Single Set trigger

[Dphariss]

This is a SS trigger I built for converting my swivel breech to a set trigger.

Its patterned off a drawing in Nigel George's "English Guns and Rifles"
I did not have a lot of room but the design works very well.
The mainspring has limited travel to keep the trigger off the sear. I.E. no preload when trigger is unset.









This is the same design used on a pistol.



In this one the mainspring is limited by a stop built into the plate and is preloaded.
Gotta run.
Dan

[rich pierce]

Nice work.  Do these work as simple triggers or must the trigger be set to hold full cock?

[Robby]

Dan, Thanks for showing this. I always like to see mechanical devices that function as intended. It appears that it can be used, set and unset. Is that correct?
Robby

[Dphariss]

Nice work.  Do these work as simple triggers or must the trigger be set to hold full cock?

They work either way. The spring does not load the trigger high enough to contact the sear and the pistol set has a block that limits the spring travel so the sear is free.
These came out very well and really do make a good single set. If set up just short of the sear the jump away from the finger as the trigger fires is minimal.
The rifle trigger has a fairly light mainspring but seems to work everyshot in test firing. Have to do the final lick and polish while the barrels are rust bluing and this project will be done at last.
I built the swivel action in 1993 then got tired of it and put it on a shelf for about 15 years
Worked out well though since my carving skills are much better and I have learned to sorta engrave in the interim.

Dan

[g.pennell]

Looks like a sweet setup, Dan.  Much better than the ones I've seen that sort of "cam over center" to load the trigger.  That arrangement should make for a stable, repeatable, trigger.

Thanks for posting the pictures...now it's time to break out the jeweler's saw and files...

Greg

[Steve Bookout]

Yet again I'm impressed with your craftsmanship, Dan.  It's great that you share your projects with us [particularly ME].  Your trigger looks as sweet as any I've run across and I'd bet you could get that flintlock on your CIB to work!    Cheers, Bookie

[Dphariss]

If making a these triggers the drawing in George's book is informative.
Here are some more photos for potential trigger filers.
I should have done a set of photos for a tutorial but was too busy making them to thick of that.
I keep a digital camera in my pocket or the top of a tool box and try to take photos as I go along but somethings this falls off the "to do list" when I am working.

Trigger shoe was formed from 1/8 1018 CR by cold forging as shown in a Muzzle Blasts Article some years back by Glen Close IIRC.




I had to weld some lumps on the trigger plate for the rear pin as well as welding up the slot since it was too long as originally made.


The knock off as during fitting and shaping.


The rear pin hole center line sets the length of the knock off and the sear is then fit to match this.
Trigger plate must be at its final bend to match the stock before making these parts.

Fitting the sear.


Materials 1095 for the knock off and O-1 for the sear. I have tried making these from case hardened mild steel and the edges chipped on the pistol trigger. They were then hardened and then polished and drawn to "straw" color.

I might have some other photos of internals on the computer upstairs but I need to get to the shop so it will wait.

I had a heck of a time getting the first set to work right mostly with the sear spring which I tried to do "simple". Simple did not work. Finally had to change plans and relocate the sear spring and make it much longer, it now runs under the main spring in the pistol trigger and required another screw hole in the plate.
Dan

PS
NO CURL IN TRIGGER. Makes it hard to set.

[Jay Close]

"Trigger shoe was formed from 1/8 1018 CR by cold forging as shown in a Muzzle Blasts Article some years back by Glen Close IIRC".

That was Jay Close. Glen is the actress and no relation. Nice project by the way.----- Jay

[Roger B]

Should have some molds made.  Most of the single sets commercially available don't work.
Roger B.

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

Should have some molds made.  Most of the single sets commercially available don't work.
Roger B.

This one is pretty nice!! Dan does very nice work....... BTW Stan Hollenbaugh makes a very nice double action, single set trigger that I have used on two rifles, including my hunting .54. It does have a curl on the tip so I don't set it with the back of my finger........ but it works superbly with no creep!!  I am a big fan of these type triggers because they look like simple single triggers..and will function that way..AND let you have a set trigger when you want it... 

[Dphariss]

"Trigger shoe was formed from 1/8 1018 CR by cold forging as shown in a Muzzle Blasts Article some years back by Glen Close IIRC".

That was Jay Close. Glen is the actress and no relation. Nice project by the way.----- Jay

Please forgive me.
This is what comes from working from memory and typing the first thing that came to mind. I would not know Glen Close from any stranger on the street so how it got in my head is
I should have looked up the articles I guess but I was trying to actually get something done in the shop today.
I found these to be very informative and useful BTW and you are to be commended for writing them.
They greatly improved my shop practice.

Dan

[northmn]

Should have some molds made.  Most of the single sets commercially available don't work.
Roger B.

I have an old one in my 54 that "works", but it took adjustment and does not work like Dan's.  The trigger has to be set before cocking.  Basically I am not disagreeing as I do not like the set up that much and have been goint to replace it with a plain single trigger when I get a round tuit.  It kind of works best like Dan mentioned in that it is not set too strong.

DP