Hmm. I can't say I have seen or experienced that exact problem. In the mid 1990s the trigger design was corrected by Jerome (Liege gun school graduate and the wunder kid responsible for the Darne double single AND single trigger design, both used today) to eliminate the side to side movement of the triggers common in many guns. Although my R model has some play, it is not as severe as a few I've seen. Pulling the trigger on a Darne that has substantial side play in it's triggers might cause what you are describing.
The "sear" is very easily removed from the breech on an R model for cleaning or inspection. My second thought on the problem you describe is a bunch of dirt and old lube being somewhere it shouldn't be.
What can you tell me about the gun that suffered the condition you describe? VIntage, model, gauge, etc?
I'm curious.
Best,
Ted
For the Darnes - there were two Halifaxes 1930s era with wobbly triggers as you describe and a V grade 16 Ga that wasn't mine it had 70MM chambers so it was a post WWII gun.
The only Charlin I have fired is a circa 1926 gun - its' triggers are slightly better but still a little wobbly.
Thanks for letting me know. It might not be fair to expect great trigger pulls in 1930s vintage Halifax Darnes-they were the loss leader gun of the lineup, and a good bit less finishing work went into them than the others. Also, from what I have seen, most were used hard and put away wet-it is rare to find one in good shape.
A V grade Darne has a different design trigger, that a 'smith like Kirk would be able to work down fairly easily. The stuff imported by Stoeger, and later, by James Wayne, was really iffy on quality, and if I desired a Darne with a good trigger, I'd seek out a gun from one of three different eras:
1. Bruchet produced in the last decade.V or R.
2. Pre-war V grade. You could consider a P grade from this era, also.
3.1894 patent Darne R grade, or a higher grade Fransisque Darne. Typically fitted with a rocker safety and a one piece stock. These are old guns, and are often pretty beat up, unfortunately.
Higher grade Charlins often have better triggers. Most of what we see are lower grade guns, and the same rule of less finishing work applies to them as well.
Best,
Ted
