[Snake45]

I have this Colt King Cobra that I bought when they first came out and I don't think I've shot it since I used it for Mas Ayoob's LFI-I class in 1988. It was working fine when I put it away but I dug it out a couple years ago and the action was locked up--turns out that the little pin sticking out of the frame that the "bolt" (cylinder stop) rides on was broken clean off! Never heard of that with any make of revolver before.

I figgered it would require a trip back to Colt to fix, or at least to a Colt-certified gunsmith (none in my area, of course).

Couple weeks ago I was looking at an exploded drawing of the Colt KC and noticed that that pin has a separate part number. I looked for the pin at Numrich and Brownells, no joy. Googled the part number and wonder of wonder, Natchez Shooter Supply showed it in stock! They only had a few and were closing them out at fire-sale price (under $3) so I ordered three of them (if it broke once, it might break again, right?).

Now to get it installed. There's only one guy within an hour's drive of me who claims to be a gunsmith. Been to his tiny shop a couple times and he's done a couple simple things for me quick and cheap. Sadly, he's only open when I'm working. Didn't know if he'd even want to try to tackle this but I stripped the gun down to bare frame and sent my son to him with the gun and the three spare pins.

The kid tells me he was third in line when he got there Friday. The first guy, gunsmith told him it would be six months before he could get to it. Told the second guy that he could do that job in three months IF he could get the parts.

Now it's kid's turn. He describes the problem and the guy says "I don't know even know where you could get a part for something like that." Kid says "I HAVE the part, and a spare just in case." "Let me look at it" the guy says. The kid presents him with the stripped gun, which pleasantly surprises him (he won't have to take it apart or put it back together).

At this point he goes back into his shop and the kid says "I saw him put it in a vise, then heard a couple hammer bangs, then I think he put it in a press or something of the sort" (the kid's not as mechanical as I am, so doesn't really know). The punchline: Guy did the job on the spot, while he waited! :mrgreen:

"How long did it take him?" I asked. "I think about eight minutes" said the kid. "What was the bill?" "Twenty bucks." "I hope you gave him a tip! We couldn't even have sent the thing back to Colt for that!"

I now have the gun back together and it's working perfectly.

I'd forgotten just how nice a gun that thing is. :shock:

Reason I wanted to get it fixed is I'd promised to give it to the kid as a belated wedding present. Now I'm having second thoughts. Oh well, a promise is a promise, I have other.357s I like even more, and it's not like I wouldn't be able to shoot it anytime I wanted.

Don't you love a happy ending? :wink:

 

[SpecialEd]

Great story Snake! Sometimes things just fall into place (especially when you apply a little forethought and common sense first).

 

[Charlie Petty]

Good story.

You are to be applauded for getting it back together and in time. I would rather be flogged than try to time a Colt

 

[William R. Moore]

I still recall the first time I took a Colt sideplate off. I stared in wonder for a considerable time. Put the sideplaste back on and declined to do more.

The reason that Colt lost the revolver business is that Rube Goldberg died before he could design anymore Colt lockwork. For those to young to remember that gent, google it.

 

[Snake45]

I was USAF trained (in Charlie's old school) to detail-strip the Smith 15. No one ever told me crap about stripping any Colt, but I've never had any trouble inside one, and I've had D-frames, I-frames, and now this King Cobra (I think they call that one an E-frame) apart and back together, no problem. I've even replaced the trigger in one of the Diamondbacks, no sweat at all.

The one DA revolver that DID give me sweats was the Crosman CO2 S&W lookalike. Yes, it's more complicated inside than a real S&W.

 

[Ratfink2u]

"Don't you love a happy ending"?

You got off cheap Snake....happy endings can be rather expensive I hear

 

[Charlie Petty]

Didn't know that Snake, and hoorah for you, but I think you missed my point.

I like the Rube Goldberg reference 'cause it's more complicated than it needs to be but cutting that funky hand and getting the cylinder to carry up and lock in the right place is torture. I'm sure the folks at Colt who did dozens a day would have laughed their asses off watching Bob and me try to time a Python.

You're right about taking them apart and back together but now the only thing I do to a Colt DA is remove the cylinder for cleaning

 

[Diamondback]

Snake, your son's lucky--I wish I coulda had a dad like you.

 

[IrishCop]

Congrats, Snake! It's always nice when a problem can resolved quickly and cheaply.

No gunsmith I, but I can detail strip a S&W, no problem. A Colt?

Like Dirty Harry said, "A man's got to know his limitations."

 

[stand watie]

IrishCop,

UNDERSTOOD.

In my case, I have a "brother of the heart", who can fix anything.
(For example, he "overhauled" & vastly "improved" my old OP one evening after supper, while I was cleaning up the kitchen, feeding the cats. etc.)

Makes one LAZY.
(Truthfully, I wouldn't even CONSIDER tearing down a Colt's revolver.)

yours, sw

 

[Snake45]

I called the gunsmith today to thank him personally for doing a great job. Had to ask for him and say who I was to get him on the phone. I think he was expecting me to complain--seemed pleasantly surprised when I told him I couldn't have been happier with the job he did, the way he did it, or the fee charged. He seemed VERY appreciative--perhaps he doesn't get many calls like that.

I think I made the guy's day. In which case, we're almost even.

 

[stand watie]

Snake45,

I'd bet that he gets FEW of those sorts of calls & you made his week.

yours, sw