doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Infallible single trigger - what the story....

What's the story about Lancaster's Infallible single trigger?

Check out this catalog on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...A:IT&ih=001

I thought this the English Lancaster. I guess not.


OWD

Infallible Single triggers were patented by A H Worrest of Lancaster PA. On a quick look I have patents: # 829453 Aug 28, 1906; # 871550 Nov 19, 1907; # 1013254 Jan 2, 1912 & #'s 1029781 & 1029782, both June 18, 1912.
I have an H grade Lefever fitted with an Infallible SST bearing the two 1912 patent dates. This gun has two SN's stamped on it, both in the 73,xxx range, a very high number for a Lefever. It is a twist bbl'd gun but has uncapped round knob grip & the forend has neiter metal tip nor escutcheon in the "Belly". Both of these are mostly found on the DS grade, though all else is correct for an H, including cocking indicators & doll's head rib extension.
I cannot prove it but highly suspect it was a putting together of parts on hand at the Ithaca plant, cleaning up parts, or perhaps a "Lunchbox Special". I have been told that Ithaca offered Infallible triggers during this era, but have no proof of this either.

Alfred Harvey Worrest – Infallible Single Trigger – Lancaster Arms Co

From researching and studying Alfred’s patents it appears that Alfred took an interest in, and began designing his Single Trigger mechanism around 1900 to 1904. His first patent no. 829,453 was issued on Aug. 28, 1906. His application for that patent was filed on May 3, 1904. It is a complex mechanism built into an L. C. Smith shotgun. It shows that he probably had some experience working professionally as a gunsmith because he completely redesigned the L. C. Smith locks, and his trigger mechanism was built as part of the receiver and locks, and not just an added unit. This design had a problem in that it required a large amount of wood to be removed between and at the back of the locks, weakening an already heavily inletted stock head. The gun with this trigger was also probably very difficult and tricky to assemble. This design shows his concept of the switching block which was the foundation of all of his patents that followed, and was a major feature of the highly dependable and successful “Infallible” trigger. Alfred’s second patent no. 871,550 was applied for on Aug. 10, 1906, just 18 days before his previous patent was issued. That patent was issued on Nov. 19, 1907 and the design was built around a “Minier” model Ithaca Gun Co. double. This triggers design had been changed drastically from the previous one removing many of its faults and problems, and the unit was built onto the guns trigger plate. All of the elements of the “Infallible” trigger are found in this design, but it was not a self contained unit. With this refined design it appears that Alfred began planning on making it’s production a commercial venture. The 1912 edition of the History of Lancaster, Pennsylvania states that the Lancaster Arms Co. who were the manufacturers of the Infallible Single Trigger, had been established two years earlier and was owned and operated by A. H. Worrest. The business was located at 126 E. King St. and the article goes on to state that it was a “well known and prosperous enterprise, his plant is perfectly appointed throughout, and the finest and best class of work is executed”. This not only included the manufacture of the trigger units, but also all kinds of fire arms repairs, and some complete doubles appear with the Lancaster Arms Co. name, but it is unknown if these were made by them, or imported by them and their name added to them prior to their sale. The article goes on to state that Mr. A. H. Worrest “is a gentleman of large experience in this line of industry and thoroughly understands its every detail”.
Following this patent with the next two can be a bit confusing. On June 25, 1909 he applied for another patent which was issued on June 18, 1912 as no. 1,029,781. Then on July 23, 1910 he applied for his fourth patent which was issued on Jan. 2, 1912 as no. 1,013,254. Patent no. 1,013,254 covered improvements to no. 1,029,781 which had not even been issued yet. Looking back you could say that this is a case of the “chicken preceding the egg”. Both of these patents developed the trigger mechanism into a self contained unit.
On Oct. 16, 1911 Alfred applied for his last trigger patent no. 1,029,782 which was also issued on June 18, 1912 and covers additional improvements which brought it to its final form as it was produced. (the above from Larry B Schuknect's book on double gun patents)

I have seen a 1913-vintage Parker Bros. Walter King letter to a customer where he says "As to your request we have removed our infallible single trigger, and installed the double trigger system."

Schoverling, Daly, and Gales offered Charles Daly double guns with Infallible triggers as an option on new guns. However, I doubt that they were installed in Germany, probably sent to Lancaster for installation. One early Lancaster catalog has a testimonial from a shooter in Maryland who was quite pleased with the trigger installed in his Golcher (Lindner) ten gauge hammer gun. I own a Golcher-Lindner ten gauge hammer pigeon gun with Infallible trigger that was sold by a D.C. area dealer. I assume it is the same gun. Small world. Bill Murphy

An approx. 1911 Lancaster Arms Co. catalog shows a Daly Diamond Grade on the cover with the Infallible trigger and it notes Offices in Lancaster, Pa., 302 Broadway in NY, and Suhl in Prussia was noted as their Foreign Office. It would be my "guess" that the workers in Suhl , who could make the magnificant Diamond guns, could and should easily install the Infallible trigger in Suhl. Altering a Suhl finely finished gun in the US before it is given to the first owner makes no sense to me. Just my guess,though.

