Colt 1860 the infamous wedge
This is just friendly exchange with fellow Black Powder shooter.
I went and got the two that I have and sitting at the computer.
All I have to do is a slight sharp erap with wood or plastic screw driver handle head to get the wedge clear of the little latch.
However I took screw driver and screwed the screw backwards our out a bit and it backed the wedge up enough to clear the little latch.
The head of the screw lies in the little channel right up against the wedge.
I don't want to do it often as it would undoubtedly mark the screw head.
It's a CVA marked made in Italy as all ar I guess and about 30 years old.
Only thing I don't like about it is the cylinder is marked by the latch very easy and bluing on cylinder is not that great.
I love the feel and heft and way it shoots. It is pretty accurate with 40 grainsTriple seven and 454 round balls and two CVA lubed wads. I like 40 grains in it but I'm told it is too much on brass frame.
No grease up front. One reason for large ball is to make a bigger seal area in cylinder and longer bearing in the barrel.
When I first got one of them, Don't remember which I had a tougher time of getting the wedge loose than necessary and used the screw to back it out a bit and then pulled it out. Might have done it then with just a slight blow with plastic or wood screwdriver head end.
Not being familiar I was concerned when I saw the small latch.