About 11-12 years ago I bought an EMF "Hartford Model" in .45 Colt. Had some trouble with it from the start and had to send it back. First, the wrong hammer had been installed. It was one from their "Dakota" models and evidently had no safety notch (checkering was ugly, too). I got it back, shot it and then noticed that the barrel had abundant tool marks and leaded TERRIBLY. And the action was always rough. I didn't know my way around the lockwork then and didn't want to fool with trying to send it back again. I just quit shooting it and it has sat in the rear of the safe for 10 years.
Since then, I've learned a lot about tuning and timing S.A.A.'s and I've decided to revive that revolver. I was considering trying to lap the barrel and disassembled it fully for the first time and was appalled at the lockwork. I don't know if it came that way from the factory or from EMF's repair people in California, but whoever timed it with the new hammer really filed the H*** out of the hand. He even peened the sides with a chisel to stretch it. It looks like someone tried to make a hand out of a chunk of steel, a hacksaw, a chisel, and a dull file. Also, the left bolt leg is too short, and the hammer cam is chewed up (fortunately, it is a separate replaceble cam--some repros have fixed cams on the hammers). Those parts are so rough they've just been chewing each other up. Rather than trying to work on those boogered up parts, I'd rather replace much of the lockworks and tune it up from there. But my revolver was made by A.S.M. which, I understand, is no longer in business. According to EMF's advertising back then, all Hartford Model parts were interchangeable with the original Colts. Are they making that claim with their Uberti-produced products too? Will a Uberti barrel, bolt, hammer cam and hand work?
