Firing Pin Trivia

[Researcher]

I had just been reviewing the pictures I had on file, and all the hammer guns I have pictures of above 30000 have the "solid head plungers" --

96688 08.jpg

Then this evening this Quality AA from Puglisi showed up as a picture at the bottom of my screen. I was quite surprised to see the old style firing pins?

Quality AA from Puglisi top.jpg

Quality AA from Puglisi left side 01.jpg

[Dean Romig]

Dave, the pictures I have seen of the known AA hammer guns, including the one duBray gun I wrote thevarticle on in Parker Pages all had that style. If I’m not mistaken, the duBray Aa and two others, rather than having the hex nut, have four-sided gland nuts.

See page 25, Vol. 25, Issue 3 Parker Pages 2018.





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[Researcher]

I was actually reviewing Colt Model 1878 doubles and found examples of both the early style with no rib extension and the later style with the doll's head, like the Model 1883 hammerless gun, both with both style firing pins. So thought I'd look at the Parker Bros. firing pins, saw a clean break around 30000 and then that double A popped up about three hours later to muddy the waters!! Checked out your article Dean. I suspect with Gaucho's AA's many visits to the factory anything could have happened. The text for the hammer guns in both the "Pine Cones" and "Flying Brandt" catalogs state "solid head plungers."

[Victor Tamini]

Dave, good Lord that’s an incredible Hammergun!

[Dean Romig]

Another picture - this one is the duBray AA Hammer Gun.

Double or triple click on the picture for maximum enlargement.

Note the four-sided gland nut for the firing pin.


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[B. Dudley]

I have been scratching my head at this since it came up. I do not know why these high grade guns would have bushed firing pins. The example dave posted has hex shaped bushings and the dubray gun dean posted has square bushings. Both guns still have the normal retaining screws in the sides of the bolsters. Who knows if these are just filler screws on these particular guns vs. retaining the pins.
It would not be a major ordeal to convert the t/a hammer guns to bushed pins for the factory. I just cannot figure out functionally why it would be done.

[Dean Romig]

Me either Brian... possibly for a more classic appearance? I can't think of a reason as a matter of function for the bushed firing pins. But then, these Grade 7 hammer guns were made as Pigeon Guns and in competition the bushed pins would be quicker to replace I imagine.





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[B. Dudley]

I would have to go back and see if I can find the letter info on the dubray gun and see if it had any mention of it. I do not remember anything about it.

[Dean Romig]

I’ve never read anything referencing the square or the hex bushings.

The current owner of the duBray gun wanted to remove the square ones and replace them with hex ones. I hope I talked him out of it.





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[Craig Budgeon]

The gun may have been supplied with replacement firing pins such as the Britsh provide. Also, since the firing pin is bushed in the nut rather than the receiver worn parts are easily replaced.