Sherlock Holmes and back yard gunsmithing

[Sagebrush Burns]

Lately my Spencer carbine (Taylor and Co repro in 45 Colt) has been acting up.  In two matches lately in locked up and would not feed costing me multiple misses.  When I tried later, no problem.  Figuring it might be dirty I took it apart today for a really thorough cleaning and discovered some broken parts and a missing spring.  The spring fits at the front of the firing pin and pushes it back after firing.  What was happening was the firing pin protrusion would not all(ow) the block to slide past the cartridge and lock up.  It was about the right size so I took a chance, took apart a ball point pen, trimmed the spring and fitted it in place.  BINGO!  Working Spencer.  I also called Taylors and ordered replacements for the broken parts and a new spring.  I'm not a gunsmith but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express lately...

[Good Troy]

Not too long ago, I fixed (replaced) the firing pin spring on a 105 year old shotgun using a spare spring from my Ruger NMV.  We must have stayed in the same Holiday Inn Express at some point and time...

[KEN S]

ball point spring , inside the firing pin block of an original Sharps 74.   worked perfectly, and in the Shiloh too....
   I buy ball point pens just to keep the springs!
    yes...good fix.....Ken