doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Marlin Model 90 Single Triggers

One of our interlocutors here sent me some pictures of the various single triggers found on his Marlin Model 90s -- a Pre-War 16-gauge, a Skeetking and 1954 Model 90ST. After receiving the email and photos, I got out Co. Brophy's Marlin book and reread the Model 90 section. Col. Brophy led me down the primrose path! On page 417 he wrote "In 1954, a single-trigger version of the Model 90 was added to the line." and that is what I keyed in on in my recent post. Then on page 419 he does a listing of the Model 90 price lists and it shows a single trigger Model 90 offered in 1940 (Nov), 1941 and 1945?!? He also goes on to say -- "Curtis, Cowe and Lard selective and Romberg and Peterson nonselective single triggers were evaluated. The Romberg non-selective was the one finally adopted by Marlin and the only one produced." Anyone found any Patents or any other information on this Romberg trigger?

Brophy also goes on to say "Elmer E. Miller of Millersburg, PA., modified some Marlin single- and double-trigger Model 90 shotguns by installing his design of single trigger." That would lead me to think that any Model 90s with a Miller would be so marked.

At any rate, here are the pictures of the pre-War 16-gauge --

Here are the pictures of the Skeetking --







And, here is the 1954 Model 90ST --

I've got a Marlin 90 in the shop right now. I'll look at it & see what version it is.

It would be interesting to know if anyone else has seen, or actually owns, a Model 90 with triggers like the ones on the Skeetking and the pre-WWII Model 90.

I have 20 ga and 16 ga Model 90ST's, both made in 1957, that have the same trigger mechanism as the 1954 photo.

One other comment about the trigger on the Skeetking pictured above. There is a small spring positioned on top of, and in line with, the single trigger. The spring is readily visible in the trigger slot when looking at the bottom of the frame. When both barrels are cocked the spring is compressed. The spring "opens up" to its original length when the bottom barrel is fired. Does anyone know if Miller used a spring configuration like that on other 2-barrel guns?

I contacted Dan May at the Miller Single Trigger Company to see if they had any records of Miller triggers on Model 90's or of having done work for Ole Horsrud, inventor of the Model 90. The following is a summary of his comments:

"The Miller brothers did install some unmarked triggers for Ithaca. This was a bone of contention between the Millers and Ithaca and led to some fiery disputes. Ithaca didn't want to mark the triggers because they charged five dollars more for the installation than Miller did. This is one of the many factors that caused them to part ways.

This is the only instance that I am aware of where Miller did not stamp their work. Elmer and Howard were very careful to protect their patented product and really hated to not stamp a trigger that they installed.

I checked the records and found nothing related to the Marlin Company. I checked all of the over/under patents and nothing jumped out for certain. I also went through all of the patterns, jigs and miscellaneous parts. I didn't find anything clearly marked Marlin or Model 90. The Millers were very creative and did do a lot of one-off work and would adapt their systems to most anything.

As far as the spring, the one you describe does not sound like a spring that would have been incorporated in a Miller installation.

To be completely honest, the records that we inherited are sparse. I believe the original Miller corporate books were slim and have been lost to the sands of time. We have a little bit of correspondence and drawings, not much else. There is nothing related to Ole Horsrud."

OT, but what is the purpose of the "fat" front of the trigger guard? Is that part of the safety mechanism?

The "fat" front part of the trigger guard and frame were fabricated as a single, solid piece (Item 34 in the parts list shown above or Item 90-29 in the parts list shown in Brophy's book about Marlin firearms). The trigger guard is attached to that "fat" part with two pins. It is not part of the safety mechanism. The safety button is located on the top tang of the frame and is operated with one's thumb. With all of it's complexity, the model 90 frame was obviously an expensive part to make.

The real reason for the "fat" trigger guard is because there was a need for better mechanical advantage of the cocking lever, so it was made longer. The area where a normal trigger guard would attach was extended and made thicker to accommodate the bottom of the cocking lever. It is pinned inside the thickened area. The top pin in the guard is the cocking lever pin.

Don,

Thanks for the clarification. The added weight in the frame area probably contibutes to the Model 90's great feel and handling characteristics.