Having sorted out the innards on a VH, I'm now having a good external look over lifter 22761. Action is tight. Overall looks decent for an 1881 gun. Bores need some cleaning and may have some pitting, we'll see after the good cleaning. At least they aren't horrible. Some screws have damaged heads (not that bad but damaged), which suggests it has been opened up at some point in its history. All engraving is very crisp and stampings clear. I cocked and released both hammers. Springs are good. If I hold the barrel muzzle up, the extractor drops under gravity alone. The wood looks pretty good, with the exception of a hole for a sling swivel on the butt stock. There is a sling swivel mounted on the barrels and it is well done, not like the mess on "Second Chance" gun. This gun has been used but I think it was probably a closet queen for many decades. There is light rust on the underside of the barrels at the muzzle end. I see no dents or bulges. Barrels are listed in the book as 32" and they remain 32". So far, the only real issue I have encountered is some lateral play in the right hammer. Left hammer has no perceivable play. The right hammer screw is fully turned and not damaged. All I can do is back it off.
Sooo...... the question.
What will be worn or broken that allows the hammer to have lateral play???
I will take some pictures "eventually", as there are some stampings, the meaning of which, I have not determined.
The ones I think I know
The circle T I believe refers to Twist
The 1 on the barrel lug refers to it being a #1 Frame gun
The 3 14 refers to unstruck barrel weight of 3 pounds 14 ounces
The ones I don't know
+ mark on each flat
6 on forward barrel lug that has two small letters below (I'm guessing ST or SF)
524 in line and equally spaced suggesting five hundred twenty-four and the 5 hit the barrel not the flat and is only on one side.
My first job for this gun is to have the right hammer operate without lateral play.
My first concern is that I have not opened a hammer gun and want to ensure I do no harm in that process. The wood-to-metal fit is as perfect as I have seen, so that makes me hesitant to play but I don't want to shoot it with a loose hammer. Is there a take down schematic somewhere like the one for the hammerless gun in FAQ's?
I have yet to determine the various barrel dimensions Just from eyeballing, it appears to be a stout gun but the eyes are old, tri-focaled and getting dim - the roosters may not have to worry this season. (Working on my excuses)
Cheers,
Jack
Loose Hammer on Lifter
Threaded Mode