Old Soldier
1st Lieutenant
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2022
- Location
- Yorkshire
This is the finished pistol from my earlier thread.
civilwartalk.com
Why so long? It is called 'aging'. It takes time (and a lot of play) to wear the finish in! I like my guns to look 'used'. the only new part is the grip - a rough finished Pedersoli, one bought in from the USA since Pedersoli no longer make them and they are all sold out in Europe!
Note that I keep the old grip. It was the only part of the pistol that was not numbered to the frame and barrel. So why replace it? It made the pistol even harder to hold and was worn below the frame level. If it gets sold on, the old grip goes with it. Fitting was a nightmare at times and brought my woodworking skills to the fore. Note that it has had a few knocks too to make it look more 'original'.
The pistol was bought cheap as it was 'not working' since the bolt did not allow rotation, a simple tweak of the trigger/bolt spring got it working again. It is not faultless as there is an occasional failure - one out of six - to rotate the cylinder, which I am putting down to the damaged pawl on the cylinder (arrowed) not returning the arm properly.
Look at the one opposite (the arm side). The arm operates on the horizontal edge and cocking the hammer rotates the cylinder clockwise until the bolt locks it. On firing, as the hammer moves forwards, the arm slides down the pawls and the'wedge' of the following pawl helps to push it over the pawl to engage it for the next cocking action.
Trouble is, none of this is visible in the Starr action, even when stripped!
The bore is quite reasonable too.
It is very hard to get an original finish on these pistols as the original blueing was applied very hot - too hot for some - and it flakes off rather than rubs off. The pitting on the area around the position of the thumb (last photo) is noticable too as is the relative lack of pitting on hammer and rammer (case hardened)
It was never intended to be a good display example as it has been through the 'attic' process and was pitted. The nipples were left alone as I would probably have sheared some off. What did surprise me was just how unwieldy it was, muzzle heavy and difficult to cock with the grip hand - it's an acquired skill. My other pistols are Adams and Tranter revolvers and better balanced (6" barrels)
No, it is not going to be a shooter - our gun laws do not make that easy or cheap - and it would require re-proofing, with all that that can do to an old pistol. Still it was an eyeopener to the 'simple' workings of US single action revolvers (in quotes because it isn't) and a good exercise in fault-finding and mechanics.
Starr M1863 | Small Arms & Ammunition
At long last, I have my first real Civil War piece - a Starr Single Action. It was at a VERY good price, but as always, it is not perfect. You can see the pitting and the hammer MAY be repro, but it has pin-prick pitting and rust scars on it. I am sure some one has tried to 'restore' it...
civilwartalk.com
Why so long? It is called 'aging'. It takes time (and a lot of play) to wear the finish in! I like my guns to look 'used'. the only new part is the grip - a rough finished Pedersoli, one bought in from the USA since Pedersoli no longer make them and they are all sold out in Europe!
Note that I keep the old grip. It was the only part of the pistol that was not numbered to the frame and barrel. So why replace it? It made the pistol even harder to hold and was worn below the frame level. If it gets sold on, the old grip goes with it. Fitting was a nightmare at times and brought my woodworking skills to the fore. Note that it has had a few knocks too to make it look more 'original'.
The pistol was bought cheap as it was 'not working' since the bolt did not allow rotation, a simple tweak of the trigger/bolt spring got it working again. It is not faultless as there is an occasional failure - one out of six - to rotate the cylinder, which I am putting down to the damaged pawl on the cylinder (arrowed) not returning the arm properly.
Look at the one opposite (the arm side). The arm operates on the horizontal edge and cocking the hammer rotates the cylinder clockwise until the bolt locks it. On firing, as the hammer moves forwards, the arm slides down the pawls and the'wedge' of the following pawl helps to push it over the pawl to engage it for the next cocking action.
Trouble is, none of this is visible in the Starr action, even when stripped!
It is very hard to get an original finish on these pistols as the original blueing was applied very hot - too hot for some - and it flakes off rather than rubs off. The pitting on the area around the position of the thumb (last photo) is noticable too as is the relative lack of pitting on hammer and rammer (case hardened)
It was never intended to be a good display example as it has been through the 'attic' process and was pitted. The nipples were left alone as I would probably have sheared some off. What did surprise me was just how unwieldy it was, muzzle heavy and difficult to cock with the grip hand - it's an acquired skill. My other pistols are Adams and Tranter revolvers and better balanced (6" barrels)
No, it is not going to be a shooter - our gun laws do not make that easy or cheap - and it would require re-proofing, with all that that can do to an old pistol. Still it was an eyeopener to the 'simple' workings of US single action revolvers (in quotes because it isn't) and a good exercise in fault-finding and mechanics.
Bringing the