I'm always impressed by the genius of the design of these guns. These guys didn't have any technology we take for granted, yet they came up with designs that still, over 150 years later, work, and even by todays standard, are powerful weapons. Thanks for posting these vids.

So my brother hands me a box today full of parts and says here is an 1860 army pistol you can have if you put it back together. I get on KZfaq.. watch this video 18:30 video and I now own a pistol.. lol thank you so much sir. Great video.

Not having any BP weapons, each time I consider buying one, I think of this chore, cleaning the weapon, each and every time you finish firing. Especially at my age, nearly 80 yrs old, I'm picky about how I use my time. Just the same, it's interesting info. I have read GOW for yrs. Thks Mike; you youngster; I''m a 1944 toddler.

Everything I know about black powder revolvers I've learned from your channel. Many thanks!

Thank you so much for this detailed video! Having recently purchased an 1860 replica I want to take it apart and very, very carefully remove any burs that I might find. I, and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one, tend to get a bit lost when it comes to "exploded diagrams" and videos here on KZfaq that go just so far.....And stop! Thanks again for this video as it is the best/most complete that I've seen to date!

Excellent video about disassembling and reassembling the 1860 Colt. Keep 'em coming, Mike!

Excellent video, can see parts when most needed. A must for novices.

Thanks Mike. That looks like a Brownells Colt SSA screwdriver. They come with all the bits that fit every screw on nearly all Colt Revolvers. They are excellent. Thanks for the video.

I learn a lot from you mike. You are the reason I purchased my 1851 Navy

Thank you so much. I was given one and the previous owner lost the Trigger & Bolt spring and messed up the spring on the hand assembly. You perfectly showed me how it all works. I'm impressed with your knowledge!!!!

Absolutely love this channel has got me hooked on black powder shooting

Another good video Mike. Okay, I guess I'll start taking my 1860 part now. Thanks for the detailed video on the steps.

I Just Bought My FIRST Black Powder Revolver, A 1860 44 cal. Army. (pietta) I Am SO Thankful For This Video, Because I Want To Be Good At Cleaning My Gun When I'm Done Firing It So It Will Last For Many Many Years. What I've Learned Right Off Is I Need The Proper Tools, Like The Plastic Mallet, The Brass Punch, And The Right Screwdrivers. Black Powder Shooting Is So Much More Satisfying, I'm Excited To Get Started! I'm 76 yrs Old And Have Never Fired A Black Powder Gun.

Just got the same gun today and used this video to help me disassemble and my 1860!

Bravo it is very well explained I feel like a pro now thank you for this intelligent and clear tuition

Had to watch the first few min again .... as I had forgotten which side the wedge was inserted ... thanks Duelist

Such a beauty this.

Great video, learned a lot. Thanks!

Very Well done. Good sound, good clear video, very clear voice.. Thank you..

believe me taking those screws out the first time requires a good set of gun smith screwdrivers, muscle, and care. Mongo (Blazing Saddles) great great grandson screws those suckers in at the factory and they are in TIGHT.

Yes great stuff thanks for the up load happy shooting

I learned a lot from you as well thanks Mike

I have the same model except its the .36 navy. Your previoua videos taught me a lot about how to play with these colts. Thank you and keep making these vids! Ps. Itll probably shoot a foot high. Front sight is easy to push out of its slot, and a brass plate, of the appropriate thickness is easy to shape into a taller front blade. Maybe do a vid on that?!

Dear Mike: So sorry about your summer discomfort, the stinking weather most of the rest of the country is the sole reason I''ve remained in my Native California Sierra Nevada Mountains. I've two items of interest for you: First, the Big Lube bullet that I wrote you about earlier has worked out extremely well for me. It has two rebates for loading, the largest diameter for the ROA, the second designed for Replica Colt .44's. At @ 210 grains it works well in my Pietta 1851 Navy 44s. The different recoil with the heavier bullets makes the revolvers shoot even higher, I've got to fix that. I expect to modify the barrel assembly to make seating the bullets easier for me in the future, but for now they load just fine given sufficient care. The second item is that I have found Remington #10 caps in large quantities at Mid South Shooters Supply, I bought 10,000 which should last for a while even with CASS, too bad they don't stock the Holy Black though Thanks for your thoughtful and simple methods for care and feeding of these percussion revolvers. I expect to begin assembly of paper cartridges for these revolvers soon. Computer printer out-put paper soaked in Potassium Nitrate solution at maximum concentration. I have a whole case of the rolls left over from the days of dot matrix printers I have been using this paper for kindling in my wood stove during the winter, Thanks again for your informative videos about the care and feeding of these revolvers. I am in the process of using the method found on Open Range's page to convert to coil spring hand springs, no more broken springs for me! The process requires careful use of a drill press and an appropriate table vise, but otherwise it is relatively simple. I think I will use my mill also for dovetailing sights for these revolvers, have you any tips about this procedure, it seems to be a cleaner and faster way to make the dovetails on the front of the barrels. I just didn't want to take a Hacksaw to the barrels if an appropriate mill can be found for the dovetails. Let me know any ideas you may have about milling dovetails on these barrels. Best Wishes for you and yours Don Denison

