Colt Buntline cylinder bind

[graycrait]

I got this Colt Peacemaker Buntline .22 a couple of weeks ago.  Its .22mag cylinder was binding and sitting in the frame un level and I couldn't figure out why.  So what do I do I order a .22LR cylinder from Numrich.  Before that arrives I acquire a Colt Frontier Scout, parts interchange, but I didn't want to cannibalize the Scout just yet. 

 

The .22LR cylinder arrived today and wouldn't turn 1/4 turn in the Buntline.  I started going online and found that this is not an isolated incident and is reported on other gun forums with the Buntline Peacemaker.

 

I took all three cylinders and both pins and they all worked smooth in the Scout.  I then started to compare the two guns to see what was differrent if they had interchangeable parts why wouldn't the Buntline work even with its own parts?

 

I noticed that the Scout didn't have a boss, a raised ring that can act as a spacer or bearing of sorts, on the interior of the frame surrounding the pin hole.  The Buntline had a high boss and quiet irregularly level.  I stoned that thing down to a nub a little at a time until even my tightest fitting cylinder, the new .22LR I got from Numrich today, all fit.  Now the cylinders all sit level and don't bind and yet cycle well.  Now it is time to go shoot the tar out of these things.

 

As a side note the Buntline, although a nice gun, had been going from owner to owner, everyone complaining about it.  Then the most recent owner before me told me, "here is a project gun for you,." as he tossed it in with a trade we were working. 

 

 

 

[gun sane]

I can't imagine Colt letting them go out the door like that.  Maybe sometime after the Peacemaker quit production the New Frontier Buntline mag cylinders got into the mix as replacements.  But every company can have a brain hiccup....Good fix, graycrait!

Edited April 4, 2013 by gun sane

[hipower]

Thanks for posting the pic on the buntline. That gives me something to check. I'm looking at a Bat Masterson Colt Commerative, and I'm thinking that with the interest I've seen recently in this type of "collectible," with the right price, this will make a right nice shooter. A little fancy perhaps.

[graycrait]

what I thought was interesting is that on "thefiriningline" there was a long thread trying to determine what the issue was with someone else's Buntline Peacemaker over a year ago. They didn't mention the "boss."   So I know this isn't a one-off.