Marlin 1873 .22 Tip Ip Compared to S&W

[Johnm1]

Although they look very similar, there are several differences between the two. The marlin is slightly larger. It also shoots the 22 long cartridge. The cylinder stop is located on the bottom of the frame, and the hand spring is different along with the hammer pivot pin.

This was sold at auction with the description that it functioned properly and they had Test fired it. I’m not sure how they test fired it unless they put one round in a cylinder and lined it up with the barrel and made it go bang. Because the hand does not bring the cylinders into battery. I’m in the midst of fabricating a new hand. the shape isn’t that hard, and I’m sure they’ll be quite a bit of trial and error to get it to work. But it is small and fairly simple.



So it will be a little bit before I shoot this one.

 

[Reinz]

Good to hear that you may be able to fix it.

 

[Johnm1]

Good to hear that you may be able to fix it.

Remember the old Midas Muffler commercial?

I'll make it fit.

Thee rest of the action is in very good shape. Like almost all of my eclectic collection, it is finish challanged. But I like it.

 

[Johnm1]

Here. Is a picture of the action parts.




I'm not sure that is an original hand spring. Kinda doubt it. But I think that is the correct configuration. It does function.

Although I wouldn't obsess over a hand made spring, I've had more than one occurrence where I'd like a spring likenthat. The only place I can think of that would carry a coil spring like that would be a clock maker. And therme aren't many of them around these days. Any thoughts on a source foro tres topes of spring? I've looked at Wolff and they don't appear to carry them.

 

[Reinz]

I have bought straight round wire that I bent at McMaster-Carr. Don’t know if they flat spring wire. I would think so.

 

[Johnm1]

I have bought straight round wire that I bent at McMaster-Carr. Don’t know if they flat spring wire. I would think so.

They do have annealed spring steel. The round wire spring steel that im familiar with is piano wire. That doesn't need to be annealed to shape it. You just shape it cold. It'd be great if pia o wire was available as flat stock. This particular spring needs to be 1/16" wide to match the hand.

 

[Reinz]

Hmm, sorry it didn’t work out.

Maybe a local machine shop or gunsmith may know where to get it.

Check with Brownells on the phone. If they don’t have it maybe they know a source.

 

[Johnm1]

Two different things we're discussing. The hand fabrication and the hand spring.

I purchased a softer steel this morning and the hand fabrication will continue. I don't expect to have any issues drilling the softer steel. It is ongoing. One of the other members suggested that the hand should be softer than the ratchet teeth. So that solved the drilling issue.

The handspring functions as is. It just looks like a one off hand made spring. I'm not going to worry about that yet. Eventually my OCD will catch up with me and I'll try to make a better looking spring. But once I have the new hand fabricated and functioning I'll put the existing spring back into service.