Winchester 1897 slide release/action release button.

[CaptTripps]

Got a new to me Winchester 1897 from I believe 1907, Serial # 340145, D prefix. I took it apart, cleaned the 100 years worth of junk, and re-assembled. The problem I am encountering, is the slide release button. It will only release the slide when the hammer is either in the down and fired position, or at full cock. It will not release the slide with the hammer on half cock position. Is this normal functioning for the 1897 or have I assembled something incorrectly? I did not take the receiver apart further than removing the trigger guard and assembly, the lifter assembly, and the bolt. I also have some wood-working repair questions I will start a new post about. Thanks, Capt. Tripps in NW PA.

 

[Jim K]

IIRC, it's sort of normal. The slide should be locked when the gun is cocked, but free to move after a shot is fired or the release button pushed Normally the slide will be operated to load the chamber, and then the slide/bolt will be locked closed to prevent a misfire. The recoil form firing a shell unlocks the gun to allow the slide to be worked. The manual unlock allows the gun to be opened and unloaded if another shot is not to be fired. But the slide should not open without the release button being pushed if the hammer is cocked, so what you say happens shouldn't.

Jim

 

[CaptTripps]

JimK. Yes the slide is locked when the gun is cocked, and it unlocks normally when fired, with a small click forward on the forearm, and then the forearm is free to slide, similar to M12 in operation. The slide release button will also release the slide when the gun is loaded with the hammer back in the ready to fire position.

However, if I pick up the gun, to check the chamber, I have to manually cock the hammer, before the slide release will unlock the slide. On a potentially loaded chamber. I think I am reading you correctly that this is normal operation for the M1897.

 

[Jim K]

If you cock the gun to check it, then lower the hammer to store it safely (the normal procedure) then when you pick it up, you only need to pull the slide/forearm forward to release it; you shouldn't have to cock the hammer, which, I agree, would be a dangerous situation.

In reading what I wrote, it sounds like some magic unlocks the gun when it is fired. In fact, it is the recoil; the shooter has his hand gripping the forearm and when the gun fires the combined mass of the slide/forearm and shooter's hand tries to stay in place as the gun recoils; that unlocks the slide. When the gun is stored with the hammer lowered manually, the slide remains locked and must be unlocked by pulling it forward before the gun can be opened.

Jim

 

[Clark]

I just checked a 1939 that has been in the family since 1939, and it will not slide when in half cock.
I just checked a 1904 that I built in 2000 from junk parts with an AGI video, and it WILL slide on half cock... maybe I need to fix that.

 

[CaptTripps]

=Thanks Clark, that is what I was looking for. I am familiar with the slide unlocking under recoil by sliding forwards a hair to unlock the gun. I thought I had mis-assembled something, because it would not slide when in half cock.

 

[tark]

My Chinese copy does the same thing. Nothing moves when the hammer is on half cock. I just assumed that JB intended that.