It is important to note that the small sear tip in the back of the iron should be in the upward position. It is a combination sear which has two points at which it grabs the hammer.
Under normal circumstances, Just pushing the hammer back will allow the hammer to grab the lower position on the sear, but installation of the forend will trip the hammers and if forend is removed, the hammers will be un cocked again. The forend must be run through an operation cycle to reset them correctly.
However if the hammers are properly cocked with the sears in the upward position, you are essentially ready to go.
This can be tricky to do. I usually put the forend in my padded pattern makers vise so it frees up both hands. One to push back on the hammer and the other to lift up I the sear tip. The hammer SHOULD hold with the tip left in the upward position.
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B. Dudley
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