doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Different lock styles & qualities.

There has been much discussion on the pros and cons of v-springs versus coil springs. However, there is another type of spring which is used by certain makers in some of their guns. This is the bow (or bowed) spring.

The use of bowed springs in best shown in the Round Actions made by Dickson and McKay Brown:



and MacNaughton Edinburgh Action guns:



How does this type of spring compare to the v-spring and coil spring?

Essential difference between a coil and other types of spring is that coils can only work with either external or internal guides. It happens that the guides also act as traps which hold together the bits of the spring in the event of a breakage and thus a coil will continue to function even if broken at one or more places.

The famed Russian vostok target gun uses bow springs, and I have seen two breakages in them. However, I am seriously willing to admit to being a V and flat spring jinx. No sarcasm intended.

Ah and the Dickson is my candidate for the best double ever built. A non ejector side pedal Dickson in 16 gauge must be the prettiest gun ever.

And now in the inexpensive Turkish imports Cabelas is selling under the name "Dickinson"...Geo

Correct.

Steven Dodd Hughes' picture of the S&W Elite/Dickinson internals in his final SSM article on trigger plate guns shows they use V springs.

Jay

Not disputing you Jay but I thought the trigger plate/blitz action by definition used the bow style springs. I have one of the Dickinsons but its with my Gunsmith presently to try and do something about the heavy trigger pulls. Whatever kind of springs it has they're pretty darn strong.

I checked my owner manual though and the exploded view pictures what look to me like bow style mainsprings. I'll have to read the SDH article...Geo

I have one too George, and also had my gunsmith work on lightening the trigger pulls. He confirmed that the springs are V-type. I have a PDF copy of the pics from SDH's article, but don't know a way to post a PDF in a thread. If you PM your email address to me, I can send it to you as an attachment.

Jay

Yes Jay, please send me the pictures you are referring to. My email is in my profile. I could be looking at the wrong parts in my owner's manual exploded view...Geo

After reviewing the SDH article Gunflint Charlie mentioned above I see that he was correct in the Dickinson gun's use of standard V-type mainsprings instead of the bow type springs utilized in the Dickson, McNaughton and McKay round action trigger plate guns. I had read all the articles but somehow missed that.

I'm blaming my error on the little bitty exploded view picture in my Dickinson owner's manual. The three action walls on the trigger plate separating and enclosing the left and right locks looked to my tired old eyes like bow springs. If I keep learning more stuff like this every day I might know something 'fore long!...Geo

This one does (as well as cocking indicators).
It is (was) an L.C. Smith 00 grade.