Hope someone can help on my SxS

[Kirk Pfeffer]

First off let me ask your indulgence since this isn't really a "fine" shotgun but knowing how much experience there is on this forum, I'm hoping someone can help me.

The shotgun is a Meriden 20 ga that was made around 1917 and it seems there's not a lot of information out on the web and virtually none for a 20 ga. I've talked to two individuals that seem to have the most knowledge of the brand and they haven't been able to help with this. Apparently there' weren't too many of this gun produced in 20 ga. I'm trying to see if I can get this to a point where I can use it but it needs some help. There are several parts that are missing but if I can't get the firing pins figured out I'm dead in the water.

I was on the Numrich site looking at the schematic for a Meriden gun to see what they showed for firing pins. I bought some parts off Ebay for a 12 ga gun and the firing pins I bought matched what was on their site. Well, it is now evident that not all parts interchange with the 20 ga. Here's what I bought (missing the spring) with the firing pin seat at the top of the picture.



Here's a shot of the 20 ga receiver with the firing pin hole circled. Note that there are no internal threads for the firing pin seat (retainer) to screw into.



My best attempt at measuring the firing pin recess came up with this:



Wondering if anyone has seen anything like this? How is the firing pin retained? I appreciate any help that anyone can give.

Again, thanks for your patience and I appreciate any help anyone can provide.

Kirk

[Phil Yearout]

You might try posting this on doublegunshop.com. There's been Meridian talk there from time to time; somebody there probably knows.

[Kirk Pfeffer]

Morning Phil, I appreciate your reply. Believe me, posting a question about this gun on the forum was a last resort and was only done because of limited success elsewhere. My hope is that I can glean some information from other guns with a similar firing pin arrangement.

Kirk

[wayne goerres]

Someone has stripped the threads out of the frame. Those fireing pin holes should be threaded.

[Kirk Pfeffer]

Thanks for the reply Wayne. However, both sides are the same and there is no indication whatsoever of any threads.
Kirk

[Dean Romig]

The top piece in your first picture, that you call a "firing pin seat" looks like a retaining 'gland nut' which, on other guns such as early Parker hammer guns, holds the striker in place. It looks to be threaded... what does it thread into? What do the lock plates look like on the inside?





.

[wayne goerres]

If you bought the gun as a basket case I would bet some body has already drilled them out and didn't finish the job. I have never seen any of them that were not threaded. Maybe some one else has.

[Kirk Pfeffer]

I'm certainly no expert but someone else told me that some of the LC Smiths were built that way. I need to check into that.
Kirk