Which Dance finish?

[ssb73q]

Hi, a dovetail taller front sight has been added to the eBay barrel. The muzzle of this barrel is sharply cut where a little crowning would be useful. Still need to figure a way to shorten the barrel arbor hole. I don't like stuffing metal in the barrel arbor blind hole. It would be difficult to remove metal if ever needed. Maybe a small dab of J B Weld would work?

Regards,
Richard

[ShotgunDave]

You've become quite proficient at those dovetails Richard. Looks perfect.

For your arbor dilemma, why not just solder a spacer on the end of the arbor? It's really easy to do, and completely reversible if you need to. Just a small amount of heat and the button falls right off.

That's what I did on my L&R

[mike116]

If different barrels are going to used on the same frame then each barrel will require a different thickness of spacer.   That will require the spacer to be installed in the arbor hole of the barrel rather than on the end of the arbor.

[ShotgunDave]

If different barrels are going to used on the same frame then each barrel will require a different thickness of spacer.   That will require the spacer to be installed in the arbor hole of the barrel rather than on the end of the arbor.

You're absolutely right Mike. I didn't think of that.

[Captainkirk]

You've become quite proficient at those dovetails Richard. Looks perfect.

Spoiler Alert...don't read if you don't want your hopes dashed, but...

Richard has one of those dovetail jigs for making it easier not to destroy your barrel.
There. I said it.

[ssb73q]

Hi Dave, Mike pointed out the issue for different barrels. All modern Pietta barrels and frames will exchange fit perfectly. However, this early Navy Arms (Pietta) has a barrel arbor hole much like the Uberti's, a taper at the hole bottom. I'm going to try to drill through the end of the barrel arbor hole and tap for a 10-32 set screw. I hope the angled metal at the area of the loading lever doesn't blow the drill hole elliptical. Even if that does happen, the hole will provide expansion area for JB Weld to set the correct gap. Clean the barrel arbor hole with acetone and put grease on the end of the arbor. Assemble the gun with a desired gap letting the JB Weld cure. Then pull the barrel off the arbor.

Regards,
Richard

[ShotgunDave]

You've become quite proficient at those dovetails Richard. Looks perfect.

Spoiler Alert...don't read if you don't want your hopes dashed, but...

Richard has one of those dovetail jigs for making it easier not to destroy your barrel.
There. I said it.

Oh I know he does Capt. But it still has to be positioned in the right place to cut the dovetail. On an octagonal barrel, that's probably not too difficult. But on the round barrel, it would be pretty hard to get it right. My hat's off to him.

[ShotgunDave]

Hi Dave, Mike pointed out the issue for different barrels. All modern Pietta barrels and frames will exchange fit perfectly. However, this early Navy Arms (Pietta) has a barrel arbor hole much like the Uberti's, a taper at the hole bottom. I'm going to try to drill through the end of the barrel arbor hole and tap for a 10-32 set screw. I hope the angled metal at the area of the loading lever doesn't blow the drill hole elliptical. Even if that does happen, the hole will provide expansion area for JB Weld to set the correct gap. Clean the barrel arbor hole with acetone and put grease on the end of the arbor. Assemble the gun with a desired gap letting the JB Weld cure. Then pull the barrel off the arbor.

Regards,
Richard

That's a sound plan Richard.

[ssb73q]

Hi Dave, I went the 10-31 set screw method to fix the short arbor. A 5/16" long set screw was used. There is little metal in the barrel web, but the hole stayed straight were I could get a good threaded screw purchase. The method of gap adjustment is sweet, hammer in the wedge until the desire gap, then turn in the set screw until firmly set. Very easy compared to doing the set screw on the arbor blind by trial and error.

A few more minor enhancements to the eBay barrel and I'm ready to sight in where poi=poa @25yds using .45 Colt.

Regards,
Richard

[ssb73q]

You've become quite proficient at those dovetails Richard. Looks perfect.

Spoiler Alert...don't read if you don't want your hopes dashed, but...

Richard has one of those dovetail jigs for making it easier not to destroy your barrel.
There. I said it.

Hi Kirk, this dovetail took less than fifteen minutes, a new record time for me. That hardened steel jig kills files quickly. I destroy one square file and one triangular file per dovetail. I buy files by the dozen.

Regards,
Richard

[Captainkirk]

I love that adjustment method!
Gonna give it a try on a few of mine.

[ShotgunDave]

Nicely done Richard!

I don't know why, but I thought the new barrel was shorter than the original. I still have delusions of putting a short round barrel on one of my .44 Navies.

[sourdough]

If different barrels are going to used on the same frame then each barrel will require a different thickness of spacer.   That will require the spacer to be installed in the arbor hole of the barrel rather than on the end of the arbor.

Mike, you are so correct. I would definitely go that route.

BTW, I love that ASM 1860 Army I got from you.

Jim

[mike116]

BTW, I love that ASM 1860 Army I got from you.

Jim

Glad it's in good hands. 

[ssb73q]

Hi, I fought the mosquitoes and checked the sighting of my Dance revolver with the eBay .44 1851 Navy Arms round barrel and 1860 Taylor conversion cylinder. I used .45 Colt shooting on a tripod from 25ys. To my amazement, the installed taller front sight was right on in elevation, one inch right, no filing required. I will drift over the dovetail sight to correct that small windage error.

This project shows that were there's a will there's a way. Never lose sight of your hopes and dreams.

Regards,
Richard