half cock question

[jjort]

I am new to spencer rifles and have a question

When you put your rifle in the half cocked position and pull the trigger, is the hammer supposed to fall?   Because mine does.

There is a very positive click when you pull back the hammer and it wont fall or push off  but  I have never seen a rifle that will fire from the half cocked position... If this is normal, great...If not, I will tear it apart and fix it.

Thanks


JJ

[Blair]

jjort,

Providing the sear and half cock notch are in good shape, the lock should be quite positive when on half cock.
Damage to either part will prevent a positive lock in that position.
Hopefully, the damage wont be to the half cock notch on the tumbler.
Hope this helps.
My best,
Blair

[jjort]

So it is not supposed to fall when on half cock....

Ok I will check it out

Thanks for the info

[Blair]

jjort,

That is correct.
However, it is possible to pull hard enough on the trigger to damage the sear and/or half cock notch on the tumble.
NO more than 10 or 12 # of pull should be applied to the trigger when in the half cock position.
My best,
Blair

[jjort]

Ok
I just pulled the side plate off and the tumbler looks the same in both positions (half and full cock)
I am guessing that it is damaged, It probably is supposed to overhang the sear on the half cock position and prevent the trigger from lifting the sear off the tumbler. Somebody in its past has probably pulled too hard and snapped it off


Thanks Blair for the info

[Blair]

jjrot,

You maybe able to use a fine jewelers file to give you an under cut on what is left of you half cock notch that will help give you a more positive lock on the half cock of the tumbler?
If this does not work, then a good TIG weld may help if you can find someone to do it.
Aside from that, you may need to replace the tumbler. These can be difficult to find and very costly if you can find one in usable condition.
My best,
Blair

[jjort]

I found one but you are right, they are expensive.
its not that big a deal anyway. the sear holds well and I never rely on safety's

[Blair]

jjort,

You may not depend on the half cock holding as designed. However, some Shots may require it to function.
Just a thought on my part.
My best,
Blair

[Herbert]

The Spencers safety  notch is a long way back,this leaves plenty of room to deepen the notch if needed,just make sure you bevel the leading edge of the safety notch after re-cutting so when the trigger is puled the sear is not going to catch on the leading edge of the safety notch on the tumbler

[Blair]

What Herbert suggests is a very real possibility, Especially when trying to lighten the trigger pull.
This damage is often on both the trigger sear as well as the half cock/safety notch on the tumbler.
Both parts need to be inspected carefully. That type of inspection will be tough to do without undamaged parts to make the comparison.
My best,
Blair

[treebeard]

The half cock should hold the weight of the rifle as a rule of thumb but you should never depend on it to prevent an unintentional
Discharge. It is a good additional safety factor but the half cock can fail and let the hammer fall for a variety of reasons. In my
Collecting and gun smithing work I have seen a number of half cocks not hold.

[Roscoe Coles]

The other option is to simply purchase a new tumbler (Lodgewood has them NOS for $75) and be done with it.  If the sear is also damaged, they have them for $40.

[jjort]

Thank you all for the information

It doesnt look like the sear is damaged...I can see how it is supposed to work but a piece of the tumbler has broken off
it looks the same as in the full cock position.  I will have a go at it and see if I can cut the notch a little deeper so that it overhangs the sear and stops it from coming off when the trigger is pulled... worse comes to worse, I will order another tumbler

cheers


JJ