Bev Fitchett's Guns Magazine

Frontier Scout Revolver

By Thomas E. Wessel

In late 1957 Colt's Patent Fire Arms Mfg. Co., Hartford, Conn., announced production of a new cal. .22 long rifle single-action revolver patterned after their time-tried Model P Single-Action Army revolver. Designated Frontier Scout, it is about Vs the size of its prototype and features a 1-piece aluminum alloy grip frame. The cylinder frame is also of aluminum alloy, but barrel and cylinder are of steel. Barrel length is 43A". Empty weight is 1 lb. 7 ozs. Initially the Frontier Scout was furnished only in

Parts Legend

1. Barrel

2. Ejector tube plug

3. Ejector rod tube 3a. Ejector lube screw

5. Backstrap screw, bottom (2)

6. Ejector rod

7. Ejector spring

8. Stock screw

9. Stock, left

10. Stock pin

11. Mainspring

12. Backstrap

13. Stock, right

14. Stock screw nut

15. Backstrap screw, top (3)

16. Gate spring.

17. Gate detent

18. Hand and post

19. Hammer

20. Hand spring

21. Gate

22. Trigger

23. Bolt

24. Bolt and trigger spring

25. Bolt spring screw

26. Hammer screw

27. Bolt and trigger screw

28. Nylon washer, large (2)

29. Recoil cup pin

30. Base pin screw

31. Base pin

32. Recoil cup

33. Firing pin spring

34. Firing pin

35. Cylinder bushing

36. Cylinder

37. Frame dual-tone finish. Grip and cylinder frames were bright with cylinder and barrel assembly blued. In September 1958 Colt's announced an all-blue version of the Frontier Scout.

The 9'/2 "-barrel Buntline Frontier Scout was introduced in November 1958, in full-blue finish only.

In July 1959 Colt's began delivery of Frontier Scout revolvers chambered for the new cal. .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire cartridge.

All of the above models are in current production and are regularly furnished with checkered hard-rubber grips. Walnut grips are available at extra cost. ■

ITo remove cylinder (36), first insure that the hammer (19) is in half-cock position with cylinder free to rotate. Open loading gate (21). Next, using screwdriver, remove base pin screw (30) and washer (28). Withdraw base pin (31). Cylinder may now be removed from loading gate side of arm

2 Reassemble cylinder into revolver in reverse order. Locking notch in base pin must be properly aligned with base pin screw hole in left side of frame (37), otherwise screw cannot be replaced

3 To remove ejector rod tube (3) and assembly, including ejector rod (6) and ejector spring (7), unscrew ejector tube screw (3a) holding assembly to right lower side of barrel (1). Entire assembly may now be removed. Reassemble in reverse order, insuring that small nylon washer (4) is replaced

Illustrated Definitions

Simple and practical explanations of firearms and shooting terms, given as aids to identification and understanding. The definitions are not intended to be technically or legalistically complete

Martini action — Single-shot breech action with lever-actuated breechblock pivoted to upper rear of receiver and with spring-impelled firing pin. This action is basically an 1862 design of H. O. Peabody, an American, but incorporates an improved spring-impelled firing mechanism developed by Friedrich Martini of Switzerland. It was extensively used in days of blackpowder for military and sporting rifles, and to a much lesser extent for shotguns and pistols. It is still used for hunting and target rifles, especially in England and Switzerland, and is popular with many target shooters because of its fast lock time.

Tangent (tangent-curve) sight—Rifle or pistol rear sight, most often of open type, having on its sight leaf an elevation slide that contacts curved or inclined surfaces on upper part of sight base. The slide is movable to adjust elevation, and is usually provided with a spring-loaded catch to engage notches on the leaf. This sight was introduced in the late 1800's in Europe, and is still used in many foreign countries. Because of its simplicity and strength, it is popular for military rifles.

Boattail (streamlined; torpedo) bullet

—Bullet with rear portion tapered to permit air to flow around bullet base more smoothly, especially at velocities below speed of sound, and thus reduce vacuum drag and increase range and flatness of trajectory. Boattail bullets were used experimentally by Sir Joseph Whit-worth of England in the middle 1800's, and France adopted a rifle-caliber boattail bullet (Balle D) in 1898. As a result of experience from World War I, during which machine guns were employed extensively for long-range barrages, many nations adopted boattail bullets, and this type of bullet also became popular for sporting use.

