[Chigger]

I have an 1889 Marlin manufactured in 1892 and a question or two. Is there a spring in the bolt to make the firing pin retract or when you close the lever is it reset ? The rifle has been inconsistent in firing, when I hold the rifle barrel up I can see the firing pin slide back out of the bolt. If you point the barrel down the firing pin will slide forward. Anyone care to enlighten me on what to look for???

 

[Maineiac]

You may have a broken firing pin. I believe that you have a one piece pin in your gun. My 44-40 did the same thing with the appearance of the firing pin moving. It ended up being the front piece of the broken pin floating around. I am not an expert on the older guns and hopefully somebody may have a more definitive answer. With the bolt open, hold the rear of the firing pin back and point the barrel of the gun down. If you see the pin trough the face of the bolt your pin may be in two pieces.

 

[94win30wcf]

You may have a broken firing pin. I believe that you have a one piece pin in your gun. My 44-40 did the same thing with the appearance of the firing pin moving. It ended up being the front piece of the broken pin floating around. I am not an expert on the older guns and hopefully somebody may have a more definitive answer. With the bolt open, hold the rear of the firing pin back and point the barrel of the gun down. If you see the pin trough the face of the bolt your pin may be in two pieces.

:dito:

 

[smithywess]

If you chamber a round do you see the back of the firing pin sticking out a little ready to be hit by the hammer ? That's as it should be.

 

[Chigger]

I had the bolt out of the rifle and if I push in the back the pin comes out the front and on the face of the bolt goes back in and out the back. I am going to put some primers in some cases today and check it out will let you know more later...Tried the firing pin test and it looks to be ok, will do some testing...

 

[Bibbyman]

Here is a video I made of my 1889. I show how the block that locks the breach bolt in place interlocks with the firing pin.

I'm real sure you're ok.

 

[navajo]

You can buy a replacement firing pin from Wisner's.

 

[smithywess]

I had the bolt out of the rifle and if I push in the back the pin comes out the front and on the face of the bolt goes back in and out the back. I am going to put some primers in some cases today and check it out will let you know more later...Tried the firing pin test and it looks to be ok, will do some testing...

I doubt if your firing pin is broken. There is no spring on this one piece firing pin and it's simply moved back into battery by pressure from the primer. By the way the 'floppy' trigger is normal as well !

 

[shawlerbrook]

Love to see a picture of your old rifle.

 

[edcknives]

Love to see a picture of your old rifle.

Same here.

 

[Bibbyman]

Any updates?

 

[Chigger]

Ok I went to remove bolt and hammer would not clear. I pulled the stock and the hammer spring was off center to the left. If this happens again the locktite will come out. Everything seems in order the pin slides easy in the bolt. Loaded ten rounds of new brass with primer only and they all fired. I even pointed it down and tapped on the sides and pointed up everything worked like it was supposed to. I had no idea the hammer spring would move around like that or cause a problem, ( if that is the problem ) the firing range is next just got to get a day to go. I will try to get a pic up of the rifle but it is not easy for me...

 

[Bibbyman]

Thanks for the update. Good luck on the shooting session.

 

[Chigger]

Here is a pic I hope

 

[Bibbyman]

Looks great!

If you watched my video where I showed the insides of my Marlin 1889, you will note that I used a pair of small vise grips padded with tape to hold the main spring in compression. After taking buttstock off, cock the gun and use the vise grips to take pressure off of hammer. Then take the rest of gun apart. Leave the spring clamped until reassembling in reverse order.

 

[smithywess]

Ok I went to remove bolt and hammer would not clear. I pulled the stock and the hammer spring was off center to the left. If this happens again the locktite will come out. Everything seems in order the pin slides easy in the bolt. Loaded ten rounds of new brass with primer only and they all fired. I even pointed it down and tapped on the sides and pointed up everything worked like it was supposed to. I had no idea the hammer spring would move around like that or cause a problem, ( if that is the problem ) the firing range is next just got to get a day to go. I will try to get a pic up of the rifle but it is not easy for me...

The shift of the hammer spring as you describe isn't at all uncommon. Before you reassemble the stock just make sure the rifle still *****, let the hammer down and all being well put the stock back on. It's rare to have this spring shift around by itself. I doubt you''ll have any more trouble with it. Just make sure the screw holding the hammer spring is nice and tight. Loctite should be your last resort. That's for Winchester rifles. By the way there are those who say that the .38-40 can do anything that the .44-40 can do, only better.

 

[Bibbyman]

Here is a video I made of my 1889. I show how the block that locks the breach bolt in place interlocks with the firing pin.

I'm real sure you're ok.

Chigger said this video wasn't working for him. It works for me. Has anyone else had trouble getting it to play?

 

[Chigger]

Alright my computer specialist ( grandkids ) showed up and added a program and I am able to watch the video. I just had some files cleaned and the computer tuned up and must have lost some programs. Thanks Bibbyman...