Solid Plunger Firing Pins

[10ga Hammer]

I find it interesting that guns have been noted without firing pin retraction springs. One wonders what kept the pins from sticking in the primers? I noticed on this gun the firing pin bores are angled down and in toward the guns center line. Does your 36000 gun have them bored the same way? Could the angling of the pin be what allowed it to retract without a spring on early guns, or was it just to reach the primer because the frame is so wide?
I guess I could pull the spring and see if the pin has a tendency to hang up.
A little more research and this might make a nice article for the Parker Pages?

[Austin W Hogan]

Who would have guessed the firing pins were two pieces? I had a frame inthe 36000 range purchased here on the forum a few years ago. One firing pin slid easily, the other would not move. When I removed the screw the hammer end came out but I had to give the exposed pin a tap. There is no sign of a weld; the two parts appear ro have been swaged together.
The 36000 pin is also 1 inch overall.
Parker (King) apparently thought the camming action as the barrels separated from the breech sufficient to let the primer push the pin back.

Best, Austin

[10ga Hammer]

Austin,That's an interesting discovery. I removed the spring from my gun and the pin moves away very easily as the action is opened. So I guess we can assume the spring was added later to make the "Old Reliable" even more reliable!

[Autumn Daze]

Very interesting discoveries here..