When I do it, I use a hardwood block on the face of my bench. I place a spring over a cocking rod and push the assembly from the knuckle to the rear with the action upside down. Then I push the front of the cocking rod against the block and drop the correct hammer onto the rear of the rod. While holding the action against the block, I push the hammer axle from the side and secure the hammer. Then I repeat for the other side. Of course one must know left and right for the hammers and cocking rods. The front of the rods are such that the notch for the cocking levers is to the outside. The hammers are: 12 ga. nose to the outside,20 ga. reverse; 16 ga. in the center. I have done more than a hundred and it is tricky at first (dropping the hammers in place and aligning for the hammer axle), but will work with patience.
