Straight firing pins

[Angel Cruz Ortiz]

We're gonna have to take a survey off all hammer guns with straigh firing pins and see what it shows. So far all the one's without the spring work just fine. These Parker guns are amazing.

[Autumn Daze]

I have had original guns with/without springs. Both functioned perfectly but I kinda like the idea of a spring to insure the firing pin retracts.

[John Truitt]

The earlier top levers did not have springs.
I believe Parker made the change to springs in about 1888-90.
Somewhere around the 45,000 to 50,000 serial number range.

The ones made for srings are drilled differently than those not made for springs. It is very hard to get springs to work/ seat correctly in one not made for them. Everyone I know who has tried this ends up taking them out and the guns works much better.

Sorry for such crude numbers/ dates but I am going off memory while are work and dont have any of my reference material handy.

[Autumn Daze]

John, Thank You for clarifying that. Now that you got me thinking I had a late top action 12 gauge in the 52,000 serial range that had springs. Also an earlier gun somewhere's around 37/38,000 that did not.

[Pa SxS]

Mine's in the 27k range so John's explaination makes sense. I'm going to experiment!

[Angel Cruz Ortiz]

Thanks John, now I feel better about mine not having the springs. Ser # 46149 fits right in there.

[Dollar Grade]

Originally Posted by Dave Suponski

I have had original guns with/without springs. Both functioned perfectly but I kinda like the idea of a spring to insure the firing pin retracts.

Exactly what I have noticed...

I have made springs from ball point pen springs. Just cut them to length. Seems like I had difficulties getting the springs to fit in the 0 frame 16 and just left them out.

Kurt