Maybe it depends upon whether it was a Monday/Wednesday/Friday gun.
All I know is that a small few taps back and forth on the wedge was not going to expose the tip of the wedge spring on the right side of the barrel, and it was not going to allow finger pressure (on the wedge and wedge spring to allow it to move for disassembly). If this was a real revolver in the Civil War, no one would have a hammer to remove the wedge, except for improvised tools, which leads to the next subject, wherein I will go so far to state that a large number of original C&B Colt revolvers show much damage on both sides of the barrel lug from owners/soldiers NOT knowing how to properly disassemble the pistol, vis a vis the wedge/key regardless of the tactical situation at hand, and going so far as to try to remove the wedge screw in a vain attempt to remedy the situation. The wedge screw only serves as a stop for the wedge spring. The wedge was probably fitted so tight as to not allow the user to remove it with thumb/finger pressure, therefore all of the metal damage in the area of the wedge on both sides.
Not to say this is a fact on your gun, but it is a fact on many original pistols.
Jim
