So most of you have seen my WTB ad, looking for a Pietta Navy frame. Well this is what it's for. I'm trying to build a L&R from parts. I didn't want to buy complete guns and take them apart, so I went on a quest for parts.
I had posted my recent Dance project on my Facebook page. And a fella I know in Tennessee saw it, and commented that he could have saved me time by selling me the G&G barrel he had. He contacted me privately, and offered me a 2015 vintage, Pietta G&G barrel assemnbly, complete with loading lever and two cylinders. All .36 caliber and all for $50! Needless to say, I jumped on that deal! When they arrived, I was very surprised to find an as new barrel and one brand new cylinder. The other one was very lightly used.
So my quest continued with the ad placed here and other places. A guy on another board contacted me about the 61 Navy he had. It was a complete gun, minus the barrel and cylinder. Perfect for this project. And all for $80! Score again! The parts showed up today, so I fit them all together and completed the gun.
The barrel is stamped 2015 and the frame is dated AZ (1990), so a small amount of fitting was required. The arbor was actually too long and I had to take a little off to get the cylinder clearance right. The arbor was also a bit fat for the hole in the barrel, so some emory paper was needed there to get a perfect fit. The wedge also required fitting as it was a bit too wide to seat in fully. But now, it all fits together like a Swiss watch and functions as it should.
I know the frame is incorrect for an L&R. But I had to use what was available. No one seems willing to give up a Navy frame, or there just aren't any available. So for now, it will just have to be a Frankengun, until I can scrounge up the correct frame.
