Needed, Colt "4 screw" 1860 Army information

[buckandball]

I have handled quite a few original 1860 Armys. My dad owns an original cut for the stock, but it is 800 miles away... I have spent the evening scouring the internet for pics of originals and I have seen nothing like this...

Being duly disgusted with the reproduction pistol market, I thought I'd take one last shot and I bought a Uberti 1860 Army. At least they put the damn modern markings under the barrel (most of them).

First off, the front sight looks like steel. It isn't brass. All the ones I have seen were brass. Were there steel ones front sights?

Second, and the cause of my concern. These repros are of the 4 screw variety, referring to the 4 screws in the side of the frame above the trigger guard. 1860s (I guess) started off as 3 screws. Then they cut them to mount that shoulder stock. Then a screw was added to each side of the frame for the protruding head to help support the lower edge of the stock (I think), so now, if viewed from the side, it looks like 4 screws per side.

My apologies for the illustrative explanation. If you need it, you probably won’t be much help in my query and can learn along with me. Those of you who already know what I am talking about; then perhaps you can assist my frustrated mind.

The head of the added 4th screw (one on each side) is HUGE. Each head sticks out conspicuously from the side of the frame almost .15 of an inch. The originals I have handled or seen either had this 4th screw head almost flush with the surface of the frame, or just slightly thicker. But not this big. If I had a digital cam I'd have a pic.

Have I simply experienced a unique sample of original 1860s and in fact these big fat the right one rubs my trigger finger if I had a yoke mount I could make it a waist gun on my KC-130 and scare the hell out of the Harrier guys with its over an eighth of an inch thick sized screw heads are normal?

If so, then.... oh. Who knew?

If not, then WTF GD. Anyone know a source of decent replacement repop screws with thinner heads?

Anyone know a good source for that last run of Colt endorsed reproductions...?

Thanks

Ben

[ephraim_zook]

Re: Needed, Colt "4 screw" 1860 Army information

You might want to post your question over on the Firearms Forum:

http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/

Seems like lots of knowledge floating around over there.

Ron Myzie

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Needed, Colt "4 screw" 1860 Army information

Hallo Kamerad!

"First off, the front sight looks like steel. It isn't brass. All the ones I have seen were brass. Were there steel ones front sights?"

Front sights on the M1860, Types I, II, III, and IV were brass blades.

"...an eighth of an inch thick sized screw heads are normal?"

The major differecen between a Type III and a Type IV, lies with the frame configuration- the Type III carry over with the four screw frame, and the Type IV eliminating the fourth screw as the need no longer existed as it was not intended to mount the shoulder stock. (The three screw frame being standard for most other Colt revolvers.) The switch from four to three took place about serial number range 25,000, although there are some higher numbered ones known but it is believed that was a special order for shoulder stocked versions.

On most examples of Type III's, the fourth screw is found to be a "thin" or short cap or headed screw, and not the longer yoke support stud as originally intended.

I believe that all of the Italian repro M1860's are the Type III martial types with the stud instead of the screw.

I can't post pictures, but the Type III stud screw appears to be only twice the diameter of the other three smaller screws.
I would wonder if, perhaps, the one you have is not "seated" all the way down, or possibly improperly made (or knowing the often random or missing QC of the Italians- a screw from a different gun?)

Curt-Heinrich Schmidt

[buckandball]

Re: Needed, Colt "4 screw" 1860 Army information

I can assure you these screws are seated. I removed them and reinstalled them. I try to leave out as many variables for speculation when I pose and inquiry such as this to remove the "oh look I'm an idiot" factor as much as possible, ha ha. Yes, the heads a bit wider than the threades, so that when screwed down, the head rests on the surface of the frame, and the head is as thick (not wide, thick) as described above.

As always, my work schedule has precluded my investigating this any further. But your inputs are appreciated and I look forward to any other information. I’m going to pose this question to Uberti…

Regards

Ben