3rd Safety Hammerless - trigger removal?

[feets]

I have taken on a project for a coworker. He inherited his grandfather's issued gun. I'm not sure who issued it but that's what he says. It has sentimental value and that's about it. There is no appreciable finish left on the gun. It's in good physical condition but that's likely due to someone dipping this thing in shellac or something similar. It was glued together so tight I was afraid to turn a screw.

I've been tasked with bringing it back to life, condition permitting.

After some creative chemical use I was able to remove the funk and get it down to it's basic parts. The mechanical fiddly bits are in good shape. The guts seem to function fine.
Now, I really need to pop the trigger out so I can finish getting the remaining ick out of this gun.

The trigger seems to be captured by the trigger guard. I can see what looks like a step on the back of the guard holding it in the frame closest to the grip.

How should I go about removing the guard?


Thanks.

 

[opoefc]

You didn't say if the gun was a .32 or a .38, however complete assembly/disassembly instructions, with photos, is covered in David Chicoine's book "Antique Firearms Assembly/Disassembly" The guard is a piece of spring steel . It's removed by squeezing the rear leg towards the front to unlock it from the frame. You can do this in a vise or with a large pair of channel locks. Wrap tape or a thick rag around the trigger guard to avoid scratching it. You can get the book from Gun Digest or find copies online at Amazon. Ed.

 

[glowe]

The trigger guard is under spring tension holding it in the frame. I use a large wood dowel that fits tightly between the trigger guard and the frame. By twisting it, the guard moves forward and drops down for removal. Some trigger guards can be compressed by hand, but some have quite a bit of spring to them, so the wood dowel is needed.

 

[feets]

Interesting!

Thanks for the heads up.

I grabbed the frame with the hinge against my palm and two fingers around the back of the trigger guard. I took up slack in preparation of a mighty heave and it popped out easy as can be.

Nifty!

 

[rct269]

I believe Chicoine's book tells us to whack the rear(??) of the trigger guard smartly with a (soft) hammer----it's been a while since I've done it. It worked like a charm----aside from the resulting necessity to go hunting for the trigger guard. I might've whacked it a little too smartly! I don't recall the instructions for replacing it, but that worked like a charm too!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[walter o]

Usually I use a pair of channel lock 's With leather glued to the jaws ,Gentely squeeze to spring the guard to remove and to replace it .The fun part is getting the trigger spring in correctly

 

[Dosgatos]

Usually I use a pair of channel lock 's With leather glued to the jaws ,Gentely squeeze to spring the guard to remove and to replace it .The fun part is getting the trigger spring in correctly

Getting that trigger spring in correctly can be a bear. I've had best luck with the spring in the correct position by holding the gun upside down while replacing the trigger guard.