Frizzen kick back

[DRC]

My son and I have two rifles that the frizzen kicks back on. One is a Russ Hamm lock the other is a small Siler lock. When dropped the frizzen opens all the way then springs back against the cock. Any ideas of how to fix problem would be appeciated.

 

[Leonredbeard]

Grizzly,
Does the gun fire? If it does, what is the problem? Does the frizzen break the flint? If you really need the frizzen to stay open, you may need to buy a reshaped spring.
I had this problem on an L&R 'Dickert' lock many years ago. The pan did not light when this happened. L&R gave me a new spring which had a downward curve on the end. It completely solved the problem.
God bless.
volatpluvia

 

[DRC]

That might not be problem to solve on small siler but Russ Hamm locks aren't made anymore. The Russ Hamm lock has problems when frizzen springs back.

 

[musketman]

My son and I have two rifles that the frizzen kicks back on. One is a Russ Hamm lock the other is a small Siler lock. When dropped the frizzen opens all the way then springs back against the cock. Any ideas of how to fix problem would be appeciated.

I would say the problem is one of two things, or both things combined...

I suspect a weak frizzen spring and/or the foot of the frizzen (part that rides against the spring) is worn down or broken off, or the screw that holds the spring in position may be loose or even missing...

Some frizzen's have rollers on the foot to ride the spring, if this is the case, check the roller as well...

The frizzed should open with some resistance applied from the spring, once the resistance is equaled, the frizzen should snap into the open position and the frizzen spring will hold it open...

If the spring is weak or defective, there will be little resistance to apply the retaining force to keep the frizzen in the open position, thus, spring back will occur...

 

I have seen mainsprings that were too strong cause this problem too. Flint smacks the frizzen so hard it bounces off the frizzen spring.

Once again:

Do the guns fire?

If the guns fire this is an irritation, not a malfunction.

It is not perfect, so it irritates you.

You can rebuild the Siler from the lockplate up if necessary.

You should have probably replaced the Hamm years ago when better locks came along. It is not even cost effective to fool with repairs on this lock. It needs hand made custom everything and by the time you do all the work and spend all the coins you could have bought a new lock. They were not the best locks around even back in their day.

 

[DRC]

Thanks for information guys we will try some things. Thanks again will let you know how things go.

 

[musketman]

Thanks for information guys we will try some things. Thanks again will let you know how things go.

If you tighten (or shim) the frizzen screw, this will add some resistance too, could help with the kick back...

Not too tight though, it will apply resistance force both ways, opening and closing...

 

Grizzly....I had the same problem with a small Siler and a new frizzen spring from Track solved it. My rifle was not firing dependably. While I was at it I installed a new main spring too. With a Tom Fuller flint in the jawas the lock works like a champ now.

Vic