We all know the 8ga guns are big. But it is truely interesting to look at all the little different things that make a large gun like that work. In regards to parts that is. When it comes to the smaller frame sizes; 1-3 frame and even 0 frames for that matter. A lot of common parts are shared. Even the trigger plates for 1 thorugh 2 frame guns are the same size. Sure there are a couple of parts such as cocking slides and hammers that are different between most frame sizes, but for the most part, everything else is the same.
When taking down an 1899 built 8ga, I took the time to document in photos the extreme differences between the parts as compared to smaller frame sizes. This particular gun was made in a group of 4 consecutive 8ga guns. It is built on a 6 frame. 1-3/8" firing pin spacing.
This photo shows the difference in height of the top lever shaft as compared to a 2 frame lever.
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An interesting thing to show is some of the factory markings on the bottom of the top lever stating "Model 6 Hammerless" and the year of 1899.
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The Top lever cam shaft in this gun appears to be just a little longer than a typical one. But the articulating arm and the locking bolt are the same. In order to make the normal articulating arm work, an extra bracket had to be added to the bottom of the upper tang in order to give the arm a pivot point.
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The difference in size of the trip is surprising. This is a part that is usually interchanged freely from frame to frame in the smaller guages.
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The bellcrank on the 8ga is much longer than the smaller guages and also includes an additional pivoting extention allowing the unhooking slide to be operated.
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The Sears have an additional bend in them in order to allow for the extreme width of the frame.
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See below the difference in width between the 2 frame cocking slide and the 6 frame cocking slide. Normally there is differences in this part between the smaller frame sizes.
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This one may be surprising to some. The safety jacket assembly is about twice the height of all of the smaller 0-3 frame sizes. This is due to the extreme difference of not only width, but also height of the size 6 frame. The tang screws and the tang screw bushing are also very long.
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And finally a comparison of the trigger plates between size 6 and size 1-2. Note not only the difference in width between the front section and dolls head, but also of the tang section leading back to the triggers. The upper tang on the frame is also very wide.
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Curiously enough, the used the same size trigger guard bow on this number 6 frame as all of the other sizes. It looks so tiny on the frame. I think they could have stood to make a wider one while they were making all of these other special parts.
06-09-2014, 09:05 PM
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