.44 Evans Repeating Rifle

[Tony4VA]

I have an Evans .44 repeating rifle that I'm restoring and found the mainspring is missing.
Does anyone out there have a source for a main spring or can furnish me with rough dimensions and/or shape so I can grind my own? I suspect the spring would roughly resemble a c&b revolver spring, but can't be sure. The trigger spring is OK and in good condition.
The Evans is a lever action rifle from around 1873 that has a stock that consists mostly of a magazine that can hold from 28 to 34 cartridges, depending on the model.

 

[oneshooter]

Evans Rifle parts

If all else fails, this guy may be of help.

http://www.wisnersinc.com/gunacologist/Gunacologist.htm


Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

 

[Roswell 1847]

The Evans is a lever action rifle from around 1873 that has a stock that consists mostly of a magazine that can hold from 28 to 34 cartridges, depending on the model.

I think that the Norwegians equiped some patrol boats with these guns, probably in .44 caliber.
This was a very interesting design probably the inspiration for the Calico high capacity guns of today. The Russians have a similar Helical magazine on one of their SMG , the "Bison" IIRC.