Forend won't latch?

[todd phillips]

I recently purchased a 12 ga DHE and after taking the gun down to wipe it, found I cannot get the forend to latch.

I have taken the gun down and re assembled it only a few times previously with out issue.

I believe I must be missing something simple, and rather than use more force wanted to ask what I might be doing wrong?

Thank you.

[Bill Holcombe]

I have had this happen before when the flat spring and the latch in the forearm moved. You may have to remove the metal to fix it if the latch piece won't flip back around.

[Christian Gish]

Todd, I think there is trick peculiar to ejector guns-others more knowledgeable than I am will probably chime in on the procedure. Fred

[Christian Gish]

Todd, I think if you search for ASSEMBLY PROBLEM you will find a thread that discusses your situation. Fred

[Bill Holcombe]

Ooops, missed that it was an ejector gun.

[Brian Dudley]

The key to this is, what do you mean by "took the gun down"?

[Bob Jurewicz]

One or both forend ejectors may have tripped.
Recock the ejectors in the forend using a wooden dowel to push them back to a cocked position.
Bob Jurewicz

[todd phillips]

Thank you for the replies.

I did search the faqs prior to posting and read the relevant points.

As best as i could tell the ejector hammers had not tripped.

By "taking the gun down" I meant removing the fore end then taking the barrels off the action. Is there a better/more appropriate phrase?

Any other tips are appreciated.

Thank you

[Fred Verry]

Todd, I am assuming you cannot use the forum search feature due to not being a member.

Will the forend snap on and the latch close on the barrels when they are not on the receiver? Will the barrels hook on to the receiver and the breech close properly without the forend being mounted? Are the ejectors cocked?

If the answer to all those questions is yes, place the barrels on the frame and close the gun. Take the forend in one hand and hold it in the proper position under the barrels to snap it on at the hinge. Grasp the forend between the latch and frame and maintain a slight upward and back pressure on the forend taking care to push the slide cocking "pin" back into the receiver. With the other hand slowly open the action and allow the barrels to rotate on the hinge pin. There should be a point at which the forend will snap back on with very little effort.

HTH FV

[edgarspencer]

Grasp the forend between the latch and frame and .....

This is the most important part of Snap Cap's instruction. NEVER apply pressure to the forend between the latch and the tip.

[todd phillips]

With the help of the search Fred suggested I was able to replace the forend and everything functions appropriately with snap caps.

Is it best to store a Parker with the hammers down, i.e. dry fired, or with the mainsprings cocked? I have read about the complex ejector mechanism and would like to store the gun in the manner least likely to cause it to require repair.

Thank you.

[Brian Dudley]

Allow me to ask some pretty basic questions in the hope of solving your issue...

Since you said that all you did was remove the Forend and the ejector hammers are not tripped.

Is this the first time you have removed the forend since owning this gun?
Is the forend seating on the barrels and just the latch is not snapping?

[todd phillips]

Yes. the forend seats down on the barrels, but the latch was not closing until I followed the above advise to give it a squeeze between the latch and action.

This was the second time I removed the forend, I recall no difficulty reassembling it the first time- but that was about year ago.

[Brian Dudley]

Ok. So you got it.

I was gonna say... Just squeeze it harder. That is now they should be. A nice tight fit.

[Jerry Harlow]

I have guns like that and what I do is hold the forearm in place as I open the action slightly and somehow they go in place with no problem. Try it and see if it works.