geronimojoe85
Master
- Nov 16, 2009
- 3,716
- 48
For whatever reason there is a shroud of mystery surrounding certain revolver types. I'd like to talk today about one that for whatever reason seems particularly confusing to some. Most modern gunsmiths won't touch a Colt anymore and with good reason, if you mess it up it's really hard to get a replacement, also if you don't know what you're doing it's easy to mess one up. Colts are NOT S&W revolvers, you do NOT work them in the same fashion. The lock work of the Colt DA revolver from the beginning of the 20th century until the late 60s when the MkIII came out, is nearly identical. The only real difference is the amount of hand fitting given to each model.
In this picture you will see four examples of I-frame revolvers left to right, the Official Police, Trooper (not to be confused with the Trooper MkIII), the Officers Model 357, and the Python. You will see the OP is essentially a Trooper with fixed sights. The Trooper and the OP were Colt's base model revolvers for years. In 1955 the Python was introduced as the top of the line, best you could get and for the most part that rings true today. The Officers Model 357 was Colt's deluxe 357 magnum revolver before the Python, and after 1955 became a middle ground between the rather spartan Trooper and the Cadillac that is the Python. Colt subsequently dropped the model 357 as most people went for one or the other. Colt has also produced several other models on different frame sizes such as the Police Positive, Detective Special, Diamondback, Viper, Agent, etc. all having the same basic lock work. So this guide will help you with those guns as well.
Note the placement of the screws and studs are identical.
Now with the side plates removed.
Ok, let's talk disassembly.
First remove the grip.
Then the cylinder retaining screw, spring and detent.
And the cylinder and crane slide right out the front.
Now to remove the side plate, remove the two side plate screws.
Then use a plastic hammer or wood handle to tap the frame until the plate pops off, take care to keep the cylinder latch and side plate together.
Exposing the guts you can see the flat mainspring. Carefully slide it out of the frame and off of the stirrup of the hammer.
Remove the hand from the trigger.
Remove the rebound lever by driving the pin out of the frame with a punch from right to left.
And the lever drops right out.
Now moving the hammer into the cocked position you can slide the hammer up and off of its respective stud.
Now you can place the trigger in its forward most position and remove the latch pin.
At this point you can see the trigger, safety lever, and safety. These all come out as one piece. Take care to lift the parts out together or they may bind.
Now all that's left in the frame is the bolt, bolt spring, and bolt screw.
The spring is held under considerable tension. So care should be taken not to lose the spring.
Also the bolt screw is very short.
The best way to keep from losing parts is to place your finger over the bolt spring as you remove the screw.
Then gently push the bolt head through the window of the frame and lift out the side.
Now, congratulations you are disassembled. Well, mostly, if your revolver has a frame mounted firing pin you will have to remove the rear sight and then the firing pin retaining plate which is reminiscent of the 1911. At any rate were done here.
In this picture you will see four examples of I-frame revolvers left to right, the Official Police, Trooper (not to be confused with the Trooper MkIII), the Officers Model 357, and the Python. You will see the OP is essentially a Trooper with fixed sights. The Trooper and the OP were Colt's base model revolvers for years. In 1955 the Python was introduced as the top of the line, best you could get and for the most part that rings true today. The Officers Model 357 was Colt's deluxe 357 magnum revolver before the Python, and after 1955 became a middle ground between the rather spartan Trooper and the Cadillac that is the Python. Colt subsequently dropped the model 357 as most people went for one or the other. Colt has also produced several other models on different frame sizes such as the Police Positive, Detective Special, Diamondback, Viper, Agent, etc. all having the same basic lock work. So this guide will help you with those guns as well.
Note the placement of the screws and studs are identical.
Now with the side plates removed.
Ok, let's talk disassembly.
First remove the grip.
Then the cylinder retaining screw, spring and detent.
And the cylinder and crane slide right out the front.
Now to remove the side plate, remove the two side plate screws.
Then use a plastic hammer or wood handle to tap the frame until the plate pops off, take care to keep the cylinder latch and side plate together.
Exposing the guts you can see the flat mainspring. Carefully slide it out of the frame and off of the stirrup of the hammer.
Remove the hand from the trigger.
Remove the rebound lever by driving the pin out of the frame with a punch from right to left.
And the lever drops right out.
Now moving the hammer into the cocked position you can slide the hammer up and off of its respective stud.
Now you can place the trigger in its forward most position and remove the latch pin.
At this point you can see the trigger, safety lever, and safety. These all come out as one piece. Take care to lift the parts out together or they may bind.
Now all that's left in the frame is the bolt, bolt spring, and bolt screw.
The spring is held under considerable tension. So care should be taken not to lose the spring.
Also the bolt screw is very short.
The best way to keep from losing parts is to place your finger over the bolt spring as you remove the screw.
Then gently push the bolt head through the window of the frame and lift out the side.
Now, congratulations you are disassembled. Well, mostly, if your revolver has a frame mounted firing pin you will have to remove the rear sight and then the firing pin retaining plate which is reminiscent of the 1911. At any rate were done here.
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