i recently bought a winchester 1897 and am looking into turning it into a trench shotgun. but i've noticed that the firing pin slides or can be pushed in on it's own when hammer is back. i don't know if this is normal or if i need to get a firing pin spring to help keep it back and in the ready possition. any help is greatly appreciated.
1897 problem
- Thread starter bullet90
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Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
http://www.rucascowboys.com/win97expodedview.htm
It's normal - it wasn't designed with a firing pin spring.
FWIW I'd suggest not starting out with a Win97 as a DIY 'smithing project...
It's normal - it wasn't designed with a firing pin spring.
FWIW I'd suggest not starting out with a Win97 as a DIY 'smithing project...
I plan to have a Smith do much of the work especially the barrel and stock but I like to know how to clean and maintain my guns on my own to help save money, time and cause all my friends come to me anyway. And not to be rude but your sure the pin should be able to slide in on its own?
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Do you see any firing pin retractor spring in the parts list?
http://marauder.homestead.com/files/97parts.htm
If John Browning had included one in the design, black powder & corrosive priming of the time would have shortly rendered them red rust dust anyway.
97's should not be detail stripped for cleaning every time you think about it either.
Many of them have never been detail stripped in the last 100 years, and still work perfectly.
rc
http://marauder.homestead.com/files/97parts.htm
If John Browning had included one in the design, black powder & corrosive priming of the time would have shortly rendered them red rust dust anyway.
97's should not be detail stripped for cleaning every time you think about it either.
Many of them have never been detail stripped in the last 100 years, and still work perfectly.
rc
I get theirs no spring. And unfortunately the man that sold me mine took horrible care of it. Mud and gunk through out the gun. It was so bad I couldn't even push any shells in cause of the mag well was full of gunk and grease.
I just don't see why the pin can move on its own and find it to be a safety issue.
I just don't see why the pin can move on its own and find it to be a safety issue.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
But, it's not.
It can't set off a primer unless the bolt is locked shut and the hammer hits it.
rc
It can't set off a primer unless the bolt is locked shut and the hammer hits it.
rc
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
One more time!
Thats how they work!!
rc
Thats how they work!!
rc
rbernie
Contributing Member
Welcome to the forum. 
Who are you considering to use for the gunsmithing work? There are some good 1897 gunsmiths that see a lot of them for CAS work and similar, and some 'smiths that have never taken one apart in anger....
It doesn't matter how you feel about it - that's how it was designed and built, and that's how it works. Your disapproving of the design is like you not approving of gravity or something - it may annoy you when you drink too much, but it's not like you have any say in the matter.
Who are you considering to use for the gunsmithing work? There are some good 1897 gunsmiths that see a lot of them for CAS work and similar, and some 'smiths that have never taken one apart in anger....
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