doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Meriden Hammer Gun -- Firing Pin Return Springs?

Have a Meriden Firearms hammer gun, I believe M-97 of about 1914 vintage per the Meriden Arms website ( a great resource by the way). Question-- is it supposed to have return springs on the firing pins? The pins stick pretty far -- enough to prevent complete opening of the gun when they are extended. So you would think it should have springs. However, the gunsmith says there were no springs on the pins when he opened it up. Maybe not a big deal when you have shells in the gun? Thanks for any thoughts or experience.

it is not unheard of for the springs (often made of light wire) to have rusted away to dust in the hundred plus years of use.


whether or not this model originally had springs, i cannot tell you

I've used the springs found in ballpoint pens cut to length work fine.

Thanks guys. Does anyone recall the pins sticking way out on one of these guns? A couple have been pictured on this board.

Hammerless



Hammer, and pins appears to be retracted

Drew - thanks a bunch. Now to convince the gunsmith ....;).

I've done exactly the same thing and the firing pins then retracted properly.
Jim