Bolt sleeve (bolt plug)—Multiple-purpose component of Mauser, Krag, and a number of other bolt-action rifles. It is fastened to the rear of the bolt with threads or lugs, and closes the rear of the bolt, guides cocking piece and firing pin, is a seat for the firing pin spring, and has a shoulder which stops forward motion of the assembled cocking piece and firing pin. In many rifles it also holds the safety lock. The bolt sleeve of Mauser Model 98 and several Mauser-type rifles is equipped with a bolt sleeve lock and spring, and the bolt sleeve of Krag rifles holds the extractor.

Colt Gold Cup National Match Mark III Pistol

Remove slide stop from left side of receiver. Pull slide forward off receiver and remove recoil spring guide (44). Remove barrel from front of slide, taking care not to lose barrel return spring (41).

Slide group. Press in on rear end of firing pin (46) with a small punch until it clears firing pin stop (45). Remove firing pin stop from bottom of slide. Firing pin and firing pin spring (47) may be removed from rear of slide. Extractor (48) may be pried from rear of slide with small screwdriver. Removal of rear sight assembly (39) is accomplished by drifting out rear sight leaf pin (38). Detailed disassembly of rear sight is shown on following page. Reassemble in reverse.

Complete disassembly of rear sight assembly is not recommended except when necessary for repair.

Receiver group. With hammer at full cock position, rotate safety lock (9) toward its "on" position until it can be pulled out of left side of receiver. Drift out hammer pin (8) and remove hammer (27) and hammer strut (29) from top rear of receiver. Hammer strut can be removed from hammer by drifting out hammer strut pin (28). Drift out mainspring housing pin (13) and slide mainspring housing (14) out of grooves at rear of receiver. Mainspring (17), mainspring cap (16), and mainspring housing pin retainer (18) are removed from housing after drifting out mainspring cap pin (15). Lift grip safety (26) out rear of receiver and remove sear spring (19) from rear of receiver. Drift out sear pin (7); drop sear (30) and disconnector (31) with depressor (32) and depressor spring (33) out of receiver. (See Fig. 2 for reassembly.)

Remove stock screws (11) and stocks (12—not shown in exploded drawing) from sides of receiver. Depress magazine catch (4) from left side of receiver and, using a small screwdriver, turn magazine catch lock (6) '/4-turn counterclockwise from right side of receiver. Remove entire magazine catch assembly from right side of receiver (Note: magazine catch assembly parts are shown at left side of receiver in exploded drawing for clarity. They are assembled in the receiver from hole in right side.) Turn magazine catch lock (6) V*-turn clockwise to separate catch lock, spring (5), and catch (4). Remove trigger assembly (20) with trigger stop (21) from rear of receiver. Reassemble receiver group parts in reverse.

By JAMES M.TR1GGS

1 Longitudinal section through the pistol showing the relationship of internal pans (magazine assembly is removed and an empty case is in chamber).

The Colt Gold Cup National Match Mark III cal. .38 Special semiautomatic pistol was introduced in 1962.

The Gold Cup model was first offered in 1961. Changes in the barrel specifications were made shortly thereafter. After limited production of the modified pistol, Colt's completely redesigned the pistol and designated it Mark III.

The rifling specifications of the barrel were changed to give a nominal bore diameter of .347", with groove diameter of .357". Barrel chamber diameter was reduced .002" and the chamber wall was threaded to increase friction between the cartridge case and chamber walls as a result of the outward pressure from the expanding powder gases. This holds the barrel and slide together until the bullet has cleared the barrel and the pressure drops. The forcing cone, or bullet seat between chamber mouth and origin of the rifling, is much shorter in the Mark III barrel than in barrels of the previous models. The barrel bushing fits the frame tightly and the barrel is ground at the muzzle to give minimum play between slide and bushing when slide is in battery.

A depressor and depressor spring act on the sear to prevent follow-through of the hammer as the slide goes forward into battery.

The Mark III pistol is regularly furnished with Colt Accro fully-adjustable rear sight and Vs" Patridge front sight.