Thanks for the video my 1860 locked up. was a burr but your video let me take it completely down and fix it

Got my colt 1860 army $985%$ original now going to take apart and clean. Thanks

Thanks for this video. I don't know whether I'd ever have the confidence to try this myself. Putting everything back together seems as if it must be more complicated than it looks. I keep thinking something has to fit just right and that if I tried to do things myself, I'd be fighting with some part for hours. I appreciate your giving us this information. Maybe someday I'll buy an extra revolver that I can use just to practice this kind of stuff.

Thank you for your video. I learned a lot. These guns are awesome

Mike, very professionally done, as always. Thank you. One request, could you add notes as to the specific driver bit size etc. that you use? It helps those of us that do “trial and error by mail order” and would be a big help. Thanks. Also, as a fellow Central PA guy (Centre County), I second you comments about rain this year.

Excellent I learn à lot with you, best regards from south of France. Sly

Many thanks for presentation.

Great video and thank you for you great work with theese videos :) They helped me a lot :D

Thanks

thank you !!

They still do. I just checked it out. Thanks

Excellent! Thank you sir! Liked and Subscribed.

Thank you!

Great tear down. Have you ever removed the arbor that holds the cylinder on the frame? I had a Colt Navy 2nd Gen. that had a loose arbor that caused the barrel to rise up once you put the barrel wedge back in. You could actually see the slight rise compared to the frame and at 20 ft. it would should about a foot high. I tried to see how to remove the arbor, but never could so I sold it several years ago.

Mike when are you going to get back on that beautiful York County Rifle. Are you waiting for winter?My experience is it required an impact driver and Brownell's bit to loosen all the grip frame screws and the trigger/bolt spring screw the first time on every one of my revolvers.

Wow Mike...what a timely video. I just bought a Uberti 1860 Army. I took it apart to clean out all the shipping grease. When I went to put it back together the hand refused to slide up into its slot. I looked up in there with a light...and sure enough...there's the "shelf" you were talking about(10:00). I tried to remove it with a quality needle file...but without much success. I ended up using a little brass rod to compress the spring...allowing the hand to slide past the shelf. Once lubed and put back together the action feels really nice. I guess the question is...do I risk ruining the feel of the action in an attempt to ease the reassembly process? It's a beautiful piece in all other respects...with an incredibly tight cylinder lock-up...so this issue certainly isn't a deal breaker. I'm just afraid of taking a 9.5 and turning it into 5...all because I wanted a 10!!!

Would it be a bad idea to put anti-seize on the screws during reassembly?

Good looking Pistol

Good video

Dig the Hat. I have the very same 1860, Caps some times mushroom causing it to jam.

How tight do you do the wedge retainer screw? All my Piettas have come with that screw loose. I usually just finger tighten it and leave it.

i have a 1851 navy it has fie on top of the barrel it has xxvl on the side and made in italy stamped on the bottom of the but plate. and a square with a b in the middle stamped next to it. can you tell me what it is and do they still make parts for it thx.

Mike, what can be done if the screw for the hammer is frozen in the frame? I've tried heat and penetrating oil but still no go?

Thanks for the video. I wasn't sure if I can do it, but I tried and after many years, the gun looks like new again. My only problem and I don't know if it's real problem is that sometimes Cylinder /chambers won't exactly align with the hammer. The difference is tiny, looks like the hammer will always hit the primer. Is this going to be a problem, or I have to just forget it? Or what adjustment I should do. Thank You.

Is it possible to mix pietta and original Colt parts ?

Hello I'm from valencia spain my name is Inda I'm glad you make these videos so good because I'm fully involved with the black plumber and you're the best a question on the colt when you mount it I've observed that the pin of the cannon with the drum you don't adjust it until the end you just insert it until you see it on the other side and I think ? it will be good or bad that it is until the end and that there is no gap between the barrel and the drum so that the gases do not leak. because I have a friend and he does the same thing as you, I think he should be butt together and stronger I'd be glad you'd tell me thanks to a greeting -- inda

I know this video is old and I'm making a comment 3 years later, but like a lot of other people have said, thank you very much for posting these videos, especially this one. It was very helpful solving a problem that I couldn't figure out. I still don't know what the problem was, it would get stuck and wouldn't work right. I took it all the way apart cleaned everything, and put it back together again and everything is fine now, like new. Anyways, again thank you

Hola soy de valencia spain mi nombre es inda me alegra que hagas estos videos tan buenos pues estoy metido de lleno con la plovora negra y tu eres el mejor una pregunta en el colt cuando lo montas he observado que el pasador del cañón con el tambor no lo ajustas hasta el final solo lo introduces hasta que se vea por el otro lado y pienso ? será bueno o malo que este hasta el final y que no quede hueco entre el cañón y el tambor para que no se escapen los gases . pues tengo un amigo y hace lo mismo que tu .pienso que debería estar a tope mas junto y mas fuerte me alegraría me lo comentes gracias un saludo - inda

What type and sizes are the screwdrivers you are using? Thought you referenced that on another video, but I can't remember which one. New to cap and ball revolvers, and I love the history behind these firearms. Your channel rocks!

