max766•1mo ago

My antique Colt project stalled for months over a single spring

I took in an old Colt revolver for a trigger job last fall. The main spring was worn out and needed a specific part. I ordered it from a supplier, but they said it would take weeks. Weeks turned into months, and the gun just sat on my bench. I called around to other shops, but no one had it in stock. When it finally came, I was so happy to wrap things up. How do you handle these long waits for tiny parts?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_rowan1mo ago

Was it one of those flat mainsprings for an older model, or something more obscure? I once waited half a year for a single firing pin, and the worst part was knowing the fix would take five minutes. How do you stop yourself from calling the supplier every other day?

kellyjones1mo ago

Webley mainsprings are coiled, not flat. Flat springs are common in antique European revolvers, so it's an easy mix-up. That kind of wait really makes you appreciate how simple the final fix is, though.

keith_lane1mo ago

Actually a coiled mainspring for an old Webley. The wait makes you nuts, doesn't it? I set a calendar reminder to call every two weeks just to feel like I'm doing something.