I have a Reproduction Griswold and Gunnison. Based on the plunger being designed for round ball, it’s a Pietta made for Replica Arms of NJ.
The cam on the hammer is worn and it looks like a previous owner spread the bolt legs out so it will still engage the cam. Also the last sear notch on the hammer looks very worn or someone was playing at being a gunsmith.
The result is the bolt engages at the exact same time as the last sear notch is engaged; basically I get two clicks, instead of three.
I took apart my 2022 made Pietta 1851 and swapped out the hammer and the bolt into the Griswold. Everything works fine when I do this. Three nice distinct clicks, timing is good and lock up is good.
So here is the question. Should I buy a blued hammer or case hardened hammer assembly for the Griswold?
The Replica Arms reproduction original hammer is case hardened, but I have a hard time believing the Confederate armories took the time to do this. I’ve looked at pictures of originals, but all of the examples are road hard and out away wet examples. Not many “never issued” examples rolling around in the wild. Every picture I have looked at the metal is in the raw after hard use and age.
The cam on the hammer is worn and it looks like a previous owner spread the bolt legs out so it will still engage the cam. Also the last sear notch on the hammer looks very worn or someone was playing at being a gunsmith.
The result is the bolt engages at the exact same time as the last sear notch is engaged; basically I get two clicks, instead of three.
I took apart my 2022 made Pietta 1851 and swapped out the hammer and the bolt into the Griswold. Everything works fine when I do this. Three nice distinct clicks, timing is good and lock up is good.
So here is the question. Should I buy a blued hammer or case hardened hammer assembly for the Griswold?
The Replica Arms reproduction original hammer is case hardened, but I have a hard time believing the Confederate armories took the time to do this. I’ve looked at pictures of originals, but all of the examples are road hard and out away wet examples. Not many “never issued” examples rolling around in the wild. Every picture I have looked at the metal is in the raw after hard use and age.