Colt D.A. 38 U.S.A. Model 1894 SN 4870

[Jim K]

Those guns are a nightmare to try and fix. Like the Model 1877, you can't replace or fix one part without throwing something else off. A big problem is timing. Colt never did come up with a good way to keep the cylinder from rotating backward, though the use of the latch is ingenious.

The springs are mostly thin flat springs and break easily; the problem you mention is probably due to a broken hand spring, a common problem.

As Iceman says, there are few people who will work on those guns and the work would cost more than the gun is worth. Most gunsmiths simply won't touch them at all, at any price.

Jim

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[Emri]

Those guns are a nightmare to try and fix. Like the Model 1877, you can't replace or fix one part without throwing something else off. A big problem is timing. Colt never did come up with a good way to keep the cylinder from rotating backward, though the use of the latch is ingenious.

The springs are mostly thin flat springs and break easily; the problem you mention is probably due to a broken hand spring, a common problem.

As Iceman says, there are few people who will work on those guns and the work would cost more than the gun is worth. Most gunsmiths simply won't touch them at all, at any price.

Jim

Keep the pistol for a keepsake, you won't shoot it anyway. No sense in putting money into it just to look at; and the outcome (functionality) is quite doubtful. ALL those pistols have the same inherent problems and fixing one just invites more (problems).

FWIW,

Emri