New Pedersoli "AN IX" Pistol; Loose Trigger

[Burke888]

I just recently purchased a new AN IX pistol. The trigger is very loose, it simply hangs freely. When the lock is cocked, the trigger still fails to become tight, it doesn't engage with anything.

When the trigger is pressed to the rear the gun will fire. I was wondering what the issue could be? Perhaps my pistol was supplied with the wrong trigger?

I appreciate the help!

 

[biliff]

Triggers on these things are a simple lever on a pivot. They do not positively engage with anything. When you pull the trigger to the rear it pivots on a pin and is raised into contact with the sear bar on the lock. Keep pulling and it pushes the sear out of its notch and the hammer falls. Take the lock off the gun and look inside the lock mortise. It will be pretty obvious.

 

[Burke888]

So it is normal for the trigger to be loose and rattle?

I have an Armi Sport 1861 Rifle Musket and the trigger on it seems much more rigid, no audible rattle. The Pedersoli simply loosely hangs on the trigger pin until I pull on it and it comes into contact with the sear.

Thanks for the information!

 

[Zonie]

Welcome to the Forum Burke888.

Yes, many of the old guns used a very simple trigger as is shown in the photo above and there's not much that can be done without a lot of work.

One would think, as much as your pistol costs, that Pedersoli would have fitted the trigger better than they did.
If they had made the blade on the trigger taller so it almost touches the sear bar and used tighter fits on the sides of the trigger it wouldn't rattle around like it does.

Having never actually touched an original AN IX I really don't know. Perhaps the originals rattled around too?

 

[Burke888]

Zonie,

Thanks!
I had always heard that the Pedersoli guns were made very well, but my first sample seems a bit lackluster, especially in regards to the trigger. I hate to say it, but I doubt I'll buy another.
Is the AN IX uncommon? The reason I am asking is because maybe another AN IX owner could chime in and talk about the trigger on their model.

I went to the Pedersoli website and looked at the AN IX pictured there. The trigger itself appears to be different than the one my pistol has. Are these parts standardized? If they are, my trigger is not the correct trigger based on the photograph off of the Pedersoli website.

Appreciate all of the help.

 

[fyrfyter43]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that in one of the tumbler positions (rest, half-cock, or full-cock), the trigger "tightens up".

My Queen Anne is the same way. The trigger is very loose at rest. At half-cock, it is tight and barely moves, except a very slight side-to-side play, which requires some force to even notice. At full-cock it becomes slightly loose again, but nowhere near as bad as at rest.

If that's the way yours is, it actually isn't a trigger problem. It's a problem in the lock...specifically the design of the tumbler. The tumbler geometry prevents the sear bar from being at the same angle in each of the positions, preventing contact between the trigger bar and the sear arm in all but one position. I honestly think this improper geometry is inherent in all Pedersoli locks.

Even if your trigger isn't tight in any of the tumbler positions, this improper tumbler geometry is still a strong possibility, but may be compounded by the trigger not being positioned quite right in relationship to the sear bar.

For a much better explanation of the problem (and a description of how to fix it), check out page 84 in "The Gunsmith of Grenville County".

 

[single shot]

you said its a new gun. Why not bring it back? Why should you have to repair it?

 

[Zonie]

fyrfyter43
Your absolutely right. I should have mentioned that.

My Pedersoli Queen Anne trigger is like yours.

Cock down there is about 1/16 inch of free movement of the trigger.
At half cock the trigger doesn't move at all and at full cock it moves about .010. Not enough to see but enough to be felt.

By the way, it is imperative that at the full cock position the trigger must be slightly loose.

If at the full cock position the trigger cannot be moved at all it indicates that the sear is not fully engaging the full cock notch but, is hanging up on the trigger bar, a dangerous situation IMO.

 

[Burke888]

The trigger on this AN IX is very loose at all cock positions.

I checked the pictures on the Pedersoli website, my trigger looks to be different. Perhaps this is the culprit.