A smoked Colt Navy...

[Sweeney]

My next victim...er... project.
This 1851 Colt Navy (1861 production) was the victim of severe smoke inhalation. It was in a house that partially burned but didn't get wet was bathed in hot combustion byproducts. My assumption is these condensed onto the metal bits and corroded them. It was mechanically functional before but is now completely frozen except the ramming lever latch.
It appears that someone used the muzzle to drive RR spikes into plate armor so I'll try to address that. I'd like to make it a shooter if possible. First step, see If any of the screws come out.

 

[appraiser]

Ultrasonic tank with some acetone/ATF ?

 

[Sweeney]

Ultrasonic tank with some acetone/ATF ?

I want to get the grip off before I hit it with any oil/penetrants so the wood doesn't soak any of it up. I'm hoping the the corrosion didn't penetrate the threads. I'll start poking at it soon.

 

[appraiser]

I assumed that was a given

 

[not new guy]

The wood actually looks like it's in good shape, all things considered. That magazine fits nice and flush in the grip too.

 

[Sweeney]

The wood actually looks like it's in good shape, all things considered. That magazine fits nice and flush in the grip too.

It's not dropping free anymore so I may convert to belt feed.

The wood has a bit of char so it will get a denatured alcohol and steel wool bath once free. The brass trigger guard/back strap have a shiny black coating of combustion byproduct that looks like paint.

 

[Wickedcoolname]

I'd soak the who,e thing in WD40. Including the wood.

 

[Upland]

While you are figuring out getting the wood off start hitting the screws with Kroil every day and setting the revolver in different positions.
However you attack the restoration after you get the wood off the kroil will have a head start getting into the threads.
I have taken on projects like this on and have been pleasantly surprised and also been beat by them.
Remember to go slow use the correct screwdrivers and tap them into the screwhead,don’t be afraid to add a little heat.
I bet you are going to have good results with this one.
Good luck.

 

[Fixxah]

WD-40 outperforms Kroil in every way.

 

[mac1911]

Spit on it and buff it out.
Not telling you what to do but for anyone ever trying to do this stuff

Solid vise to hold it , VERY GOOD bits

Also add and depending on your skill and risk i have used 3/8 drive impact screw driver with good results
Thought about a 1/4” one

View: https://www.amazon.com/Performance-Tool-W2503-Impact-Extractor/dp/B00MXFFPVY/ref=asc_df_B00MXFFPVY/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309813767497&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12181815359490854454&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9002050&hvtargid=pla-568899476334&psc=1

BUT with all these new dangfangle electric impact drivers , set it on low andcgive it a rattle

Still like using a soldering iron to heat small nuts bolts

 

[Sweeney]

Spit on it and buff it out.
Not telling you what to do but for anyone ever trying to do this stuff

Solid vise to hold it , VERY GOOD bits

This is not my first rodeo...

 

[mac1911]

This is not my first rodeo...

Figured as much… looking forward to updates.

 

[Admin]

If it were me I'd take it to a professional.

 

[Parker Schreiber]

Have you considered electrolysis?

 

[BTSDOG]

If it were me I'd take it to a professional.

Give Greg Derr a challange.......

 

[SKumar]

 

[PATRON]

Put it up for sale as a civil war battle field pick up.

 

[not new guy]

If it were me I'd take it to a professional.

That’s not the Sweeney way. He’ll be fabricating new parts for it by the end of page 2.

 

[Marty McFly]

Have you considered electrolysis?

I have. I'm hairy in all the wrong places

 

[Marty McFly]

Give Greg Derr a challange.......

I'm not sure it would be much of a challenge for him

 

[jpm]

Just dip it in this and it will look good as new!

 

[Sweeney]

I'm thinking of doing it in either U-Pol Raptor or shotcrete.

Have you considered electrolysis?

Always an option.

 

[38ExtraSpecial]

I'm thinking of doing it in either U-Pol Raptor or shotcrete.


Always an option.

Steam it and card it.
C&Rsenal or Mark Novak has a couple videos on conservation vs preservation

 

[Picton]

Where are you planning to mount the rail?

I always did like a good rail...

 

[Sweeney]

If it were me I'd take it to a professional.

I'm just making it presentable for a friend. I'd like to make it a shooter but the muzzle might curtail that. It's had a good impact on the nose distorting the bore. I plan to cut it back a bit to square it but may also need to counter bore 1/4" to get back past the distortion.

 

[Upland]

I’ve done electrolysis and it’s worked well, but only on guns that a are worth a fraction of what that Colt is worth.

 

[TrenchKnife]

why do anything with it? right now, it looks like a piece of art to me.

 

[Sweeney]

Steam it and card it.
C&Rsenal or Mark Novak has a couple videos on conservation vs preservation

That's basically the plan...turn that hematite to magnetite.
I have to admit, some of the stuff Mark does makes me cringe a bit.

 

[Sweeney]

why do anything with it? right now, it looks like a piece of art to me.

I want it to function.

 

[Sweeney]

I’ve done electrolysis and it’s worked well, but only on guns that a are worth a fraction of what that Colt is worth.

I've used electrolysis many times on guns to a BMW B35 engine block.