I am a noob when it comes to any model C&B revolver, but I have been reading all the info I can find about them, replica Colt 1851 guns in particular.
In December I bought a Pietta 1851 Navy steel .36 from Cabela's on sale. [I have since bought a nicer looking grip off EBay (although it is a reddish-brown stained piece of white hardwood) as the original European walnut grip was rather straight-grain plain wood.]
When I received the pistol, all metal finishes were excellent, but the wedge did not protrude at the right side of the frame
at all. After conferring with Mike
http://www.goonsgunworks.com/ via forum/email/phone, and I was satisfied judiciously sand both side edges of the wedge and the barrel lug now allows the wedge to protrude on the right side to about 1/32" to include the tip of the wedge spring, which is still pretty darned tight. As I have not shot the pistol, I will go no further than that modification and have cold-blued the wedge/spring until then (Birchwood Casey paste blue works well).
The folks that have suggested using a small plastic mallet, a wood clothespin, or small wood dowel are right on. Common knowledge that I have learned is that the wedge/arbor slot tolerances will increase with the number of firings.
rifle is pretty much spot on, IMO.
Jim