Uberti 1876--Oh well, stuff happens I guess

[KLNC]

Just jook my Uberti 1876 45-60 to the range for the first time today. New condition, but bought it pre-owned. Haven't had time to install a tang sight, so the buckhorn and front sight were the usual fuzzballs with my "mature" eyesight, but really just wanted to test fire it and enjoy the day. Eighteen rounds down the pipe, and on the 19th, a broken mainspring--hammer just flopped around. Oh well, stuff happens--I've got other guns with 100 year old springs working just fine.

Anyone else have mainspring breaks on 1876s? I hope VTI has them in stock.

[Griff]

It happens. I was at a cowboy match a few months ago and on the first shot out of my Uberti 1873 (made in 1986), the mainspring broke. I was bummed... what with having to wait to get another... luckily at the time I had a backup rifle with me for the balance of the match... Then, upon arrival at home, I went into my cleaning toolbox... there on the top shelf... a spare spring!

The Italians are not known for making really good springs. Now, I have 2 spares on order... but many others have converted their Ubertis to a coil mainspring... Thinking of doing that also.

[Shasta]

I've had good luck getting parts from Cimarron:

http://www.cimarron-firearms.com/parts.html


SHASTA

[Paladin]

Had my wife's new Cap & Ball revolver they make do the same thing on the seventh shot. The were easy to deal with and it only took a couple of months to get a spring sent to me fee. She has two of them now (one is none and two is one).

[kaschi]

In your opinions, do Italian gunmakers specializing in old west style guns use soft springs?

[Leverluver]

Most of the problem I see is that the springs are very rough. It takes only very small roughness or irregularities to cause stress risers which are bad ju-ju for springs. It is possible that if one takes the factory spring and polished out those irregularities, the life of the spring would improve but I have little faith in them over the long term so I just get properly made spares and just let the factory one break and then replace it.

[Gobblerforge]

(one is none and two is one).

I have always heard that saying. What the heck does it really mean?
Gobbler

[Les Staley]

Gobbler, it indicates you better have a spare, for dependability.

[3leggedturtle]

G-F it means if you have 1 flashlight and it breaks, you have no flashlight, but if you have 2 of'em and 1 breaks you still have 1 usaeble one left. Justa another way saying, always have a backup.,

[Blaine]

Umm...the first one is for a Nun, and if you have two, you can use one too?