12 GA Reproduction stuck safety and spontaneous firing

[Paul Brannon]

Yesterday while out shooting with some family I had an interesting problem. On a 12 gauge reproduction Steel Shot special I noticed the safety seemed stuck. After working it a bit it moved off safety and would move back and forth and I was able to shoot but then upon reloading it would be stuck again. The second time I did this and then spontaneously as I closed the action the gun fired. Needless to say I stopped trying to "loosen it up" and put it away. I have read here on occasion about a particular part that would fail on the reproductions but don't recall it having to do with the safety mechanism or anything about firing upon closing. Any ideas?

[Richard Flanders]

The safety on my 28ga repro becomes unmovable if I hunt it in rain or wet snow. I have literally had to press the safety against a tree - hard - to move it. Seems the wood swells and pinches the safety connector "lever" between the safety button and innards. Once the gun dries out, it's fine again. I think the stock needs to come off to allow just a bit of wood to be removed around the safety mechanism. Just haven't gotten to it.

[charlie cleveland]

that going off by its self could make a fellow gun shy... hope you find the problem...charlie

[B. Dudley]

It sounds like a sticking safety reset rod. That is why it is sticking after you open the gun back up.
This is also what Richard is describing above.
It could be moisture, or corrosion.

[Terry Hobson]

When I first hunted in the rain with my SSS I had the same issue with not being able to move the safety. At the time the Skeuse’s were still involved with the guns. I phoned one of them (can’t recall which one) and he advised that the wood was swelling and send the gun to them for correction. I did that and the issue was resolved.
I no longer hunt in the rain(a plus of retirement). I do notice it gets a little stiff in cold weather, but I can operate the safety. I mentioned this to DelGrgo in conversation and he said the channel(?) the safety rod operates in should be enlarged if I remember correctly.

[Paul Brannon]

Thanks for the responses. After posting earlier I found some of the previous posts regarding the sticking safety and decided it would be worth a look inside. I had not previously fired this gun after receiving it a year or so ago. When I disassembled it I was somewhat surprised that the insides were devoid of any oil, grease or other lubricant and that there was light surface rust on many of the surfaces and screw threads. The safety rod was, in fact, very stiff in the channel and I was able to remove it and clean the corrosion from it and manually chase the channel with a drill bit. I did not enlarge it but just "cleaned it up". After disassembling and lubricating everything including the ejectors in the forearm it seems to function as it should. I have not fired it but have every confidence that it will be as it should be. Having it spontaneously fire upon closing was unnerving to say the least. I'm still not sure how the sticking safety rod would cause it to fire as it did.

[B. Dudley]

It is very hard to say how the safety issue could cause the gun to fire on closing. And it likely may not have been connected to that. But likely a separate issue. But it sounds like you are in the right track to solving the problems. Get it out and see if it is all sorted out.

[Paul Brannon]

Thank you. I think it might have been another issue of maybe a sticking firing pin that caused the firing. It is interesting that I was just recently reading some of Nash Buckingham where he was talking about closing the gun by raising the stock rather than the barrels so that the barrels were always pointed down and not moving for this very reason.

[B. Dudley]

A “sticking firing pin” would not be such a thing with a Parker. The pins are attached to the hammers.

[Richard Flanders]

I'd be looking at the sears and the sear notches for corrosion. Sounds like the innards need a good inspection and lubing with Ballistol.