygun Cowboy (Ranger, Posse from Hell)

May 22, 2012, 11:53 AM	#6
Throckmorton Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2004 Location: Washougal,Wa Posts: 146	if u ever lose that spring.. a local cowboy shooter modified my sixguns,and said he takes the spring out of BIC lighters,and cuts them a skosh longer than the depth of the hole with the pin inserted.one spring makes several of these hand springs. He makees the pins out of a piece of drill rod and rounds the inward end a tad. btw,i'm sure that 'tad' and 'skoshe' are real gunsmith terms,lol this conversion made my old 'clunker' sixgun a lot smoother,there was too much tension on the original hand,AND the old flat hand springs are very prone to breakage.

May 20, 2012, 04:23 PM	#2
Kadmos Member Join Date: April 27, 2010 Posts: 93	With the grip removed there is a very small flush screw on the frame by the left side grip screw, This must be removed. First the hammer and hand must be installed, then the pin drops into the hole, then a tiny spring, then the screw replaced. I have a bad feeling the spring may have launched somewhere across the room when you pulled the hammer/hand. In the future take the little screw out first, do not pull the hammer out without pulling the hand spring and pin out first.

May 20, 2012, 04:55 PM	#3
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Here's a parts view: http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/sid=3...Cattleman_S_A_

May 20, 2012, 05:10 PM	#4
steelbird Senior Member Join Date: July 19, 2010 Posts: 180	Thanks! That solved the problem. I can see that feature is very different than my 1860 copy. I didn't know that the spring and the pin could be inserted from the exterior of the frame after removing the screw. And no, I didn't lose the spring. When I removed the hammer, the pin came out ( the small rod ), but the spring stayed behind, it didn't go flying off somewhere.