Opentops...
- Thread starter Sharps40
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OP
Sharps40
Price, it's all about the price
As always. Slight change of plans. 4 3/8 bbl with full length ejector didn't look right so.....Chopped to a true 4 in.....installed try bead temp front sight and now have to try my idea to mod the ejector back to 3/8 or so shorter than the bbl.
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OP
Sharps40
Price, it's all about the price
Aged the brass. All that is needed for that is a quick wipe or two with Birchwood Casey Blue or Super Blue, stop the action with water, oil, let it set 24 hours to firm up.
Also knocked the sporting house gloss off the grip wood with a brillo pad then buffed it back up to a satin gloss with fff compound. More than for looks, this takes out the spray bumps and slicks the grip up a bit. If it was better wood, not just stained birch, I'd take all the finish off and force in urethane buffed back to the surface of the wood and final topped with wax. But its just run of the mil wood.....so....
Also knocked the sporting house gloss off the grip wood with a brillo pad then buffed it back up to a satin gloss with fff compound. More than for looks, this takes out the spray bumps and slicks the grip up a bit. If it was better wood, not just stained birch, I'd take all the finish off and force in urethane buffed back to the surface of the wood and final topped with wax. But its just run of the mil wood.....so....
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OP
Sharps40
Price, it's all about the price
Tiny hole drilled.... .078 in dia. This will be to accomodate a Taurus coiled hand spring and plunger. Ruger parts are larger diameter, and for this project, not on hand. Don't drill directly over the grip screw, that just goes forward into the solid left side wall. Measure and find half the thickness of the hand from the side of the hammer.....measure in from the hammer slot in the frame, mark it. Measure half way from the top of the screw hole to the outside left upper grip bolster....mark it.
Center punch and start through the case with a 1/16" drill. Once through I switched to 5/64" drill to finish. Don't free hand the hole. Drill press, clamped and level in two directions is the only way to go. Don't forget to polish out any burrs raised in the hand way.
Finally, reverse the drill in the chuck, and at slow rpm with some non embedding lapping compound, polish out the new hole so the spring won't drag. Clean it out with a swarf of your favorite clean up sauce.
Center punch and start through the case with a 1/16" drill. Once through I switched to 5/64" drill to finish. Don't free hand the hole. Drill press, clamped and level in two directions is the only way to go. Don't forget to polish out any burrs raised in the hand way.
Finally, reverse the drill in the chuck, and at slow rpm with some non embedding lapping compound, polish out the new hole so the spring won't drag. Clean it out with a swarf of your favorite clean up sauce.
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4seasonhunter
Well-Known Member
Oh yeah, I mean the Mona Lisa is just some paint smeared on canvas, anyone can do it psshh 😁 Really though, gorgeous work.
OP
Sharps40
Price, it's all about the price
Carefully remove the flat and somewhat failure prone hand spring. You could just break it off but you'd be a MonkeyPig instead of a Gunsmith.
If for some odd reason you decide to reconvert, plug the hole and restake the old spring. Or use the spring to repair one for those fellas that don't like any new fangled stuff, like coil springs.
If the back of the hand is rough, smooth it out. This one is nicely finished, no need to do more then get it clean and ready for reinstallation.
If for some odd reason you decide to reconvert, plug the hole and restake the old spring. Or use the spring to repair one for those fellas that don't like any new fangled stuff, like coil springs.
If the back of the hand is rough, smooth it out. This one is nicely finished, no need to do more then get it clean and ready for reinstallation.
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OP
Sharps40
Price, it's all about the price
The new/used Taurus 80 hand spring and plunger is installed, way too long but fully assemble the gun and very gently see if it'll come to full cock. If the assembly is too long, it'll bind before the sear slips into the full cock notch. Disassemble and clip a coil at a time until it'll fully cock. If you like, clip another coil after that just to ensure that later dirt won't cause the spring and plunger to bind up.
Alternately, if the spring is short but the plunger long, shorten and round over the nose of the plunger instead.
Once it reliably cocks, cycle the action many times safely pointing it up, down and level when doing so. (snap caps are a good idea here, and don't dry fire without snap caps....or any gun with a nose mounted firing pin for that matter)
Alternately, if the spring is short but the plunger long, shorten and round over the nose of the plunger instead.
Once it reliably cocks, cycle the action many times safely pointing it up, down and level when doing so. (snap caps are a good idea here, and don't dry fire without snap caps....or any gun with a nose mounted firing pin for that matter)
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OP
Sharps40
Price, it's all about the price
All the factory forgots and/or niggling deficiencies that can be worked out at home with hand tools are addressed. This is now much more than an occasional range toy. Its fitted for reliability and durability. Time to make a holster and then get out and slay those flimsy cardboard invaders.
