Questions of Friend's 1883 SAA

[RDak]

I posted this question on another forum and the general concensus is to soak the gun for a LONG time. Any other advice would be appreciated, if any other advice "exists". LOL!

(Note: I keep using the term cylinder rod and collar when the correct term is base pin and base pin collar.)

I finally got a friend of mine to let me strip clean his old inherited SAA. (I've been advising him for YEARS to let me do this and he finally gave it to me for strip cleaning.)

He knows nothing about the history of the gun except his father inherited it before he died in 1956 from some relative. I've told him a guzillion times to write Colt and pay for a history check. He doesn't seem to understand what he owns for God's sake!!

The serial number is 91XXX and this puts it in the 1883 manufacture category if I'm reading the proofhouse site correctly.

Also, the barrel, just forward from the cylinder rod has the number 44 stamped on it. I assume this means it is a .44-40 caliber?

I was able to strip the entire revolver apart EXCEPT for the cylinder rod.

It is stuck hard in the cylinder. I don't have the special rod puller but did use padded pliers and couldn't budge it even after twenty minutes soaking in Kroil.

The entire frame is now soaking in the garage in a homemade version of Ed's Red. (It's been soaking almost one full day now.)

I would love some advice on how to loosen up that stuck cylinder rod. (I'm going to rap the head of the rod with a wooden dowel after soaking for another day but I just don't know what else to do.)

Btw, the gun locks up real nice and is in pretty good condition otherwise. It does not appear to have original grips though, even if they are original they have been varnished and are shiney light brown. Aftermarket grips IMHO.

That darn STUCK cylinder rod is driving me crazy. (It appears to have been a longtime problem with this gun because the head of the cylinder rod is knarled a bit from what appears to be someone trying to get it off with pliers, plus the steel on the head is "shiney". So, I assume this has been a problem with this gun for quite some time. My friend hasn't taken the gun out of its storage wrapper since he had it from 1956. Can you believe that??!! But it is true. Got it right from the horse's mouth.)

Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[PetahW]

Since the cyl pin has been soaking in penetrating oil for awhile, I would remove the gripframe and lockwork (hammer/etc), and try to drive the cyl pin out forward through the hole that it seats in, in front of the hammer slot in the rear of the cyl frame.

.

 

[Scorch]

If it is an 1883 manufacture, I assume i thas the old style base pin retainer screw (black powder frame). Did you remove it? Does the pin rotate? Does the cylinder rotate? If yes to both of those, it is probably fouling or rust on on the base pin, and Kroil should help loosen it up. If not, remove the grip frame and hammer and use a brass punch to drive it out forward through the base pin hole that will be visible once you remove the hammer.

Also, "44" does not necessarily mean 44-40, it could be a 44 Colt.

 

[RDak]

Thanks for the info. guys. I've tried those remedies but the gun hasn't been soaking that long.

I'll let it soak for another week or more before I try again.

(The cylinder does rotate as well as the base pin. I did take out the base pin screw.)