FN 1906 Issue

[AoxoMoxoA]

First post (hopefully of many) here...

I'd like to get some opinions on an issue I'm having with a new acquisition. I just picked up an FN 1906 (below) which is in very nice condition, and brought it to the range for the first time today.

The problem I'm having is that the gun will not fire with a full magazine in the mag well. It will only fire, at most, a mag loaded with no more than two rounds. I rack the slide, chambering a round (leaving 5 in the magazine), pull the trigger - to which I can hear the firing pin slip off the sear, and nothing. Rack the slide once more, ejecting the live round, then fire again with the same result. I repeat this until there is one in the chamber and one in the magazine, then it will fire the last two.

At first, I suspected the magazine, so I borrowed my friend's perfectly functioning 1906 to try his magazine, but had the exact same result. I then compared firing pin springs. Mine was a bit shorter (maybe a light strike?), so I swapped out his spring with mine. Same result. I then swapped his firing pin, spring and spring guide - installing all three into my pistol, with the same result - again.

I don't know where to turn next in diagnosing this issue.

Your thoughts and experience will be much appreciated...

 

[Jim K]

I suspect that the firing pin is released by the sear, then is being stopped by the rim of the top cartridge before it can go all the way forward to fire the cartridge in the chamber. That happens until the magazine spring tension is relieved and the firing pin spring is able to override the tension on the top round.

Since the other magazine and firing pin give the same result, the problem may be a slight dimensional difference in the gun itself. I believe the problem would be solved by stoning a bit off the bottom of the firing pin tail, but I would study the gun pretty carefully before doing that.

(Here is something you might try. Load the magazine and chamber a round as usual. Then pull the trigger. If the gun does not fire, CAREFULLY AND WITH THE GUN POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION remove the magazine. If the gun fires, then the firing pin was being held back by the rim of the top cartridge.)

Jim

 

[AoxoMoxoA]

That has to be it Jim.

When I slide a cartridge casing up the firing pin channel slot, it does "catch" the firing pin tail enough to grab it. I do believe a slight stoning of the tail, as you suggested, will remedy the problem. I did have occasion to check out a third pistol last night, and when comparing firing pins, the tail on mine was much longer than the other, which explains why it is catching the rim. One must remember that on these old pistols, the parts were individually fitted to the gun, so it's very likely that the firing pin I have is not the original one, and may have been thrown in by a past owner without regard to fitting it. So it looks like additional fitting will be necessary. Part of the fun of owning these old pistols.

Thank you for your insight, and I'll report back post adjustments and after a visit to the range.

 

[AoxoMoxoA]

The problem appears to be solved...

In small increments, I reduced the depth of the firing pin tail with a stone until a cartridge case slid down the channel didn't catch on it. I then lightly polished it with some 1200-grit emery cloth.

At the range, I loaded a magazine with the full 6-rounds and had a misfire on the third shot. Ejected the round manually, and the last three fired without issue. Upon inspecting the unfired round, and in looking at the fired casings, the primers looked to be lightly struck. I stretched the (already suspect) firing pin spring (since it's the only one I have), loaded up another magazine, and all fired without incident. I then repeated with another full magazine. On the next, the light strikes started to creep back in, and upon looking at the spring (and the weakly struck fired casings), it had retracted back to its shorter length of the first mag. I'm positive this spring is toast, and have a replacement on order.

In the end, I think this issue was a combination of two things; The firing pin tail not being properly fitted to the pistol, along with a worn/weak firing pin spring that may not even be the correct one for the gun.

Thanks again for your assistance.

 

[Jim K]

The firing pin, firing pin spring and firing pin spring guide for that gun, the Model 1910, Model 1922, and the Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket are all the same, so it is fairly easy to get the parts if necessary.

BTW, that is a beautiful gun. I have been looking off and on for years for a Model 1906, but the few I have seen were in poor condition.

Jim