The Phoenix Project

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TINCANBANDIT
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The Phoenix Project

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu May 21, 2015 5:45 pm

Another project

This one I will call the "Phoenix Project", it was found in the remains of a house fire. It is a 1978 Colt Trooper Mk III.

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Before you go thinking this gun is unsafe because it was in a fire...not to worry, it was not exposed to any high heat.....the grips were not charred and the springs still had their intergrity

more pictures here

http://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2015/0 ... -of_5.html

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TINCANBANDIT
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Re: The Phoenix Project

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu May 21, 2015 5:50 pm

The internal parts were in decent shape

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but the bore was like a sewer pipe

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The cylinder would need to be replaced as well, the pits around the cylinder stop notches were way too deep

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Re: The Phoenix Project

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu May 21, 2015 5:53 pm

the only way to make this gun look good again was to remove metal until it is smooth again.....not easy to do.

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I wasn't going to concern myself with the roll marks, if they get ruined...oh well , that is the price of admission to redemption land (you can see the Colt rampart logo is already disappearing)

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Re: The Phoenix Project

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu May 21, 2015 6:01 pm

Thanks to ebay and gun broker I was able to score some parts

I got a used cylinder for $49

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The barrel from a MkV will do nicely, the vent ribs are a nice touch (like a poor man's Python?). The barrel was exchanged for $40 quatloos

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We then lucked out and found a local guy selling mint NOS Colt Trooper parts on gun broker, he agreed to cancel his auction and meet me so we could broker a deal

I picked up this lot for $80 smakaroos...including a new color cased hammer, new trigger, new side plate (the rampart returns!) and a host of internal parts and all new screws!

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The project started moving faster now that we had some real hope

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Re: The Phoenix Project

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu May 21, 2015 6:04 pm

cleaning up some of the small parts

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checking the fit of the new side plate

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I built a tool to remove the barrel from the frame, see the blog post here: http://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2015/0 ... ver_2.html

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Re: The Phoenix Project

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu May 21, 2015 6:07 pm

see the blog update here

http://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2015/0 ... of_22.html


fitting of the side plate

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more sanding

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Re: The Phoenix Project

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu May 21, 2015 6:10 pm

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Once I was getting close to the 600 grit level I installed the new barrel (notice how I stay away from the rampart logo with the sand paper...)

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I then taped it off and sand blasted the top, just like the factory did

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Re: The Phoenix Project

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu May 21, 2015 6:13 pm

next up: fitting the cylinder to the extractor

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cleaning up the face of the cylinder

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polishing the outside of the cylinder

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Re: The Phoenix Project

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu May 21, 2015 6:15 pm

blog update: http://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2015/0 ... on-of.html

Here is a picture of the progress so far.....it is about ready for the bluing tank

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Re: The Phoenix Project

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Fri May 22, 2015 2:11 pm

There are more pictures at my blog

http://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2015/0 ... on-of.html

I have to prep several guns for bluing (I never blue just one gun) so it might be a few weeks before I update

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Re: The Phoenix Project

Post by R.J. » Sat May 23, 2015 8:02 am

Very cool, looking forward to seeing the finished project. Have always admired the Python, didn't know the details of the internals as compared to other Colt revolvers.
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Re: The Phoenix Project

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Mon May 25, 2015 6:30 am

R.J. wrote:Very cool, looking forward to seeing the finished project. Have always admired the Python, didn't know the details of the internals as compared to other Colt revolvers.

yeah, the Python is old school...check out the pictures below, the 1st one (nickel plated gun) is a Python, it has a flat main spring and completely different lock work, the bottom photo is the Trooper I am working on

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Re: The Phoenix Project

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Sat Sep 26, 2015 9:29 pm

I'll post a link to my blog when it is ready with more pictures and details

The parts reblued and oiled, waiting for re-assembly

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before and after


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Re: The Phoenix Project

Post by KRD » Tue Nov 03, 2015 11:38 am

Beautiful job on a great revolver. I like the upgrade to the ventilated rib.

I had a Colt Trooper Mark III. I miss it. All you need now is to find some Colt rubber grips with the prancing horse emblem.

There is a picture of a nice one on this board with those grips. They are kind of hard to find, but worth it.

Nicely done...

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