doublegunshop.com - home Forums Thread Like Summary - Start of firing pin return springs?

I just received a side lock P. Webley SxS best gun made in 1894. It came with a firing pin that broken off at the base. After removing the disk - there were no return springs. I am having a new firing pin made but the question came up when did firing pin return springs first appear? Seems like a natural evolutionary thing but now as I think about it some of my older guns did not have them either. Seems like the tip of a pin could stick in a primer and get a bending force each time the action was opened. Seems like since hammer guns evolved to rebounding locks, you would want a return mechanism of some kind as the rebounding hammers moved internally? There must be some history and thoughts on this out there in the group that could be shared?

Rick

I had changed my preferences when I got about 100 emails/notices per day. I put them back to accept notices and emails. You are correct - I was surprised at that level of precision the firing pins/strikers were made at (for 1894). Fortunately we had an unbroken, functioning striker with .060 protrusion as well as the broken striker for comparison. There was space for a spring and they were added to both. The gun functions well now and gone through about 70 rounds of my 2 1/2 inch reloads. The primer strikes are equal and robust but not excessive.

I have a Purdey hammer gun having rebounding locks with striker return springs built in 1869,

An 1880's (IIRC) Purdey Hammerless-Spring Assist opener.
Spring-Rebound firing pins