andy
08-19-2008, 06:49 AM
I would like to know what safety mechanisms the various Lever Actions have and how they work. In the spirit of it, I will start with what I do know, and hope everyone will fill in the blanks, especially the Rossi '92s, the newer Winchester and Brownings, and the Mossbergs, both old and new. Please note this is not a philosophical discussion, or a comparison of relative safety between rifles/models.
Winchester model 94 (original)
Half-cock notch/position on hammer holds the hammer approximately 1/4 inch from the firing pin / hammer down position; serves two purposes.
1. The half-cock notch is cut deeper and at a different angle than the full-cock so the hammer will not fall when the trigger is pulled.
2. If the half-cock notch or sear are broken or worn and allow the hammer to fall, the hammer doesn't have enough momentum to fire a cartridge.
Lever Safety (trigger stop), the lever must be fully closed to allow the trigger to move and release the hammer. The shooter has to deliberately squeeze the lever closed fully to fire, when the lever is released, it moves back to the "safe" position. Serves to prevent out of battery firing, reduces chance of trigger momentum firing the rifle when dropped on the butt, and serves to reduce the chance of pulling the trigger accidently.
UNSAFE CONDITIONS:
If the hammer or sear are worn or broken, the hammer will fall, potentially causing rifle to fire.
The firing pin protrudes when the hammer is fully down, if the rifle is carried with a round in the chamber and the hammer fully down, a fall can cause the rifle to fire. Do not carry a 94 with a round in the chamber and the hammer at rest.
If the rifle is dropped hard enough, the lever safety will not prevent the sear bouncing out of the hammer, causing the rifle to fire. Do not place the hammer on full cock until ready to fire. If a round is chambered and the rifle is dropped on the muzzle, the momentum of the firing pin may cause the rifle to fire.
Marlin 1893, 1894, 1936, 36, 336, 444, 375, new 1895.
Half cock position: as described above.
Lever safety: Lever must be fully closed to release trigger. This serves to prevent firing the rifle unless fully in battery, the lever latches fully closed i.e. does not reset when released.
Two piece firing pin (not present on early guns): The locking bolt pushes the spring loaded rear firing pin in line with the front firing pin to allow the rifle to fire when the hammer falls. This safety prevents the rifle being fired out of battery or without a locking bolt installed. The Marlins will function as normal if the locking bolt is not installed, but firing the rifle without a locking bolt would be disastrous (possible with a one piece firing pin).
Two piece trigger (not present on early guns): The trigger and sear are in two pieces, reducing the weight and momentum of the trigger, slightly reduces the chance of the rifle firing when dropped on butt.
Cross Bolt safety (introduced approximately 1984):
When the cross bolt is pushed from left to right, a solid block positively prevents the hammer from touching the firing pin.
When pushed from the right to the left, a notch in the cross bolt allows hammer to drop fully, allowing rifle to fire. When in safe position, the word "safe" shows on the cross bolt; when in fire position, a red ring is shown. The cross bolt will not move when the hammer is at rest, the hammer must be at half cock or full cock to engage or release the safety.
Safest condition when chamber is loaded is cross bolt applied, then hammer lowered to half-cock.
The only change made when the cross bolt was added was the cross bolt, the half cock, two piece firing pin and lever safety remain unchanged.
UNSAFE CONDITIONS:
If the hammer or sear are worn or broken, the hammer will fall, potentially causing rifle to fire.
The firing pin protrudes when the hammer is fully down, if the rifle is carried with a round in the chamber and the hammer fully down, a fall or blow to the hammer can cause the rifle to fire. Do not carry with a round in the chamber and the hammer at rest.
If the rifle is dropped hard enough, the lever safety will not prevent the sear bouncing out of the hammer, causing the rifle to fire. Do not place the hammer on full cock until ready to fire, unless the rifle has a cross-bolt safety.
If a one piece firing pin is installed, and the rifle is assembled without a locking bolt, the rifle will function as normal, but when fired, only the nose of the lever holds the bolt closed, the result is a catastrophic failure, and almost certain injury or death to the shooter. Ensure the locking bolt is in place before each firing session.
If a round is chambered and the rifle is dropped on the muzzle, the momentum of the firing pin may cause the rifle to fire.
