Replace Those Fragile Flat Springs in SAA Copies

If you’ve spent any time at all trying to repair one of the imported Single Action Army (SAA) copies with a broken hand spring or broken trigger/bolt spring, take heart; there’s an easy way to replace those springs that will almost eliminate breakage completely. If you’re like me, you’ve had several of the different imported copies of Colt’s Model Pin for repairs. Usually, it’s for a broken hand spring or a broken trigger/bolt spring—two of the most fragile springs I’ve ever run across.

While Colt parts will fit some of these copies, often the new springs will require some "adjustment" to fit and work properly. Then, the owner takes the revolver back out and abuses it some more, until the new spring breaks. What can you do? The answer is to replace the flat springs with music-wire springs. Wire springs are not as subject to stress riser pinning and subsequent fracture as flat springs. But don’t get the wrong idea; I’m not talking about coiled springs.

The best example I can think of right off the top of my head is the replacement trigger/bolt springs for SAAs and copies that appear in the Brownells catalog. If you work on these revolvers frequently, it would probably be easier to buy the trigger/ bolt springs. However, if you don’t see them very often or are confronted with one of the German or oddball-sized Italian SAA revolvers, you may be better off making your own.

As far as I know, no one offers a replacement hand spring in any type other than the original—and fragile— flat leaf. I’ve replaced several flat hand springs with my own round-wire springs over the last 10 years, and none of the revolvers have come back for spring replacement. One note of caution here: If the spring in question rides on a soft surface (such as a hand spring in an alloy-framed SAA knock-off) it might (continued on page 21)

be prudent to attach a flat "slider" to the spring where it contacts the frame. This will keep the round spring from digging a trench in the frame. The slider can be fashioned from brass or steel shim stock. Soft-solder or silver-solder the slider in place with American Gunsmithing Association News Consider taking AGI’s Complete Video Armorer’s Course. It offers hands-on expert instruction on over 30 popular firearms—pistols, shotguns, rifles—for you to review in the comfort of your home.

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You can order two for $47.97 or buy three courses for $79.95 and get one free. Check out the center spread in this issue of the rest of the spring clamped in a smooth-jawed vise (and with maybe a bit of heat-absorbing paste) to keep the stressed part of the spring (the sharp bend) from becoming either brittle or too soft. Be sure to break all sharp edges on the slider. Burrs will cause roughness in the action and undue wear on the frame.

American Gunsmith for a comprehensive listing of videos, and call to place your order. Remember, as an AGA member you’re eligible for liability insurance — $1,000,000 in annual coverage for just $1,000 per year. For membership information, contact the American Gunsmithing Association Membership Services, Norwalk, CT 06856-5656. Or call Also available are three-ring binders that hold a year’s worth of American Gunsmith issues. Order several to house your collection safely and securely.

Binders are $8.95 each (shipping and handling free). Mail your order to American Gunsmith Reader Services, Beachwood, OH 44122. Allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. With a little bit of tooling and some ingenuity, you can replace many smaller flat springs in a wide variety of applications with around music-wire spring that will be virtually unbreakable. This fix is presented for the SAA copies, but it can be applied almost anywhere a fragile leaf spring is encountered. ■ AGA Corner