doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Syracuse Arms Co single trigger?

Well I took it apart and I will say there were never two trigger slots in this triggerplate. The serial number is stamped in the trigger plate and is a match for rest of the gun. The evidence leads me to believe this was a factory effort.

I agree with topgun on the bottom screw, it has been made larger and the engraving dosent quite match up.
Ross

Reb:
Yes, I am planning an article; Terry Allen has completed the photography and I've written most of the manuscript. But whenever I write, I must be in my "writer's mode" to be productive; and for whatever reason, just can't seem to find the motivation to get that article and some others I've started completed. I'll get it done soon however, and many thanks for the encouragement. In the interim, I hope you will become inspired enough to learn the truth about the SAC single trigger gun you have. Tom

Reb,
I've examined over 90 single trigger patents so far, to no avail...could you post a photo of the trigger assembled, but not stuck to the action with the sear levers in the way...maybe show a top view...I looked at several designs that were close but without that big honking selector...thanks in advance for cooperating...I want to know as the answer as much as you do

Here are the pics. There is pressure by the small spring on the back trying to push the shifter to the left barrel. The feeler (front of the shifter) is kept on the right barrel by the hammer. When the right hammer goes forward the feeler is allowed to switch to the left barrel. It works in dry fire. When I switch the selector to the left barrel it wants to double fire. Im not sure what would cause the shifter to move to the right barrel. The whole spring plate moves back and forth with the selector.

In 1919 George Giddings patented a complete over under shotgun with a single trigger and ejectors. The single trigger has the selector in the same place as your gun, but looks as though it's a refined version...it so hard to say without a better view of the trigger...that patent is 1302909 if you care to look at it...I know 1919 is much later, but can you tell me approxamately what year is your gun, and what year was their first and last year of production? This would help narrow things down some. Makes me wonder if Giddings was ever employed by Syracuse Arms....he was in the area...I think a few of the old Syracuse City Diretories are online...if only I could get my hands on a Giddings O/U...I heard that he made more than a few

Well OK...you must have posted minutes before me because I didn't see your post until I posted last...I've looked at over 150 ST patents now...I.m gonna start over using these new photos...thanks

According to Tom Archers research the gun was made ~1896. Syracuse Arms Co was making guns from approximatley 1892-1905

Reb,
Thanks, well I was close anyway, I thought the production years were from early 1893 to 1903 or early 1904, but only form Hollenbeck's and Horne's patents...reasoning if Hollenbeck applied for a Syracuse Arms assigned patent in June of '93...and Horne was apparently applying on his own by 1903 ...inferring...that either the plant dismanteling was underway, or that that Horne had parted company by that point...

I wish I could focus better on the many aspects of these mystery triggers...but I'm making great strides right now on the subject discussed earlier about putting all the inventors of the region on a proximity/timeline....maybe patterns will emerge, maybe they won't...I have no idea where hunt is taking me...

I'll try to work on the trigger hunt tonight.

Reb87,
I haven't forgotten about this thread, life's been busy...

Reb and all, I notice one thing about this gun that seems different than others. The metal work inside the gun on the triggerplate is much rougher than other guns of the same type, at least I think so. Can you look at other examples you have and see if their inside finish is better ? Oh, does the trigger work ?