Pedersoli Problem - 1874 Sharps

[English Bob]

I have a problem with a Pedersoli 1874 Sharps.

It has double set triggers and has suddenly started to drop onto half-cock when fired.

Had this happen before but guessed the mainspring was worn...changed that and away it went no problems for about 15months before it starts again.

Had it to bits this morning and as I took the mainspring out it snapped so I guess it's just gone weak again....time for a new one.

Am I chasing the wrong thing here? Could it be related to the triggers and the springs in there getting tired? I have ordered a spring kit and wondered if anyone on here has any ideas that may help me.

Many thanks.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Dropping to half cock tends to be a case of faulty geometry where the seer and the hammer engage (or an outright break or chip in the sear or hammer interface). Best to have a gunsmith look at that. As for the springs, they shouldn't be breaking like that, but Pedersoli is notorious for poor spring making. The spring you get to replace the snapped one, if from Pedersoli, probably would benefit from a hardening followed by a proper tempering. Have a smith experienced with leaf springs do the work. It isn't complicated, but a bad job will cause your spring to snap again, or will make it weak and it will bend out of shape quickly over time.

LD

 

[English Bob]

Thanks for that Dave, it's a big help.

I did take a look at the sears and they look ok but nothing special, no obvious chips as far as I could see.

 

[Onmilo]

There is a let-off adjustment screw for the set trigger in the middle of the triggers on the trigger plate.
Make sure this screw isn't backed too far out as this will cause too light a let-off and drop the hammer to half-cock postition when you attempt to fire the gun.
Does the gun drop to half cock when you use the front trigger without setting it?

The screw shank should be screwed in at least half the length of the shank to work properly.HTH

 

[English Bob]

I thought that was the problem at first, but it still fails 95% of the time with the screw set correctly.

Just using the front trigger presents no problems other than a very heavy trigger pull. I have tried using the screw under the mian spring to lighten it, seems to work ok when I do that...i.e. the front trigger is at a useable weight.

 

[Onmilo]

OK, if that doesn't help, check the sear spring, it may actually be heavier than it needs to be.
When the double set kicks the sear free of the tumbler, the sear spring is exherting too much pressure and is forcing the sear up before the tumbler clears.
This won't happen when you use the triggers unset because you are maintaining pressure on the sear during the whole cycle of the action.

A too heavy sear spring will also cause the unset front trigger pull weight to be heavier than neccessary.

Check this out next. HTH

 

[Steve499]

Don't know where you are located English Bob but If you are in the U.S., Pedersoli's warranty gunsmith is Lee Shaver in Lamar, Missouri.

http://www.egunsmith.com/


You might give him a call, He's the kind of guy who's a friend you just haven't met, yet.

 

[Library Guy]

Bob,

I had the same thing happen to me. Set trigger- hammer falls to half cock. Unset- everything works fine.

In my case, all I had to do was remove the lock; leave all the bits in place; and tighten either the screw at the tumbler or the fly (or maybe it's the bridle.) Anyway, it will be the loose screw that goes all the way through the lock plate exiting aft of the hammer. If I recall, this screw can be over tightened to the point of stuff not working.

Anyway, a real easy fix. No need to remove the mainsping.

Hope this helps.

 

[English Bob]

Thanks for that, I'm onto it this morning after all the good advice from all.

 

[rusty from italy]

Ceck the wood under the lock too!
A untight screw and a inletting in the stock that make some sort of contact with internal part can create bad working!
ciao
Rusty

 

[English Bob]

A BIG THANKS Library Guy, that was exactly the problem. The screw must have worked it's way back out and it was certainly this that was causing the problem. I'm now good to go, brilliant!

Thanks again to all who had input on this...it all helped.