How does the sliding tang safety work on Winchester lever actions?

[BluRidgDav]

I mean internally.

Marlin's cross-bolt safety simply blocks the hammer from making contact with the firing pin, but otherwise isn't part of the fire-control system or affect trigger function.

What about the new sliding tang type safety on Winchester 1892's, 1886's, and soon 94's ?

I've also heard that there are folding tang (peep) sights that can be placed over these new safeties and keep them in the forward "fire" position. Thereby taking them "out of the loop" and covering them up for a more traditional appearance.
Who makes these tang sights?

Thanx, Dave.

 

[dickwholliday]

Funny you should ask because i passed on buying a 1 of 500 1886 45-70 the other day just because it had a tang safety.......i'll be watching this post.....the one i saw looked like you'd have to remove the safety in order to put on a tang sight.....it was not drilled for any sort of tang sight.....DICK

 

[JimC]

I have a "re-issued" take down 1886 Winchester in .45/70 with the tange safety. At one point I was interested in putting a tang sight on it.

As far as the safety itself, when engaged, the internal part of the safety slides over from the left and blocks the hammer from falling completely. I've never taken my rifle apart to investigate further.

I found that Marble's makes one in the original configuration, part # 009810, but it requires the tang to be drilled and tapped. The base is shorter also. I think it uses the original rear screw and one where D&T.

It is my understanding that the tang sight does not interfear with the safety. I didn't think Marble's or anyone else would supply a product that would disable an intended safety device.

It's available from Brownell's at $125.00 or trade discount price of $83.38, part # 579-009-810.

I decided that I didn't want my tange on my '86 drilled and tapped after spending $1,000 for the rifle.

 

[dickwholliday]

the new rifle i was looking at that i mentioned above was $1,100 and i guess i might pay that if i knew that a sight could be found.......i just hate to pay those kind of bucks if something isn't exactly what i want....thanks for the info on the brownells part.......DICK

Darn it.....i just went to Brownells and they have a tang sight for the rifle i was looking at with the tang safety....now i had talked myself out of buying that rifle but now i guess it's back on my mind again....

 

[larryw]

I'm curious about the hubbub regarding the tang or sliding safety on these rifles. Seems people are passing on buying a gun simply because of its existence.

I have a '94 Marlin with the sliding safety and have had no problems with it; I like carrying the gun cocked and locked in the field, something not advised in models w/o the safety. Col. Cooper even went so far to recommend a tack weld keeping it in the fire position.

This is not inviting a debate about the real safety: between the ears. I'm simply wondering if I'm overlooking something.

 

[BigG]

The ole Mod 86s and 71s had the peep sight atop the breechblock. Do they still make em like dat?

 

[BluRidgDav]

Thanx guys, I've almost got this thing figured out?

I guess I'm too old fashioned, but when I'm about to spend a considerable amount of money on a re-issue Model 1886, I want it to look and function like an original "Model of 1886".

To me, these safeties are like puttin' seat belts on my horse's saddle!!!

I was hoping to cover up the safety with a tang sight that came with a little recess underneath (or grind one myself).

I just saw some close-up photos of a new 1886, and it looks like the safety is located pretty far forward on the tang. So any tang-sight's base would have to be pretty long to cover it up. And if I'm reading "JimC" correctly, the Marbles tang-sight's base is made shorter than usual, on purpose, so as to still leave the safety exposed.

Maybe if I recessed the base and then mounted it on the forward part of the tang? But, that might look "funny" and interfere with the hammers movement?

Anyway, the research continues . . . . . .

 

[dickwholliday]

Hey Blue Ridge....where did you see the pictures of the new ones....thanks....DICK

 

[BluRidgDav]

One of the re-issue 1886 rifles that's for sale on GunsAmerica.com has a "Gallery" of pretty nice close-up photos attached.