1851 Colt Navy / 1860 Colt Army & The Manhattan Conversion
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- Опубліковано 27 лип 2024
- Today we show and discuss the little known upgrade for the 1851 Colt Navy and 1860 Colt Army black powder cap and ball revolvers. The Manhattan Conversion, is a upgrade to help stop cap suck and prevent a spent cap from falling into the hammer channel and locking up the gun.
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Thanks for watching
45 Alfa Charlie Papa
Interesting video. I learned something I didn't know about.
There are other approaches. One is to fit a small pin into the frame that fits in the extended slot of the hammer nose. Takes a lot of meticulous gunsmithing, but it works. Another is to fill the slot with something durable. I chose a different method. The slot in the hammer nose has two purposes. One is to sit on the cylinder pins and let the hammer rest between chambers. The other purpose is a design feature. Colt wanted the caps (stronger back in the day), to split and fall off. So he gave them a predetermined path to split with the hammer nose slot. The problem arises when the caps swell back into that slot. I've heard it referred to as a "cap sucking slot". I chose to hone that slot smooth, and in the process widen the leading edge of the slot just a whisker. When completely smooth, the slot quits hanging on to the cap, and the cap jams stop. That's what I did, but I hadn't heard of the Manhatten conversion, so thank you.
Always learning. Thanks for watching.
I've never heard of this, good idea. I used the pin method, same concept, haven't had a jam since. Drilled a 1/16 hole in center of the frame at about the same place yours are, used a broken 1/16 drill bit for the pin, about 3/16(?) tall. notched the hammer to clear the pin. The pin should be as tall as the top of the capped nipple and as close to the capped nipple as possible without interfering with the cylinder rotation (1/32 ?). I read about this method in an old article about making the 1851 more reliable. I also changed the hand spring to a ruger plunger style, great upgrade, from the same article. Appreciate the info, thanks.
Colt is A goofy but interesting design. Also the cocking sound is louder. I like that.
Thanks for watching.
Been planning to do this myself to my repros for some time; figures that it had already been sussed out a century & a half ago! This provides a lot more impetus to me to "git'er dun..." Thanks!
Beautiful revolvers, my oldest son is really into those, I enjoy firing his. 😃
I have acquired a few Black Powder guns recently. Fun to shoot, sometimes it is nice to just slow down and enjoy the process. Thanks for watching brother. I have been also been over on Clover Tac channel on the Thursday night panel, I am a little green but have been enjoying it.
“Lords of the dark arts”
I like that :D
Another super simple way to prevent cap sucking on a colt without needing a gunsmith is to replace the cylinder cones (nipples) with SlixShot nipples. There is a vent hole drilled in to both sides of those cones which causes the caps to blow apart, relieving the back pressure that forces the the spent cap to get sucked into the safety slot on the hammer, and freely fall off. The cones also have a wider mouth ensuring guaranteed and quicker ignition of the powder. The drawback is that they are a little on the expensive side at $40 for all 6. However, given the average rates a gunsmith charges it would actually end cheaper than it would be to have him file down the hammer and solder in some extra metal.
Just giving some friendly advice and something to think about. Perhaps you’ll give them a look one day.
The idea of my videos is to give the hobbyist or novice gunsmith projects they can work on to improve their skills or learn by actually doing. Your suggestion is completely valid but doesn't give him anything to accomplish. Thank you for watching and suggesting a different solution.
Very cool thanks for the tip
My 1851 Signature Colt, had the Manhattan Conversion done by Rowdy Yates (in California).
Very Nice. Thanks for watching.
I am going to have to try this modification and see how it works for me. I have installed a cap rake on one of my 51s. It works quite well.
Good luck on your project. Just be careful not to take to much off the nose of the hammer. I had to replace the hammer on one and redo the work due to hang fires. Thanks for watching.
Manhattan Firearms made more than 150.000 revolvers. One is in my collection 😁👍
Good to know. Thanks for watching.
I've got a set of slixshots on my 51 navy by Uberti and that gun never once jammed up on me the biggest problem Ive had with caps is when the nipples get too fouled unfired caps sometimes falling off under recoil and that's after maybe 7 to 8 cylinders I don't have to cavalry cock it or turn it or anything
Just need to find a way to solve that little issue and it will be the perfect bp revolver
Over 170 years and we are still trying to get these things to run better. :) Thanks for watching.
Can a felon still own one of those after it's been converted????
With a steel frame do I try and drill a small hole on each side and then epoxy or soider the pins in there? Thank you for sharing the video
I would Solder. Don't forget that you will need to narrow the hammer to fit in the slot. Thanks for watching.
like!
Actually there where 4 .44 caliber colt navy's made in the 1800s I think 2 are still around in a museum somewhere
I'll take your word for it. This is the first time I've heard that .
@@paulmazan4909 ill see if I can find an article or something I never confirmed that it was true but I think I heard it from a source that I trust, when I heard I thought it was interesting
Not true. There was however a .40 caliber Navy prototype. Never a .44 though.
Some of the Confederate gunmakers played around with .44 Navy prototypes but it was decided to stay with .36
The .44 Army prototype was a .44 with a Navy barrel bored to .44 , and machined round, and the early fluted cylinder. It was made just as a workup . Colt designed the Army barrel shortly after.
Remington 1862 New Model Army! The only thing 1858 about it is the patent that holds the cylinder pin in place!
You are right but if I called it that the vast majority would not know what revolver I was talking about. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Show yourself altering one
Next time I have one around to alter that would be a good idea. I did these some time ago and also shortened the barrels and installed dovetail front sights. Thanks for the suggestion and for watching.
@@paulmazan4909 your welcome, enjoyed it. Never seen that mod before