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Posted: 5/10/2011 8:53:05 PM EDT
| Purchased a Model 97 with a trigger that engages while on half cocked safety setting. I've taken apart but am unable to determine cause/solution since I know nothing about this gun. Any thoughts/suggestions? |
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Quoted: Purchased a Model 97 with a trigger that engages while on half cocked safety setting. I've taken apart but am unable to determine cause/solution since I know nothing about this gun. Any thoughts/suggestions? I've got a '97 from 1941, and they were deliberately capable of slam-firing (they're from a period before lawyers got ahold of the gun manufacturers). If I hold the trigger back, it will fire each time I pump the action. Is this close to what you were asking? 
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The only safety feature is the half cock but when I pull the trigger, it engages. I'm currently taking everything apart to verify - gunsmith thought I would need a new hammer but so far everything looks in good working order for a gun built in 1915. Buttstock cracked in half when I disassembled and I cut the barrel down to 18 inches so up next is rebluing. The action is very rough so I hope taking everything down and reassembling will help.
These are beautiful guns but very dangerous with the slamfire design so I doubt I'll ever use this hunting. |
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It's been a while since I've finger fucked a 97 (had one growing up). With that in mind, I have seen some firearms that intentionally drop the hammer from half cock. The idea is, it won't set off the round, and helps prevent mechanical damage. The Colt 1991A1 is one that functions in this way.
(i really need to get a 97 again one of these days) |
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The Winchester Model 97 is an old school John Browning design in that the only safety is the half cock.
The hammer has an actual notch that is engaged by the trigger. This prevents the hammer from contacting the firing pin and prevents the hammer from dropping if the trigger is pulled. If your hammer is dropping from half cock when the trigger is pulled, something is defective and the gun is UNSAFE. "Usually" the problem is the half cock notch on the hammer is either broken or some fool ground off the face of the notch for some reason. Another possibility is a defective trigger that's failing to seat into the notch. Checking the hammer notch and the sear area of the trigger should show the problem. If the hammer notch or trigger is damaged, the "fix" is to replace them. Here's an exploded view of the '97. While not that clear, it does show the half cock safety notch on the bottom of the hammer. http://www.stevespages.com/ipb-winchester-1897.html |
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Quoted:
The Winchester Model 97 is an old school John Browning design in that the only safety is the half cock. The hammer has an actual notch that is engaged by the trigger. This prevents the hammer from contacting the firing pin and prevents the hammer from dropping if the trigger is pulled. If your hammer is dropping from half cock when the trigger is pulled, something is defective and the gun is UNSAFE. "Usually" the problem is the half cock notch on the hammer is either broken or some fool ground off the face of the notch for some reason. Another possibility is a defective trigger that's failing to seat into the notch. Checking the hammer notch and the sear area of the trigger should show the problem. If the hammer notch or trigger is damaged, the "fix" is to replace them. Here's an exploded view of the '97. While not that clear, it does show the half cock safety notch on the bottom of the hammer. http://www.stevespages.com/ipb-winchester-1897.html Thanks for the input - exactly the expert advice I was looking for. I was told I most likely needed a hammer but I didn't know about the notch which would explain. Since the hammer already is broken at the end, it would be nice to replace anyway. ETA: The bottom notch on the hammer is chipped off. |
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