Will Uberti or Pietta internals work in a ASM pistol?

Excellent video. I having a problem though that you may know the answer to. Once I've assembled the trigger assembly and put the main spring back in place on the hammer, when I cock it everything locks up and I have to strip it back to the trigger to release it all. Any ideas?

I have heard a couple KZfaqrs advocate replacing the trigger spring because the factory spring is not the highest quality and is a failure point. I was hoping to get your opinion on that. Should I order 5 springs from Dixie and replace mine. Thanks for the content.

Hey Mike, I know this is an older vid, but I'm fairly new to these guns and I have a cleaning question: after shooting (usually 18-24 shots) I have been cleaning the barrel and the cylinder / nipples with hot water and balistol. How often do I need to do a full takedown? I haven't done it yet... sometimes the hammer will feel a bit gritty after shooting but I've just dribbled a bit of Balistol in the action and worked it smooth... Should I take the whole thing apart every couple of times, or does the fouling not really get into the action too much? (I'm using Pyrodex, not real BP) thanks, Jon

Mine is brand new and I'm just trying to wipe off the preservative. The wedge came out but I can't seem to get the barrel off.

Hello Mike i hope you and your family are doing great :) if i choose to go with a new Black Powder Revolver i will either a Original Colt 1851 Navy .36 3RD Model Steel Frame or a Pietta Colt 1860 Army .44 Steel Frame or a Uberti 1873 Cattleman .44 Caliber Black Powder Steel Frame i will use them for Historical Purposes Target Shooting Hunting Self-Defense and Home-Defense :D

Wished you would do a review of the Pietta model 1851 navy "yank" pepperbox revolver . Cabelas has them for sale

Anyone have any ideas on removing the Barrel Locking Pins? Mine are shoved all the way into and flush with the front of the frame.

Hi Mike. I just got a Uberti 1860 and BOY WAS IT ROUGH! I almost couldn't get the barrel off of the frame. I cleaned & polished it to the point where it is 80% smoother then it was originally but one problem remains. When I just start to cock the hammer it sticks/hesitates, then breaks free and rotates the cylinder normally. The hand comes up out of the frame smoothly with no cylinder installed but as soon as I put it back together it starts to stick/hesitate again. Sometimes worse than others but it always does it. Any ideas? My 3 year old Uberti 1851 is like glass. This one needs more tuning/smoothing for sure but I have no idea what is causing it to stick. Have you seen this before?

What about the last screw of the frame you don't take out, What is it for?

Where did you get the wedge removal tool?

So a while back a over loaded my Lyman 1860 resulting in a stretched cylinder pin and the loading lever latch flying off. In your opinion how hard would it be to fit a new pin and lever latch

You sir are a public benefactor.

Good morning. what is the screw above the wedge that holds the barrel on for?

Awesome vid. Who is the maker of these pistol?

can you upgrade an 1860 to a cartridge revolver with new cylinder

Mike, I have bad news! So I receive my 1860 army revolver. I tried to disassemble it apart to remove burs left behind. I did use proper tools and correct size for screwdrivers. But, there’s always a but, on the rear back grip by the hammer seemed almost impossible to remove. Almost like welded it was that my strength was just too strong causing the screw to literally loose it’s screw head line nick. What do I do? Is there any way to remove this screw or am I really that in trouble? I’m loosing my patience here with this pistol.

where did you get that hammer??

Special Note: the hand may hang up in the channel if the cylinder is not in place.

I was told that ballistol eats up the brass. Is this true??

I have a question I took mine apart and cleaned and put back together but I can't get half cock anymore just locked up and but no cylinder spin everything else works fine what should I do Mr Duelist?

So, i want to repair a colt 1860 serial number 190457, i live on México, is posible?

I have an 1860 army made by Uberti and I cannot for the life of me get the barrel to budge. Took the pin out of course. Tried using the loading level and nothing. It's really on there.

For the life of me I cannot find a screwdriver that has a fine enough edge to get these screws out

100 degrees? i am glad it is not in celsius

I will try to contact uberti USA tomorrow or Monday. But the one I received last month, uberti 44 cal is junk. No more than a paper weight. And a learning tool, never buy black powder again.

Without a good set of gunsmith screwdrivers you will ruin the screws.

these things are a damn nightmare to work on lol the uberti model fucking sucks to put back together

Rolex....

Yeah, thanx for not blocking the camera so we could see where you placed ballistol. Oh, wait, you did block the camera. Don't quit your day job for a career on KZfaq. Work on your camera skills, brah.