Are you feeling adventurous and want to know how to take apart a 1903 Colt revolver? Well, hold on to your hats and let’s dive in!
What You Need to Know Before You Begin
Before we get started, there are some essential things that you need to know about colts and screws. If you don’t know your way around firearms, you probably shouldn’t attempt to disassemble a Colt because, well, you could blow your fingers off. Nonetheless, if you are brave enough to go for it, here’s what you should keep in mind:
Always Clear the Chamber
The first thing you need to do before you disassemble a Colt is to ensure that there are no rounds in the chamber. This step sounds like common sense, but you would be shocked to learn how many people still forget it.
Be Careful With Parts
Colts are made up of multiple small parts that can be easily lost or damaged. Therefore, you must take your time and be gentle while disassembling them.
Beware of Spring Tension
Colts are also full of springs, which can be dangerous if released suddenly. Make sure you keep a tight grip on small parts when unscrewing screws or removing pins.
Don’t Apply Too Much Torque
Finally, screws are very important when it comes to Colt disassembly. Overly tightening screws may lead to cross-threading, making it challenging to remove the screw. So, be gentle and always test screws for tightness by giving them one-eighth of a turn.
Now that we have established what you need to know first let’s get to the disassembly process.
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Disassemble a 1903 Colt Revolver
Step One: Remove the Cylinder
The first thing you need to do is remove the cylinder from the frame of the revolver by following these steps:
- Open the cylinder and look at the recoil shield. You should see a metal rod that connects the cylinder with the frame – this is called the ejector rod.
- Push the ejector rod back to free yourself a little space between the cylinder and the frame. Be careful not to let it snap back and hurt you.
- Hold the cylinder with one hand and push the ejector rod all the way out, removing the center pin that secures the cylinder as you do so.
- Finally, remove the cylinder by pulling it away from the frame.
Step Two: Disassemble the Cylinder
Now, you need to disassemble the cylinder.
- Remove the ejector rod and set it aside. It is usually located on the left side of the cylinder.
- Take a thin instrument or tweezers, and remove the cylinder stop located on the crane of the revolver.
- Gently push out the crane and cylinder from the cylinder frame.
Step Three: Remove the Lockwork
For the next step, you need to remove the lockwork from the frame.
- Remove the two grip screws located on the bottom of the handle using a screwdriver.
- Lift up the backside of the grip frame, and then slide backward while pressing the trigger.
- Pull the grip frame away, and you should now have access to the lockwork.
Step Four: Remove the Grip Panels
Finally, we can now remove the grip panels.
- Remove the screws located on the grip panel using a screwdriver.
- Pull the grip panels away from the frame. You may need to wiggle them a little bit or use a flat pry tool.
Common Mistakes Made During Disassembly
As with all things in life, there are a few things to avoid when disassembling your Colt.
Over Torquing
Not being gentle with the screws can lead to the first issue that is over-tightening. As mentioned above, this can result in cross-threading, making it challenging to remove the screw.
Not Paying Attention to Order
Another error is people not paying attention to the order in which they remove parts. The importance of this is that disassembling out of turn can lead to multiple things like an inability to remove screws or causing damage to the revolver.
Failing to Reassemble Properly
Lastly, many people disassemble their Colt revolvers and never seem to get them put back together. Make sure you study the parts, take your time and be thorough. A mistake in assembly could affect the revolver’s timing or the gun’s accuracy.
Table: Colt Revolver Parts
As mentioned earlier, there are many small parts to keep track of while disassembling your Colt revolver. If not careful, you may lose a part, causing damage or making reassembly difficult. Below is a chart that shows the parts of a Colt revolver that you may need to disassemble when breaking down a 1903 model.
| Parts | Description |
|---|---|
| Cylinder Stop | Located on the cylinder crane |
| Center Pin | Secures the cylinder |
| Ejector Rod | Used to remove spent cartridges |
| Grip Panels | Covers the handle of the revolver |
| Hammer | Fired by the trigger |
| Main Spring Housing | Contains the main spring |
| Recoil Rod | Connects the cylinder to the frame |
| Trigger | Releases the hammer |
Joke Time: Fun With Colt Disassembly
To lighten things up, we’ve rounded up a few jokes that we’re sure Colt enthusiasts will appreciate.
-Why don’t cowboys ever misplace their guns? Because they Colt all the time!
-What do you call a revolver that always wants attention? A cry-all Colt.
-Why did the cowboy sell his Colt revolver? Because it was time for him to Colt it quits!
-Son: Dad, can you give me five bucks?
Dad: Why do you want it?
Son: I’m trying to disassemble a Colt revolver.
Dad: Here’s ten.
Conclusion
That’s pretty much it. We hope our step-by-step guide to disassembling a 1903 Colt has helped you gain insight into the process. To avoid common mistakes, remember to take your time, pay attention, and be gentle with screws and parts. And of course, enjoy the comical jokes and puns!
References
Colt Revolvers Exploded View. (n.d.). Retrieved March 7, 2021, from https://www.gunpartscorp.com/Images/1421000.jpg
Vandamme, P. (2013, April 2). Colt 1903 Revolver Disassembly. Retrieved March 7, 2021, from https://gunsoftheocean.blogspot.com/2013/04/colt-1903-revolver-disassembly.html.