The safety lever is reversable, side to side, in the breechblock of an R model Darne (did you ever try that, Miller? Again, you've been told that fact plenty of times) and a guy who ACTUALLY WANTS to use his Darne can usually find something that works, either by switching it around, or working the opening lever, to come up with a usable safety
Ted;
Yes; Yes; Yes
First I bought this ol Halifax because I "Wanted to Use" it, its not really of what I would call collector quality. It is a Joy to carry & I shoot it as well as any other. It is of the semi-pistol grip variety, but that bothers me not in the least. I have never checked the trigger pull weights, but never noticed in problem pulling them while hunting with it (I have carried it afield & may even do it again).
I tried reversing the safety lever prior to even hearing of you, but I never liked working a safety with the finger, detest all those on pumps & semi-autos with a passion. I even tried making some safety levers putting the lever in different positions to see if I could come up with a suitable one. None worked to my liking.
I did consider the lever up carry & mentioned that way back as I first began monorting this board. At that point in time "You Ted" yes it was "You" advised me that was not truly a safe carry mode for a Darne, that it was possible for it to fire prior to being fully bolted. As you were considered the "Resident Expert" on Darnes I accepted that & went on.
I simply have too many years & shots taken with Barn Door &/or Ball & socket hinged guns with the safety lying on the tang, to be oushed while the gun is being shouldered with the trigger finger resting upon the guard for immediate use to ever Fully Appreciate & otherwise extremely goood gun. That safety is simply a Stumbling Block which prevents me from ever fully switching to one for all around hunting purposes.
Even if going in to flush a bird held by a pointing dog where the finger/thumb (depending upon which side the lever is placed) can be preset the motion just isn't as smooth as with a tang safe & having to think about it detracts from concentrating on the shot itself.
