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  1. #1
    Contributing Member Doco overboard's Avatar
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    Trap Door rifle question

    I have a 45/70 rifle that I'm looking at. When I open the breech and its in the vertical position, I can feel the firing pin protrusion at the face of the breech block. When I push up on it, the pin is easily moved flush but falls right down due to gravity.
    My question is, does the pin return to flush as the door is closed on the head of a cartridge or is there a broken spring in there that keeps the pin in the clear until the rifle is fired?
    Right now its floating and makes me think something stupid could happen due to the weight of the door.
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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    Advisory Panel Dick Hosmer's Avatar
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    All of the .58 and .50 versions, as well as the early Model 1873s had a firing pin spring to keep the pin withdrawn until struck by the hammer, fearing that accidental discharge might occur with a spirited closure of the breech. However, the springs were prone to rusting and breakage, occasionally jamming the pin in a protruding position. The springs were abandoned circa 1876 and the form of the pin changed to eliminate the sharp corner (required for the spring but also an obvious point of stress cracking). The combination of rust and broken parts had doomed what SEEMED like a good idea. Those first changes did not completely solve the rust issue, however - which was finally addressed by making the firing pin from "aluminum bronze" (which could not rust to the block) in 1888. For today's shooters, as long as the pin moves freely, there should be no problem. The aluminum bronze pin first appeared as a component of the abortive "Positive Cam" experiment. The latch modification was not adopted, but the new pin was. The PC rifles, just 100 made in the 415000 range, and actually marked "US/Model/1888" on the block, are covered in my new book.

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    Contributing Member Doco overboard's Avatar
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    Thread Starter
    Thank you for the information, I picked up the rifle recently at an auction for the starting bid and have just begun to familiarize myself with the type.
    Has your book made its way to the publisher yet? I'm sure it's filled with a substantial amount of authoritive information that I can use.
    Thanks again, Brian

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