Boat anchor material!

[Sun City]

I've got a flintlock that is driving me nutty....nuttier! I cannot get the cock to strike full forward as it stops at the half cock position; no matter whether the Davis set trigger is set prior to fully cocking or being set afterward! Basically right now its boat anchor material since I can't get it to fire! I have no interference from wood and I've set the tension on the triggers several different ways in trying to find what works! It seems that the rear trigger which is the 'set trigger' pops up and interferes with the sear bar and prevents following through to full forward. Lock seems to be OK and there is a fly in the lock. I'm totally stumped!

IMG_3537 by Sharps Man, on Flickr

 

[colimr]

Can you provide a picture of the trigger assembly? Believe you have either a bad front spring or the front trigger notch has worn ( the notch holds the rear trigger until the front is pulled)

 

[Alby]

Maybe the fly is too short, or not working properly.

 

[Sun City]

IMG_3540 by Sharps Man, on Flickr

IMG_3539 by Sharps Man, on Flickr

 

[Sun City]

IMG_3541 by Sharps Man, on Flickr

 

[SDSmlf]

Does the cock ‘strike full forward’ if you just use the front trigger without setting the rear trigger? As @Alby suggested, sounds like an issue with the fly, or it is possibly missing. It’s purpose is to keep the sear from catching the half cock notch when using the set trigger.

 

[Sun City]

Cock won't strike full forward when just using front trigger! Cock works just fine out of the rifle but I have no wood clearance problems involving the stock!

 

[bang]

If bar is interfering try shimming the trigger plate lower.

 

[Alby]

Now that I see your lock photo, it looks to me that the fly is in there backwards?

 

[Grenadier1758]

@Sun City, is your lock one from L&R? Their locks are notorious for operating just as you described when the fly is installed backwards. @Alby gets the prize for possibly the first correct answer.

 

[Sun City]

If the fly is assbackards......WHY will the lock function correctly out of the rifle??

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

If the fly is assbackards......WHY will the lock function correctly out of the rifle??

Because when you trip the sear by hand it is not the same as a mouse trap action. Speed on the sear will cause the sear to jump into half cock if the fly is not doing its' job. You could even have wood interference.
Larry

 

[ord sgt]

The fly has a pin on the back which fits into a hole on the tumbler, therefore, it can only be installed one way.

 

[colimr]

Imo replace the front trigger .The notch that holds the rear trigger is worn

 

[Sun City]

Fly is the same either way positioned....no wood interference.

 

[Steve Martin]

You say it works correctly when it's OUT of the stock? IF so, you MUST be having some sort of wood interference. Another idea is to loosen the lock plate retaining screw(s) and try it. I once had a similar situation and it turns out I was tightening the lock into the stock inlet so much it was then binding on the inside.

 

[Sun City]

The fly has a pin on the back which fits into a hole on the tumbler, therefore, it can only be installed one way.

Exactly!

 

[cynthialee]

You say it works correctly when it's OUT of the stock? IF so, you MUST be having some sort of wood interference. Another idea is to loosen the lock plate retaining screw(s) and try it. I once had a similar situation and it turns out I was tightening the lock into the stock inlet so much it was then binding on the inside.

I think this is it also.

 

[Sun City]

No wood problem and with the side screws in and snug I can bring to full cock and then press upon the sear bar and it works like a champ! Install the trigger housing and.......same problem! Thanks for your input fellows! Have good weekend!

 

[SDSmlf]

The fly has a pin on the back which fits into a hole on the tumbler, therefore, it can only be installed one way.

That’s not the case with the L&R locks I own. The hole is in the fly and the pin is in the tumbler. L&R even specifically mentions a couple of times in their instructions (something to read when all else fails) how to correctly install the fly. Here is a photograph I provided someone for reference quite some time ago when they were having a similar problem with an L&R lock. Note the hole in the fly and the pin in the tumbler.

Fly is the same either way positioned..

Then you likely don’t have an L&R lock, so the issue must be something else. But IF you have an L&R lock/boat anchor, the fly in your photograph is backwards.