Restoring a Classic Colt

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TINCANBANDIT
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Restoring a Classic Colt

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu Dec 03, 2015 6:50 am

This is a Colt New Service in .38WCF (.38-40)

The barrel had been shortened due to a bulged barrel, when then they were working on it they snapped off the ejector rod.

The gun was made in 1913, and if that isn't cool enough it has a lanyard loop!

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Re: Restoring a Classic Colt

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu Dec 03, 2015 6:53 am


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Re: Restoring a Classic Colt

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu Dec 03, 2015 6:57 am

While I had suggested something custom (maybe a Fitz tribute?), the owner decided on a restoration, he found the correct factory 7.5" barrel

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I got the gun apart, it is entirely possible that I am the 1st person to peer into the internals in 100 years!

you can see the remnants of the nitre bluing on the upper part of the trigger

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Re: Restoring a Classic Colt

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu Dec 03, 2015 7:25 am

I will need to deal with this, the ejector rod was broken off at the crane when the owner attempted to remove the barrel without removing the crane 1st
In the process they also took a small chunk out of the frame where the frame and crane meet

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the ejector rod does not unscrew like a Ruger or S&W, it uses a threaded bushing in the crane to retain the spring and ejector rod.

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another ejector rod was purchased from Numrich Arms

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Re: Restoring a Classic Colt

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu Dec 03, 2015 7:30 am

more pics and info here

http://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2014/1 ... art-2.html


I had this tool made for getting the crane bushing out, unfortunately it failed to remove the bushing. I fear I may end up destroying the bushing trying to get it out.

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Time for Plan B:

I finally was able to remove the crane bushing by pulling the ejector rod (the recoil plate side) out enough that I could cut it off with a hacksaw/dremel tool so that when released it would sit below the bushing and allow me to use a screw driver to remove the bushing

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I happen to have a screw driver with the correct size bit and shank

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Re: Restoring a Classic Colt

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu Dec 03, 2015 7:31 am

I was then able to repair some of the damage done when the old ejector rod was snapped off

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you can't really replace the metal, so the gun will wear a small scar...

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Re: Restoring a Classic Colt

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu Dec 03, 2015 7:35 am

I was able to remove the old barrel from the gun using my standard bench vise and my home made action wrench

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I installed the new barrel but was unable to get to clocked all the way to top dead center. So I have ordered a Wheeler Engineering barrel vise from Midway USA, as luck would have it...it was on sale!

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It took a few tries, but I eventually got in clocked in the proper orientation

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Now it is time to start cleaning up the metal

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Re: Restoring a Classic Colt

Post by KRD » Thu Dec 03, 2015 7:57 am

Look forward to seeing the finished product.

You sure did nice work with the burnt Colt Trooper Mark III.

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Re: Restoring a Classic Colt

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu Dec 03, 2015 8:27 am

Blog post with more detail : http://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2015/0 ... art-3.html


B-C bluing & Rust remover took off most of the old finish

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I kissed the surface with the wire wheel to remove the film left by the acid, now we can see what we are dealing with


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The pitting was worse than I thought

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note the pitting where the cylinder release sits, the release has similar pitting on the bottom side

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Last edited by TINCANBANDIT on Thu Dec 03, 2015 8:35 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Restoring a Classic Colt

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu Dec 03, 2015 8:28 am

KRD wrote:Look forward to seeing the finished product.

You sure did nice work with the burnt Colt Trooper Mark III.

thanks!, that was one of the worst I have dealt with, but replacing some of the parts made it go easier and made it look much nicer.

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Re: Restoring a Classic Colt

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu Dec 03, 2015 8:32 am

And the sanding begins...I decided to start with 220 grit and sand in all possible directions. This way I can avoid taking too much metal and leaving any deep scratches.


From here on out the side plate and crane will be in place during any sanding or polishing, of course I need to be VERY careful of the shallow Colt stampings/roll marks

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Here is the start of the work on the trigger guard area

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The bottom of the grip frame also had some dents and pits

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Re: Restoring a Classic Colt

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu Dec 03, 2015 8:34 am

more progress

sometimes you have to go back and look at what you started with to be able to tell progress was made....


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Re: Restoring a Classic Colt

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu Dec 03, 2015 8:47 am

Inside of the trigger guard is now pit free, this is a 220 grit finish


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Cleaning up the front of the frame

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Re: Restoring a Classic Colt

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu Dec 03, 2015 8:50 am

this is one of the many dents in the barrel, only elbow grease and determination will remove them

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Almost gone, this is a 100 grit finish

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the bottom of the barrel is now pit free, this is also a 100 grit finish

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Re: Restoring a Classic Colt

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu Dec 03, 2015 8:52 am

The cylinder window had a rough looking floor, part of this is because it was unfinished from the factory (you can see tooling marks). These parts don't get much attention

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We'll leave this at a 220 grit finish, it will look as good or better then when it left Hartford

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Re: Restoring a Classic Colt

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu Dec 03, 2015 8:54 am

The entire gun has now been polished to a 320 grit finish, there are still some small blemishes, but I don't think they will show


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Re: Restoring a Classic Colt

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu Dec 03, 2015 8:55 am


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Re: Restoring a Classic Colt

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu Dec 03, 2015 8:59 am

I blued the gun, using the "hot salts" method, it came out with a nice satin finish

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I also nitre blued the screws, hammer and trigger

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Re: Restoring a Classic Colt

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu Dec 03, 2015 9:01 am

Here is the gun partially assembled, I still need to get a new ejector spring

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Re: Restoring a Classic Colt

Post by TINCANBANDIT » Thu Dec 03, 2015 9:03 am

Last Blog post

http://tincanbandit.blogspot.com/2015/1 ... art-5.html

before and after comparison

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