Bend the sear bar up?

[SDSmlf]

You're sort of making my point, that's huge compared to what I have. if I had that much space I wouldn't have made this post.

Might want to wait for the gun building experts to chime in. I only build a gun or two a year for entertainment and am far from an expert.

As far as your example, I have seen less, some almost even with lockplate. Never a problem. Only posted the photograph because that’s what I had on the bench to take a photograph of. If you are reluctant to remove a bit of wood from inside the lock mortise or stone a few thousandths off the bottom of the sear bar and want to bend the sear bar, suggest you have a spare sear in hand before attempting to bend the one you have.

I just grabbed a photograph of the unfinished mortise the previously mentioned lock will reside in. Note the clearance for the sear bar is almost flush with lock plate mortise just where the sear bar will be.

 

[WonkyEye]

I have seen less, some almost even with lockplate. Never a problem. Only posted the photograph because that’s what I had on the bench to take a photograph of. If you are reluctant to remove a bit of wood from inside the lock mortise or stone a few thousandths off the bottom of the sear bar and want to bend the sear bar, suggest you have a spare sear in hand before attempting to bend the one you have.

I just grabbed a photograph of the unfinished mortise the previously mentioned lock will reside in. Note the clearance for the sear bar is almost flush with lock plate mortise just where the sear bar will be.
View attachment 363215

Thanks, that pic helps. I do hear you, I think grinding a bit will be the way I go, maybe with a little undercut notch in the wood too if necessary.

 

[kelljp]

Call Dale Johnson, I've always found him to be helpful.

 

[Wirehair]

Also, call Chambers. I had an issue on a build where bending the sear bar might have resolved the problem. I called Chambers and they did not recommend bending. Instead they offered other alternatives.

 

[WonkyEye]

I got a very fast reply from Jim Chambers. His suggestion is grinding the bottom of the sear lever and noted its 2x as thick as necessary. He also said bending was ok and gave instructions to re-heat treat. Give that advice, and the large number of suggestions to grind, that is what I'll do. Case closed. Thanks all

 

[Icemanxxxv]

Don't bend it, and don't ask me what happened when I bent my sear arm. Just cost my a few bucks for a new sear.

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

Don't bend it, and don't ask me what happened when I bent my sear arm. Just cost my a few bucks for a new sear.

Did you anneal it first? Just currious. Not asking what happened.
Larry

 

[WonkyEye]

Did you anneal it first? Just currious. Not asking what happened.
Larry

Yeah, we need to know these things. Also, did you heat it up?

 

[rickpa]

Back in the 70s I was building my second rifle using a lock by Doc Haddaway and had the same problem. Tried to bend the sear. SNAP! Wrote to Doc and he sent me a new one with the advice to grind it if possible and how to anneal it if necessary.

 

[Icemanxxxv]

Did you anneal it first? Just currious. Not asking what happened.
Larry

Well first of all it wasn't a quality lock and second no I didn't anneal it. I just took what I thought was the easy way to fix my problem and found it not to be the easy way. . I really am not an authority on this subject, but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn Express the night before