If you borrow a Marlin rifle, or purchase one used, ensure the locking bolt is in place before firing the rifle. You can look at the bottom of the rifle and see the locking bolt with the lever open.
Andy
Winchester model 94 (original)
Half-cock notch/position on hammer holds the hammer approximately 1/4 inch from the firing pin / hammer down position; serves two purposes.
1. The half-cock notch is cut deeper and at a different angle than the full-cock so the hammer will not fall when the trigger is pulled.
2. If the half-cock notch or sear are broken or worn and allow the hammer to fall, the hammer doesn't have enough momentum to fire a cartridge.
Lever Safety (trigger stop), the lever must be fully closed to allow the trigger to move and release the hammer. The shooter has to deliberately squeeze the lever closed fully to fire, when the lever is released, it moves back to the "safe" position. Serves to prevent out of battery firing, reduces chance of trigger momentum firing the rifle when dropped on the butt, and serves to reduce the chance of pulling the trigger accidently.
UNSAFE CONDITIONS:
If the hammer or sear are worn or broken, the hammer will fall, potentially causing rifle to fire.
The firing pin protrudes when the hammer is fully down, if the rifle is carried with a round in the chamber and the hammer fully down, a fall can cause the rifle to fire. Do not carry a 94 with a round in the chamber and the hammer at rest.
If the rifle is dropped hard enough, the lever safety will not prevent the sear bouncing out of the hammer, causing the rifle to fire. Do not place the hammer on full cock until ready to fire. If a round is chambered and the rifle is dropped on the muzzle, the momentum of the firing pin may cause the rifle to fire.
Marlin 1893, 1894, 1936, 36, 336, 444, 375, new 1895.
Half cock position: as described above.
Lever safety: Lever must be fully closed to release trigger. This serves to prevent firing the rifle unless fully in battery, the lever latches fully closed i.e. does not reset when released.
Two piece firing pin (not present on early guns): The locking bolt pushes the spring loaded rear firing pin in line with the front firing pin to allow the rifle to fire when the hammer falls. This safety prevents the rifle being fired out of battery or without a locking bolt installed. The Marlins will function as normal if the locking bolt is not installed, but firing the rifle without a locking bolt would be disastrous (possible with a one piece firing pin).
Two piece trigger (not present on early guns): The trigger and sear are in two pieces, reducing the weight and momentum of the trigger, slightly reduces the chance of the rifle firing when dropped on butt.
Cross Bolt safety (introduced approximately 1984):
When the cross bolt is pushed from left to right, a solid block positively prevents the hammer from touching the firing pin.
When pushed from the right to the left, a notch in the cross bolt allows hammer to drop fully, allowing rifle to fire. When in safe position, the word "safe" shows on the cross bolt; when in fire position, a red ring is shown. The cross bolt will not move when the hammer is at rest, the hammer must be at half cock or full cock to engage or release the safety.
Safest condition when chamber is loaded is cross bolt applied, then hammer lowered to half-cock.
The only change made when the cross bolt was added was the cross bolt, the half cock, two piece firing pin and lever safety remain unchanged.
UNSAFE CONDITIONS:
If the hammer or sear are worn or broken, the hammer will fall, potentially causing rifle to fire.
The firing pin protrudes when the hammer is fully down, if the rifle is carried with a round in the chamber and the hammer fully down, a fall or blow to the hammer can cause the rifle to fire. Do not carry with a round in the chamber and the hammer at rest.
If the rifle is dropped hard enough, the lever safety will not prevent the sear bouncing out of the hammer, causing the rifle to fire. Do not place the hammer on full cock until ready to fire, unless the rifle has a cross-bolt safety.
If a one piece firing pin is installed, and the rifle is assembled without a locking bolt, the rifle will function as normal, but when fired, only the nose of the lever holds the bolt closed, the result is a catastrophic failure, and almost certain injury or death to the shooter. Ensure the locking bolt is in place before each firing session.
If a round is chambered and the rifle is dropped on the muzzle, the momentum of the firing pin may cause the rifle to fire.
If you borrow a Marlin rifle, or purchase one used, ensure the locking bolt is in place before firing the rifle. You can look at the bottom of the rifle and see the locking bolt with the lever open.
Andy