Takedown Procedure

Press in magazine catch (4) at left side of receiver and drop magazine assembly (2) out butt of pistol. Draw slide to rear and check chamber to be sure pistol is unloaded. Pull trigger and let hammer down with thumb. Press inward on knurled end of recoil spring plug (42) and turn barrel bushing approximately Vi-turn clockwise. (Due to close fit of bushing to slide, a wrench fitted to bushing should be employed to loosen it.) Remove plug (42) and recoil spring (43) from front of slide. Rotate barrel bushing counterclockwise until it disengages from slide and remove to front.

Draw slide to rear until lug at rear end of slide stop (3) lines up with clearance cut on lower left hand edge of slide. Press in rounded end of slide stop pin which protrudes from right hand side of receiver.

PARTS, RECEIVER GROUP—

1. Receiver

2. Magazine assembly

3. Slide stop

4. Magazine catch

5. Magazine catch spring

6. Magazine catch lock

7. Sear pin

8. Hammer pin

9. Safety lock

10. Stock screw bushing (4)

13. Mainspring housing pin

14. Mainspring housing

15. Mainspring cap pin

16. Mainspring cap

17. Mainspring

18. Mainspring housing pin retainer

19. Sear spring

20. Trigger assembly

21. Trigger stop

22. Plunger tube (shown assembled to receiver)

23. Slide stop plunger

24. Plunger spring

25. Safety lock plunger

26. Grip safety

27. Hammer

28. Hammer strut pin

29. Hammer strut

30. Sear

31. Disconnector

32. Depressor

33. Depressor spring

34. Ejector (shown assembled to receiver)

35. Ejector pin (assembled to receiver, not visible in drawing)

2 The sear (30), disconnector (31), depressor (32), and depressor spring (33) are shown below assembled in correct relationship. In the view to the left the disconnector has been omitted for clarity. In the view to the right, sear, disconnector, depressor, and depressor spring are shown assembled.

To facilitate reassembly of this assembly in receiver, it is suggested that a short slave pin (A) having a length equal to the width of the sear be employed to hold the parts together correctly. The slave pin will be drifted out when sear pin is replaced through frame.

PARTS, SLIDE GROUP—

36. Slide

37. Barrel bushing

38. Rear sight leaf pin

39. Rear sight assembly

40. Barrel

41. Barrel return spring

42. Recoil spring plug

43. Recoil spring

44. Recoil spring guide

45. Firing pin stop

46. Firing pin

47. Firing pin spring

48. Extractor

PARTS, REAR SIGHT ASSEMBLY-

49. Rear sight leaf

50. Elevating screw

51. Detent balls (2)

52. Elevating screw detent spring

53. Elevating springs (2)

54. Windage spring

55. Rear sight blade

Check the magazine and chamber to be sure the gun is empty. Pull the slide back as far as it will go. Press down the assembly lock plunger (K), depress the slide stop (RR), and push the slide closed by hand, since the recoil spring is locked and cannot return the slide

Remove the grips and push out the upper housing lock pin (PP). Pull the trigger to release hammer. Retract the slide about inch, then press inward and upward as shown. The main spring housing (GG) will snap out. Remove the slide (P) and magazine (KK)

Grasp the end of the extractor (G) with pliers and rotate 180 degrees, then pull it forward. Thread grip screw (NN) into the firing pin stop (N). Pull it out. The firing pin (F), on firing pin spring (E), may then be removed through the rear of the slide

Press forward on recoil spring guide (I) with small screw driver assembly. Assembly lock (J) will disengage. Ease recoil spring (D) and guide (I) out of the slide. Lift end of assembly lock (J) up and turn lock plunger (K) 90 degrees. Work the assembly lock forward out of its grooves in slide

The Woodsman goes back together again easily except for the slide stop spring (TT). A great deal of effort will be saved if the slide stop (RR), the plate screw (QQ), and spring (TT) are assembled as shown before attempting to install them when re-assembling the gun

After all parts, with the exception of the housing (GG) and grips, have been roassembled into the slide (P) and receiver (WW), assemble the frame and receiver together, insert housing into the receiver, and press firmly against a table. The housing will snap into place