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Holy Cowz that thing look sweet......didn't you have one once with a turtle for a front sight.....that was awesome.
OK...making it OFFICIAL...........................................First Dibs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OP
Sharps40
Price, it's all about the price
About all that's left is maybe strip it for satin rust blue, replace the ugly wedge screw. Maybe grips. And if the arbor ever loosens, drill out the lock pin, bed the arbor and put in a lock screw.
Well, that and shoot it some.
Well, that and shoot it some.
Nice. I wonder how that thing would look without the shiny finish on the grips… just a dark stain and linseed oil…
OP
Sharps40
Price, it's all about the price
NOS (mid 50s) Birdseye Maple grip blanks for colts are a good fit for ubertis. Uberti parts are a touch larger so easiest path for best fit is to split the grip, fit/bed each panel, then final epoxies together. Here the right panel being bedded.
OP
Sharps40
Price, it's all about the price
Initial fitting. The two halves are epoxied together again into a one piece Colt grip and the RIG Grease is a fine release agent. Marked the excess wood prior to disassembly and removed it off the frame. Now back on the frame for final shaping. Planning to finish the grip thicker overall for an easier grip and some reduced roll. The brass will get some shaping and polishing too to ensure the wood and metal look grown together. As for getting it done, its a few weeks out as I'm getting carpal tunnel surgery today and the right hand will be down and out for a bit.
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Went poking around this afternoon and saw a Taylor's and Co. Hickok open top (.45lc) in the case. The price seemed quite fair to me at $569. Anyone out there with a "review" of this one? I just thought it would be cool to have and keep beside my chair in the evening while I entertain myself and shop on the CFF.
What say thee...........
What say thee...........
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OP
Sharps40
Price, it's all about the price
Thats close to what i've seen on GB for this model. The Hickok only comes in 38 and 45 and I've not seen any of the 38 avaialable. The barrel is .5" shorter than what I trimmed back and no ejection. I'd also assume it'd be wanting the same type of fitting of barrel / arbor for reliablilty and longevity. I didnt buy one initially due to it not being available in 44 caliber and I wanted a short barrel with ejection, so had to take the long road.
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OP
Sharps40
Price, it's all about the price
OP
Sharps40
Price, it's all about the price
Thanks for the input. I rec’d a nice $160 gift card from my leadership team, so the out of pocket for me would be around $400. Very tempted, if for no other reason than because it looks so dang cool!
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OP
Sharps40
Price, it's all about the price
Looks cool here to....I think.
Done. Burned maple finish. Several coats of urethane cut back level with the wood and polished satin. Grip finished a bit oversized to help with the roll up for my arthritic hand and a bit better purchase when shooting it one handed. I think now, its close to being right.
Done. Burned maple finish. Several coats of urethane cut back level with the wood and polished satin. Grip finished a bit oversized to help with the roll up for my arthritic hand and a bit better purchase when shooting it one handed. I think now, its close to being right.
OP
Sharps40
Price, it's all about the price
I'll get some wear and tear on it and maybe this summer have an excuse to deletter the barrel and rust blue that and the cylinder. I think I only buggered one screw head, so, I'm feeling pretty good about it overall.
Ok to share?
My grandfather had a pretty cool bar room in his house on the waterway. In there he had his old helmet from when he was in the USAF, a life size Wiley Coyote, a Red Baron chasing Snoopy hanging from the ceiling, all of his hole in 1 trophies,…and a rusty old unfinished cap and ball revolver. I adored that rusty old thing.
When I was about 12 or 13 he gave it to me to fix up and here it is. You can see the first rate job I did fitting the stocks. Al at the old Myrtle Beach Indoor Range blued it for me after I got all the rust off. Anyway, I take it out maybe once or twice a year for giggles and just to think about GP.
My grandfather had a pretty cool bar room in his house on the waterway. In there he had his old helmet from when he was in the USAF, a life size Wiley Coyote, a Red Baron chasing Snoopy hanging from the ceiling, all of his hole in 1 trophies,…and a rusty old unfinished cap and ball revolver. I adored that rusty old thing.
When I was about 12 or 13 he gave it to me to fix up and here it is. You can see the first rate job I did fitting the stocks. Al at the old Myrtle Beach Indoor Range blued it for me after I got all the rust off. Anyway, I take it out maybe once or twice a year for giggles and just to think about GP.