Clips: The Colt New Army's Unique Drag Stop

Published on December 1, 2021
Duration: 7:24

This video details a common timing issue in Colt New Army revolvers, highlighting the unique scalloped cylinder stops and the role of the hand and gate in achieving proper alignment. The instructor explains how to diagnose and address back-travel or inconsistent cylinder lock-up, often stemming from issues with the hand spring or the hand's engagement with the cylinder stops.

Quick Summary

Colt New Army revolvers have a unique timing system involving scalloped cylinder stops where the hand actively participates in aligning the cylinder chamber. The gate also prevents counter-rotation. A key timing indicator is the cylinder stop's click-down position relative to cylinder lock-up.

Chapters

  1. 00:03Introduction to Clips Series
  2. 00:13Colt New Army Timing Issue Overview
  3. 01:04Unique Cylinder Stops Explained
  4. 01:30Hand and Stop Interaction for Alignment
  5. 02:10US vs. European Cylinder Alignment
  6. 02:26Trigger Pull and Cylinder Lock-up
  7. 03:07Colt 1878 Influence on Gate Function
  8. 03:39Gate's Role in Preventing Counter-Rotation
  9. 04:06Diagnosing Timing Slop
  10. 04:21Gate's Anti-Rotation Mechanism
  11. 04:46Hand-Me-Down from Colt 1878
  12. 05:05Cylinder Stop Engagement During Firing
  13. 05:35Preventing Counter-Rotation on Release
  14. 05:42Timing Indicator: Stop Not Clicking Down
  15. 06:01Troubleshooting Steps: Spring and Hand
  16. 06:13Modifying the Hand for Better Lock-up
  17. 06:38Restoring a De-Queued Revolver
  18. 06:47Reliable Functioning Achieved
  19. 06:53Further Viewing Recommendations

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the Colt New Army's cylinder alignment unique compared to other revolvers?

The Colt New Army features scalloped cylinder stops, meaning the hand actively participates in aligning the chamber to the barrel. This differs from many US revolvers where the cylinder stops are the sole mechanism for final alignment.

How does the gate on a Colt New Army revolver contribute to its timing?

The gate on the Colt New Army serves a dual role: it retains the cylinder and, crucially, prevents counter-rotation. This feature, inherited from models like the Colt 1878, is important when the hand is no longer actively driving the cylinder forward.

What is a key indicator that a Colt New Army revolver is out of time?

A primary sign of a Colt New Army being out of time is when the cylinder stop does not click down precisely at the moment the cylinder achieves its proper lock-up position after the trigger is fully pulled.

What are common causes for timing issues in Colt New Army revolvers?

Timing problems often stem from a weak or broken hand spring, or from wear and misalignment between the hand and the cylinder stops. These issues can lead to inconsistent cylinder rotation or undesirable back-travel.

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