In another thought, I have had several Bakers with Infallible triggers, and they worked fine.

Ithaca offered the Infallible trigger as an option circa 1915.

I agree with Daryl and change my original opinion. I assume the Infallible mechanism was sent to Prussia for installation in Daly guns at the time of manufacture. I have a copy of a 12-29-13 letter from Lou Smith at Ithaca to Lancaster describing an arrangement for Ithaca to send a new gun to them for trigger installation. The customer would apparently be responsible for paying Lancaster's bill. Murphy

The price of Infallible triggers circa 1914 was $15.00, but I don't have a Lancaster invoice of the time that does not discount that price down to $10.00. My invoices may be from dealers rather than individuals, however.

I am not able to understand how an Infallible trigger could need more than one patent or have any improvements.

Infallible, according to Webster's Seventh Edition, refers to accuracy and absense of error, not uniqueness, perfection of design, size, color, you name it. A design for a mechanical device that never malfunctions can be changed, cheapened, made lighter, made redder or greener, smaller or larger, and still not malfunction. It will have always been "infallible" regardless of new patents and design changes. However, your point is well taken.

This trigger is on my Ithaca # 6 Trap Gun. I have thought it may be an infallible ,but not sure. Give me your comments please.

Stallones, your trigger doesn't seem to resemble the Infallible single selective trigger, but I have not seen one like yours. Is your trigger non selective ?

Eightbore, do you know of anyone seeing the Pecks Bad Boy Parker high grade hammer gun with the Infallible single [selective?] trigger ? It was presented to Geo. Peck in Sept. of 1884 and equiped with an Infallible trigger on May 28, 1913. Gun has a large presentation circle shaped plate on the right side of the buttstock.

Yes, it is non-selective, probably installed on this gun about 1915 when sent back to Ithaca for "Crown Steel" bbls

Daryl, I was looking at that gun today in the Infallible folder. It appears to be a C Grade, not a common find. No, that gun has not crossed my path although I am interested in competition guns of the early era, especially provenanced guns, regardless of whether or not they have aftermarket equipment. My Golcher-Linder pigeon gun not only has an Infallible trigger but is the only ten bore hammer gun I've seen with a beavertail forend. Many of these guns are "out there" but have been shunned by collectors and have probably been returned to the hunting field. Bill Murphy

My "Infallible" is selective, chosen by a thumb slide set into the left side of the top tang. It is however not "Re-Setting", ie unless altered by moving the slide it fires the bbls alteranately, regardless of whether the gun may or may not have been opened & reloaded between shots. Thus if you fire the right bbl only, open & reload, the next time you pull the trigger it will fire the left, unless you reset the slide to R. The setting slide itself moves to other setting with each trigger pull.

Miller, that's the way they usually were. As soon as you fire the selected barrel, the selector slide moves to the unfired barrel, waiting for a pull. If you want to refire the first barrel after reloading the fired barrel, you must reselect the first barrel. I have never had a problem with reliability shooting these triggers.

It's always a little hard to know exactly what to say when someone quotes somebody elses misquotes of myself and my research work. The info that Researcher posted from "Larry B Schuknect's book on double gun patents" was actually close but not exactly correct.
The story is far more involved than that but I think it's best if I just stand back and watch (read).
In the name of advancement, I will point out some glaring misquotes though. Patent 871550 was drawn on a Crass, not a Minier.... Don't forget patent 1013255.... Alfreds 3rd single trigger patent was applied for on June 25th 1909. Hint---that patent was never granted. Even Worrest himself knew that 829453 and 871550 belonged in the scrap heap...those first two triggers were both failures in every sense of the word.

This Infallible trigger is fron a LC Smith Crown grade 20ga...note that it's a standard Infallible...All the talk about Worrest's first unsucessful patent has given rise to stories of Worrest being employed by Hunter Arms at one time...or...about LC Smith's with Infallible triggers being hollowed out...and more...they're all nonsense...don't take my word for it, look for yourself...compare it to the drawings from 829453

When I said that I thought it is best if I stand back and read, it's because most of what I have can't be easily backed by cross-reference the way the info I post can be. Besides, maybe my views of Worrest are askew or inverted. If you guys unfold it, the way Revdocdrew's crew unfolded the damascus story, then I could quietly learn and save myself from eatin' crow publicly.
There are three models of Worrest triggers, the 1906, the 1907, and the 1912 models....I've only seen the 1912...and although I've seen 10 or so, everyone was the 1912 model, like the one I have posted pictures of (above)...I theorize (and I'll bet $10) that nobody can show pics of an '06 or an '07 because of the high failure rate. So in reality, when we talk about the Infallible trigger, there is only one...so why refer to it as the 1912? It's the "Infallible", and in my opinion, the most reliable single trigger mechanism of the era, maybe ever.
Also, to 2 Piper and DH...the Infallible can be made automatic reset if you already have an automatic safety. If your safety is not automatic, then you can still have the reset connected to the safety, but you have to cycle the safety to reset for the right barrel...which is alot easier than reaching for the selector...with an automatic safety, the only time you need to use the selector is when you need to shoot the left first...which is never, because we rarely shoot driven game, and the Infallible never balks.

