Straight firing pins

[Richard Flanders]

I think they're correct in that early top lever guns don't have springs and there's not much room to add one either. One could very deftly drill the pin well out to accommodate a spring but it would be a risky thing to do. I get by fine with my 1883 hammer gun with no springs. The hammers rebound and it seems not an issue.

[Pa SxS]

Richard, for me it's not a question of the hammers rebounding but the firing pins float so freely that if the receiver is pointing down, such as carrying muzzle down in a cart, when you open the gun to load a shell, then try to close the gun, the firing pin/pins may protrude and not allow the gun to be closed until the pin/pins are pushed back by hand. The tip of the firing pin catches the base of the shell.