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October 17, 2017
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When I purchased my new "to me" Dan Wesson .357 (ca. 1975) about a year ago, the cylinder bushing was frozen and therefore not removable. As the chambers were quite rough and I had difficulty sometimes extracting spent cases with the extractor, I searched out a replacement cylinder on eBay and purchased it. Dropped right in (and with much smoother chambers by the way), although I did use my original star extractor and push rod. After an extensive shooting session at the range I set about cleaning the revolver. Much to my surprise the cylinder bushing fell out when I disassembled the new cylinder from its crane.
So, if the "bushing" is not movable in the cylinder, it rotates on the face of frame as the cylinder indexes just as it would on a single action revolver or a Colt double action revolver (Smiths rotate on the face of the crane). I noticed after assembly that the cylinder was now turning on the "bearing" as it is now stationary on the frame as the cylinder indexes around it.
My question is: which is correct for the Dan Wesson revolver? Are there any specs on this? It seems to function flawlessly either way, but I'm curious about other Dan Wesson owners experiences with this.
February 16, 2016
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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There is a long tube bushing that slides into the cylinder and a bearing that is held in place at the rear of the cylinder by a roll pin in a notch in both cylinder and bearing. I am not sure whhich one you are talking about.
October 17, 2017
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The "long tube bushing" you're speaking of actually slides through this bushing which rests in a pocket milled into the forward face of the cylinder. On my original cylinder it was not removable, but this one comes right out as it is supposed to.
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March 25, 2013
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I think they are all removable as the cylinder and bushing are 2 parts held together with a short roll pin. I would not be taking it out for a cleaning. Some folks loctite the bushing in when they don't have the proper roll pin or the roll pin keeps falling out. If you need roll pin or bushing member Snake-eye has plenty. I have several stainless cylinders in 9mm that have no bushing or slots in the cylinder to insert the bushing. A gunsmith drilled the hole on one cylinder for me. I may have to loctite the others in. The steel was so hard he broke many drill bits. The cylinders are cut for moon clips but I cannot find any to fit.
October 17, 2017
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Other end of the cylinder, my friend. Other end. I know the piece you're referring to, and I would never try to remove it as it is what facilitates the perfect alignment of the ratchet with the bolt cuts. So the cylinder actually has three parts: cylinder, the ratchet star guide, and the cylinder bushing. On another post somewhere on this forum a member describes this bushing and states that some are easily removed and some simply won't budge. I've had one of each.
October 17, 2017
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I need to revisit this, but I know it's a difficult thing to describe. Once we remove the cylinder from the crane by removing the push rod and ejector star ratchet assembly, we're left with the cylinder and no other moving parts. The rear of the cylinder has a bushing held in place by a tiny roll pin. The front of the cylinder has a bushing that rests in a precisely milled pocket (it fits so tightly you can barely see the seam with a magnifying glass), and it's this front bushing I'm concerned with. It can be easily removed on some Dans, and virtually impossible to remove on others.
When the cylinder is indexed during cocking the hammer back, this bushing is resting against the frame and turns with the cylinder as it rotates. On a more loosely fitting bushing the cylinder can actually rotate around this bushing while the bushing remains stationary against the frame. My question is: is this a problem?
Not really sure why Karl Lewis (or perhaps Dan Wesson) designed the cylinder this way, and I don't know if the large frame Dans are made with the same set-up.
I would greatly appreciate any thoughts or personal experiences anyone could share on this.
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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I see now what you are talking about. Yes some seem to be part of the cylinder and some freely come out. I suspect the ones that a fixed are actually a separate piece but press fit or installed while frozen and contracted. Similar to frame pins that the lockwork rotates on. I don't think it matters which it is but I am often wrong. They call me Oft Wrong Ron.
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