Merwin- Hulbert Question

[44caliberkid]

I have a Merwin-Hulbert 44 Army, 44WCF, 4 inch barrel. There is a metal rectangle with a retaining screw near the muzzel, through the underlug of the barrel. I was wondering what the purpose of this was. After thinking about it for awhile, my guess is that it serves a similar purpose to the barrel wedge in a cap n ball Colt and controls the amount of rearward travel of the barrel, and regulates cylinder/ barrel gap. I was thinking of removing it to be able to clean clear to the bottom of the cylinder pin hole. Is anything going to come flying out or be difficult to reinstall?

 

[Hawg]

I don't know about the MH but if you can change cylinder gap with the wedge on a cap and ball revolver then the arbor is too short and needs to be corrected.

 

[44caliberkid]

I found my answer in a YouTube video. It locks the barrel into the cylinder pin when it is closed.