Safety question - can a Spencer fire if not at half cock when action worked?

[Perseo]

I'm a new guy, and as I look at the S&S centerfire breech block, the strike point extends back a bit, but not when the hammer is down (it is pressed forward in that position).

When working the action, if the hammer is not first placed at the half cock or full cock position, is there a danger that the just loaded cartridge will fire, as the strike plate is lifted into position and meets the down hammer? 

I understand that the proper procedure is to half cock before working the action to chamber a new round, but, if the procedure is not followed, is an unplanned firing a certainty, a common occurrence, a rare occurence or not a realistic risk.

Just wonderin'

[Arizona Trooper]

Yes, but you have to slam it shut pretty hard. I tried it with a blank and could get one to go off. That's using rifle primers. Pistol primers would be a lot easier, but you shouldn't use pistol primers in Spencer ammo. 

[Jobe Holiday]

AT, when you shoot your Spencer in rapid fire matches do you leave the hammer down when working the action for the next round? I'm curious because I'm thinking of working up a Spencer.
Thanks!
J.

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[5judge]

Any loaded firearm can fire when the action is worked. I could tell you stories. Although likely done by the military and seen often on YouTube, jacking cartridges through a Spencer with the hammer fully down is bad practice on several levels.

[Perseo]

Well, I get it.  My intent is to be a safe shooter, 100% of the time.

My fundamental question was whether it would fire every time the hammer was left down (remember Chuck Conners in the Rifleman?), most of the time, or occassionally.  It is clearly a matter of discipline and care to be sure to fire, set hammer to half cock, work the action, set hammer to full cock, and fire.  If doing all of this under any kind of stress (competition, someone shooting back at you, whatever) it seems to me that it would happen from time to time that the important step of setting hammer to half cock would be overlooked as the shooter proceeded to the more dramatic act of working the action.

Arizona Trooper, thanks for the real world report.

[5judge]

Chuck Connor's Winchester 92 was modified to malfunction. The Spencer would rarely, perhaps very rarely fire when the action is worked with the hammer down. The risk, as I understand it, is dragging a fully forward firing pin across the cartridge primer. And it probably does the pin no good. On the firing line with the muzzle always down or down range, by the bye, I tend to set the hammer at full cock before working the action. Expect there's some objection to this, but it saves a step.

[Arizona Trooper]

5judge, yes, it will eventually break the firing pin if you lever it after a shot with the hammer still down. Many years ago I broke one and the piece stayed in the breech for a while before falling out when I cleaned the gun. Taught me a lesson!

Jobe, what I do in repeater matches is thumb the hammer back right after firing, roll the rifle to the left 90 degrees (along the barrel axis), work the lever and simultaneously roll it back upright, aim and fire. The butt never leaves my shoulder and empties hit me in the left shoulder. They never fall back into the action. Takes some practice, but you can shoot almost as fast as a Henry.

If you get that Spencer worked up, you can fall in with us. But, we are working the National this fall.

[Eggman]

I know you have a well tuned long term memory Arizona - keep me inmind this fall. Our repeater team just added another Henry shooter, a hot shot, so my tenure on the team is shakey.

[Arizona Trooper]

Will do! We have three Spencers on our team, so we are usually looking for a pickup.

[Trailrider]

If the S&S breechblock is set up with the firing pin as an inertial, there is less likelihood of an AD with the hammer fully down. But, as was stated by others, you will likely HAVE an AD or break the firing pin. When shooting rapid fire with my original Spencer, I generally would pull the hammer to FULL cock prior to levering. IF the sear is in good shape and engagement, levering the next round into the chamber will not drop the hammer until the trigger is pulled. I don't have any experience with the replicas along these lines.