Trigger Install Question

[Southernstyle]

I have a southern style gun that was assembled for me. It was made with a screw in the rear of the trigger plate and the front is held in place by a notch in the front of the trigger guard bow. Then a screw is holding the front trigger guard tang. It works just fine but I was wondering if that is what that cast notch is really for or should it have had a tang bolt through the wrist and threaded into the trigger plate in the front. What is correct for a Southern rifle? Thanks

[L. Akers]

I have seen them both ways so I don't know that there is a "correct" way.

[Dave B]

It is my understanding that the southern mountain rifles would some times have wood screws for the the barrel tang using the very arrangement you have. The front of the trigger Bar extension is tucked under the trigger bow return and a single screw in the  tail end of the trigger Bar. The use of the phrase "Southern rifle" covers a lot of territory. If you are talking about rifles from NC made by John Vogler it would necessitate the use of a screw from the tang through the front of the trigger bar. My book on  North Carolina  Schools of gunmaking may have many not conclusively showing there is not a threaded screw in the front of the trigger bar. It is not uncommon to see the tang bolts hanging out  a bit on the trigger bar so one could say a percentage of southern rifles dont use a through bolt to the trigger bar.  I deffer to those who have looked at more that just the photos in a book.

[rsells]

I have three complete original Southern rifles and two other stocks from the lock mortis back, and all have used wood screws to hold the tang in the stock. 
                                                                                                 Roger Sells

[Southernstyle]

I'll be darned I learned something from this question. Thank you for the replies

[Mark Elliott]

Iron mounted southern rifles are usually assembled using wood screws. By iron mounted southern rifles, I mean the region of SW VA ,  E TN, and W NC in the early 19 the century.

[Dennis Glazener]

The trigger plate in my original Mathew Gillespie (Western NC) rifle has no screws holding it in its mortise. the front is held by a notch under the trigger bow, the rear is held in place by the finger guard bearing on the end of the trigger main spring. The trigger guard is fastened in place with two small wood screws. The rifle is close to 200 years old and these methods still holds fine.
Dennis

[Dennis Glazener]

 

It is not uncommon to see the tang bolts hanging out  a bit on the trigger bar so one could say a percentage of southern rifles dont use a through bolt to the trigger bar.

I think what you are seeing is the tip of the screw holding the main spring. Very few SMR with through the wrist tang bolts.
Dennis

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

This is most interesting....I'd have done it wrong, based on my habit of using through the wrist machine screws.  thanks guys.

[Pete G.]

Webb's book on Southern trigger mechanisms mentions the softer materials that early triggers used. I wonder if the triggers being retained by a screwed on guard was intended to give easy access to the triggers for maintenance and repair.

[Mark Elliott]

I think the mountain gunsmiths that made these rifles used wood screws just because they were easier and good enough.    The guns are still together, some quite well, after 200 years.   The fact that mounts were made by blacksmiths for many of the guns, I believe influenced using screws for guards.   Adding tabs would have been unnecessary extra work for the blacksmith or gunsmith.   

[Gaeckle]

I think the mountain gunsmiths that made these rifles used wood screws just because they were easier and good enough.    The guns are still together, some quite well, after 200 years.   The fact that mounts were made by blacksmiths for many of the guns, I believe influenced using screws for guards.   Adding tabs would have been unnecessary extra work for the blacksmith or gunsmith.   

I think this is correct, but I need to add that this same procedure was also used by others outside of the confines of the mountain folk. I have old original rifles that utilized wood screws for the tang and the trigger is held fast by a tight mortise and the trigger guard itself.

One of these came to me as a stock, the barrel and several baggies of parts. The guy who had it was going to "re-finish" it. Thankfully, I bought it from him and in short time, had all the contents of the baggies laid out and I put the gun together. Then I shot it and for an old gal she did really well. What makes this interesting is that the stock has a red painted finish on it that is worn in certain parts, the wood figure is pretty nice.

[bowkill]

Glad i read this thread, am working on a southern gun right now...Never knew you could get by with a wood screw in the tang, guess this is only for the small guns and small cal?

[ddoyle]

red painted finish on it

theft protection

[Dennis Glazener]

Never knew you could get by with a wood screw in the tang, guess this is only for the small guns and small cal?

I have built at least 1 54 SMR with only wood screws in tang. All its there for is to hold the barrel in place. The recoil should be absorbed by the breech bearing tightly against the stock.
Dennis

[WKevinD]

Keeping as much undisturbed wood in a slim SMR wrist/breech area has always made sense to me. As Dennis stated "the recoil should be absorbed by the breech bearing tightly against the stock".  Why compromise that portion of the stock?
That being said I almost always bolt breech to trigger plate on PA rifles 'cause it's the way it was usually done.