Making a gun safe for display???

[Andy]

I have a tired old PH that I don't feel like investing in and am wondering how I can display this in my home office safely? Remove firing pins? I think a trigger lock would ruin the appearance. I'd like to keep it fully functioning if I need to pull it into service in the future. My wife likes it on the wall near a nice big 10pt buck I shot a few years back, but I'm cognizant of the safety aspect of having it out in the open unlocked.

[B. Dudley]

The firing pins are integral to the hammers.

If I were you, the easiest thing you can do to disable the gun and also be able to put it back is to remove the cocking hook from the barrel. Once the gun is dry fired, it will not be able to be cocked again until the hook is put back in. And it would not require you to open the action up.

A few other things could be done as well, but any of those would be more intrusive.

[Andy]

Thank you Brian. Is that something an idiot like me could do?

[Steiner]

Originally Posted by Andrew Sacco

Thank you Brian. Is that something an idiot like me could do?

Yes Andy. I do it with most of the guns I buy because that area almost never gets cleaned out.

[Keavin Nelson]

Andy,
I agree with Brian's suggestion. The cocking hook is located on the front lug on the barrels flats. One screw through it from the side. Challenge may be getting the screw out. Well fitted screw driver is in order to avoid messing it up. A little Kroil or other penetrating oil on both sides and letting it soak a bit. Would be good if you have a padded vice to hold the barrels. Once the screw is out, the hook should come free with a little wiggling. There will be a pin/spring behind it, make sure to take it out. Put the screw back in and store the hook/pin-sping assembly separately.

[Andy]

Thank you gentlemen! I will tend to this tonight. I have a full set of gunsmith turnscrews or whatever you call them, and Kroil.

[Andy]

Now anyone have a nice way to display it? I like deer hooves holding it, my wife is having NONE of that.

[Dean Romig]

One VERY important step when/if you reinstall the hook and screw is to be absolutely certain that not even a spec of foreign matter remains in the screw-head recess in the lug. If the screw isn’t seated perfectly and tightly the screw-head will damage the side of the lug recess in the frame… if you are even able to close the action into battery.

You would be surprised at how tiny a spec of foreign matter can cause this.





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[Andy]

Thank you Dean

[B. Dudley]

Andy,
I have a decent simple oak rack here if you have any interest.