Set triggers

[RAT]

I’m building a mid-1860’s Philip Gemmer style Hawken half stock rifle (my 6th rifle build). I’ve been pretty dissatisfied with the factory double set triggers on the market, so I just finished making my own.

Photo 1 shows the parts disassembled.


Photos 2 & 3 show the triggers assembled with the trigger guard. The trigger guard is a commercial casting. I don’t know where it originally came from, I bought it from a friend.




We’ve talked about the new CNC locks that are starting to be produced. I wish someone would make a good set of CNC triggers. Properly designed triggers with the correct amount of free play to the rear trigger and good springs (no music wire).

I’ve made the set triggers for my last 3 rifles (this one makes 4). This set took me 3 weeks. That’s a lot of time to be working on triggers. I do everything with a hack saw and files. A drill press helps making the slots in the plate, but a milling machine would do a better job. Unfortunately I don’t have one.

[KC]

That’s a fine looking trigger and guard assembly. It looks like fantastic workmanship to me. Very clean work. Well done.
K.C.

[Scota4570]

With skills, dedication and talent like that you should own a milling machine! Simple old bare bones machines are not very expensive.  Industry is focused on CNC.  That frees up old machines.  The old stuff still works well for the one of stuff we make. 

[The Stumbler]

Excellent work

[thecapgunkid]

You did some job.  Thanks for the post.  Will you be making more?

[Bob Roller]

Looks like a fine job to me. This style of trigger is a labor intensive pattern even with
a milling machine and in the back of John Baird's book "Hawken Rifles,the Mountain
Man's Choice" is a set I made in 1968 with a Tom Dawson trigger guard and I made
a few more after that one and then wen to the design I now use which is rare but not
unknown.

Bob Roller

[Bob Roller]

Looks like a fine job to me. This style of trigger is a labor intensive pattern even with
a milling machine and in the back of John Baird's book "Hawken Rifles,the Mountain
Man's Choice" is a set I made in 1968 with a Tom Dawson trigger guard and I made
a few more after that one and then wen to the design I now use which is rare but not
unknown.The redundant front trigger spring I use is my own idea and I do use my milling
machine to make it.

Bob Roller

[okieboy]

 Really impressive work.

[ScottH]

Very nice work. You should be proud of your accomplishment.
What steel did you use to make the parts from?

[Daryl]

Nice triggers Rat. Well done. 3-weeks, you say.

[Bob Roller]

Thinking back about 40 years I did make some Schuetzen triggers of this pattern
for a German but the bar was shorter and had a curve to match the "fishbelly"
stock. I think even then I got about $80 each and I used screws instead of pins
for the triggers to retain them.
Bob Roller

[J. Talbert]

Looks top notch,

Jeff

[Jim Kibler]

Nice work.  We've been making fully cnc machined set triggers for some time.  We use these on our mountain rifles.  We sell them individually as well.  Just another random note...  You can still make a piece of junk with an NC machine.  They're great when used right, but there's a lot to using them right.

All the best,
Jim

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Rat:  that is superlative work!!  I've made a set like yours, the hard way, so I know what is involved.  I'll be excited to see the rifle they go into!!!

[Marcruger]

Looks like jewelry to me.  Crisp work.  I am impressed.   

[Not English]

I've built a couple of Hawken trigger assemblies in the past. They're kind of a PIA in some respects. You've done a really nice assembly job. My hat's off to you.

[B.Barker]

Very nice looking triggers.

[RAT]

Thanks. While getting them fitted to the lock I noticed how bad the trigger pull was. I finally figured it out after making a new sear screw. The hole in the sear was drilled at an angle. With the factory sear screw there was enough play between the screw and hole that the sear would work, but tripping the lock was really rough and heavy. After making a screw with less clearance, the sear won't catch in the half cock notch of the tumbler. I'll order a replacement sear today. If that doesn't work I'll need to make a new sear.