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Offline wes

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1885 modification
« on: July 05, 2004, 02:19:27 PM »
I have two 1885`s one is a winchester in 17HMR cal. the other is a Browning in 45/70 cal. I want to modify both of them  so that when you close the lever the hammer falls to the safety position instead of the cocked position . Is there a gunsmith out there who knows how to do this modification , how much is envolved and how long to do . Thanks for your help  Wes
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Offline Iowegan

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1885 modification
« Reply #1 on: July 05, 2004, 02:55:08 PM »
I think this would be a dangerous modification. I've worked on a good many exposed hammer rifles and the highest failure part is the hammer. More specifically, the half cock notch. Should the half cock notch break as it often does, the gun would fire when you pulled the lever up. Your safety information in your user's manual will usually state the half cock position is NOT A SAFETY.

You might consider a hammer extension. These are knurled devices that clamp on the hammer to make it easier to cock or release the hammer without slipping. Peterson and Uncle Mike's both make one for under 10 bucks that would fit your 1885s.
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GLB

Offline gunnut69

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1885 modification
« Reply #2 on: July 05, 2004, 04:29:42 PM »
I have a friend who has a HighWall copy(not sure of maker) that originally closed the action and left the hammer down.  Don't know if it was on the half cock or down in the rebounded position.  He had the rifle rechambered from 45/70 to 45/100 (or 110?? ).  He also had the action worked on so that it would cock when the action was closed.  The gentleman who reworked the action is from here in Missouri but his name is caught in a senior moment right now..  I'll see if I can contact him to get the guys name.
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Offline wes

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1885 modification
« Reply #3 on: July 06, 2004, 05:17:23 AM »
My users manual specifically says not to use hammer extensions as they will cause the rifle to misfire, however you could very well be right about the modification being unsafe. Uberti makes an 1885 copy that drops the hammer when you close the lever. Does anyone know if Uberti parts will fit the Winchester, for that matter will parts interchange between the Winchester and the Browning? Thanks again for all your help  Wes
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Offline wes

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1885 modification
« Reply #4 on: July 06, 2004, 05:22:25 AM »
My users manual specifically says not to use hammer extensions as they will cause the rifle to misfire, however you could very well be right about the modification being unsafe. Uberti makes an 1885 copy that drops the hammer when you close the lever. Does anyone know if Uberti parts will fit the Winchester, for that matter will parts interchange between the Winchester and the Browning? Thanks again for all your help  Wes
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Offline KSR

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1885 modification
« Reply #5 on: July 07, 2004, 03:13:08 AM »
If you will hold the trigger back when you first start to close the action
then let off of the trigger as you continue closing the action it will go
to the safety or half cock position.
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