RC, I suppose one could NON-FACTORY alter the Infallible to automatic reset, but the manufacturer takes great pains to say that they do NOT make their trigger this way. They say--

"The Infallible Single Trigger is made to shoot either right or left barrel first, but will not be made to repeat either barrel by opening the gun."

They then spend a long paragraph saying why this is the proper and best design. Then they sumarize----

The Infallible Single Trigger is always ready to shoot the next barrel whether you open the gun or not, and with the convenient shift button on top of the gun under the thumb, the GUN IS ALWAYS IN COMMAND OF THE SHOOTER.

Personally, I wouldn't dare to attempt a modification to a working single trigger that was 90 plus years old, simple or not. The only place the non automatic reset is a nightmare is if the shooter uses his gun for American trapshooting. In any other clay target game, or in hunting, the non auto reset is just no real world problem needing a fix. Of course, in the "day", trapshooting was the main activity in competitive shooting, and I wonder how the Infallible was accepted in that game. Any Infallibe user in a one shot competitive game would have to have his wits about him to avoid shooting at an expensive target with an empty chamber.

The Infallible Company goes on to suggest [for a trap shooter with a double of equal choke, I suppose, shooting only one barrel] that the proper use is to load the barrel opposite the ejected shell after each shot. In this way one avoids heat build up found in firing the same barrel all of the time. They seem to have good reasons for everything about their trigger.

To quote Daryl...I suppose one could NON-FACTORY alter the Infallible to automatic reset...

You're probably correct, the gunsmith who installed the single trigger on my Prussian Sauer was Otto Neubrand (double barrel patent # 2,092,850) ...I looked at it very carefully to see if it was some other model other than the 1912, it was not...the only difference was that the underside of the safety button had a small bar silver soldered to it that engaged the selector when the safety was moved (backward only)...there were no alterations to the trigger except the removal of the selector linkage, which was not necessary at all and may have been done by the previous owner Loren Smith (Colt author). Loren used the gun for skeet, and it was he who paid Otto to install the trigger. Years later I bought the gun from Loren.

RC, Neubrand must have been a really good 'smith. I can understand what he did with your description of the alteration.

Robert;
I truly appreciate the info you have supplied on these triggers. I apparently have a different edition of "Two-Shots" than does Researcher as mine gives no info on the triggers at all, only a very brief account of Mr Worrest himself & of course the listing of patents.
The H Lefever on which mine is installed, as mentioned has two SNs. They are however only 4 #s apart @ 73,338 & 73,342. I do not have a current listing of the LAC SN list but in the one I have from a few years ago both of these numbers are the highest listed. Again I have absolutely no proof, but tend to believe this gun is as it left the (Ithaca) factory, likely assembled at the very tail end of production utilizing parts on hand. This is also the only Lefever I have with a two position, non-automatic safety. My earliest one has a two position auto-safe, with all others having the common three position auto-safe. All others are two triggered guns. I do not have one of the Lefever SST's which used the safety button as the selector.

Daryl, I haven't read the Infallible pamphlet cover to cover, for years, if I ever have. I'm sure an early trapshooter could teach himself to look down at his breeches every time he opens the gun, and insert a shell in the empty chamber before the empty shell ejects or is manually extracted. My Infallibe guns are all extractor guns anyway. As always, "Read instructions before operating equipment." Murphy

Yeah, Otto was quite the double gunsmith...the patent below is for a double single trigger...the guys he was friends with say that he made the patent gun from scratch, rather than fit his mechanism to an already existing gun, but I've never seen any guns marked Neubrand...Although I had been to his shop in Clarence NY many times,back then, I didn't know enough about doubles to ask to see it (or any other guns that he made from scratch) ...

To the top.

Murphy,
Just an OT side note about SD&G and single triggers...SD&G received a single trigger patent in France in 1908...here it is a year later in Germany ...the gun looks like an Ithaca to me...and although neither France or Germany lists the particular name of the inventor, I have a hunch (two other LC Smith triggers) it was a New York state inventor.

Daryl, the "Peck's Bad Boy" gun with Infallible trigger surfaced several years ago and was sold to a collector. That collector has passed away and the disposition of his collection is unknown to me. I own the Lancaster catalog testimonial Lindner Golcher and would like to own the "Peck's Bad Boy" gun if anyone knows where it is and can contact me. Rumor has it that it now has a Miller trigger. George Peck was a prolific competition shooter and apparently made many changes to his guns. He lived and shot here in the Washington DC area for some years.

For whatever this is worth, yesterday I noticed an eBay seller listing an infallible single trigger; the trigger unit itself appears to be mounted on a Fox trigger plate

If anyone knows where the "Peck's Bad Boy" Parker hammer gun with aftermarket single trigger is, let me know. Thanks.