I just bought this 2nd Gen 1851 Colt here on MLF. It is missing the wedge screw, which I didn’t think much about until I broke the gun down to clean and inspect, and the barrel absolutely will not come off until the wedge is removed completely.
The gun has been fired, and no doubt a previous owned got tired of removing the screw to get the wedge out, so he took it out, stashed it somewhere, and of course lost it.
My question is about the wedge. My understanding is it should not need to come completely out of the barrel for break-down, and in fact the screw is intended to keep it from coming out so it doesn’t get lost. But this one needs to come completely out.
Has anyone encountered this? What’s the right fix? My first thought is to file down the small end so it doesn’t protrude as far and will allow the barrel to come off, but if there’s a better way I’d love to hear it.
The wedge # matches the rest of the gun so it’s not a replacement.
Thanks in advance!
The gun has been fired, and no doubt a previous owned got tired of removing the screw to get the wedge out, so he took it out, stashed it somewhere, and of course lost it.
My question is about the wedge. My understanding is it should not need to come completely out of the barrel for break-down, and in fact the screw is intended to keep it from coming out so it doesn’t get lost. But this one needs to come completely out.
Has anyone encountered this? What’s the right fix? My first thought is to file down the small end so it doesn’t protrude as far and will allow the barrel to come off, but if there’s a better way I’d love to hear it.
The wedge # matches the rest of the gun so it’s not a replacement.
Thanks in advance!
![C84AA67A-435A-4F9F-8B1F-9F60C32ADA5E.jpeg C84AA67A-435A-4F9F-8B1F-9F60C32ADA5E.jpeg](https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attach/311/311483-C84AA67A-435A-4F9F-8B1F-9F60C32ADA5E.jpeg)