Smith & Wesson 1854 Lever Action 44 Magnum - S&W "support"

[pcmacd]

I bought a couple of these not too long ago. One for me. One for my friend.

Both had barrels what looked like sewer pipe inside. Sent them back to the factory and they said, "Yep. They shoot", and returned them as is. Wrote to the bored of directors, director of qa, and the president. Utter silence. I've done this before with other products and this is the FIRST TIME I received no response.

My friend has shot his more than me. First the lever screw was loose from the factory. The magazine follower jumped out the tube and jammed up the works. Last week his action got nasty... pulled out the lever and bolt and this spring fell out (see attachment.)

Called S&W "support" this morning, asked for a parts diagram...., "Sorry, we have none available to the public." I mean, seriously? This is the first time in 35 years of shooting that I have been unable to get a parts diagram and list, told the guy so. He didn't seem to care.

So I describe the spring in the image below as a "leaf spring, sort of shaped like a "V" just over an inch long." He opens up HIS parts diagram and can't find it, nor can he tell me what the bottom metal that the trigger sticks out of is called. I mean? Come on! This guy was just a total wanker.

I'd like to have a clue where that spring goes before I start tearing stuff down. I suspect it might be for the trigger....

tanks

 

[45Smashemflat]

Looks an awful lot like the ejector spring on a Marlin 1894…

 

[TJm15.38]

That is an ejector spring that just sits inside the left side of the receiver and is held in place unless the bolt is removed. Every Marlin I have owned has one. The 1854 must be basically an Marlin clone with some modification. Look at the parts list and diagram an focus on part #10, Ejector Spring. It looks just like the part you showed.

Marlin/Glenfield Model 1894 Parts | Numrich Gun Parts

Find Marlin/Glenfield Model 1894 parts and schematics today with Numrich Gun Parts. Providing parts since 1950.

www.gunpartscorp.com

 

[45Smashemflat]

If the gun was disassembled, once the bolt is removed from the rear, that spring can easily fall out. The stud on the side fits in a hole in the receiver. Put it in with the bolt removed, then slide the bolt in from the rear. You should see a slot in the bolt and receiver body that it fits in.

The V shape points toward the hammer…

 

[45Smashemflat]

That is an ejector spring that just sits inside the left side of the receiver and is held in place unless the bolt is removed. Every Marlin I have owned has one. The 1854 must be basically an Marlin clone with some modification. Look at the parts list and diagram an focus on part #10, Ejector Spring. It looks just like the part you showed.

Marlin/Glenfield Model 1894 Parts | Numrich Gun Parts

Find Marlin/Glenfield Model 1894 parts and schematics today with Numrich Gun Parts. Providing parts since 1950.

www.gunpartscorp.com

Great minds think alike….

 

[Yendor357]

What kind of 5 shot accuracy are you getting at 25 and 50 yards?

I’ve used the Wheeler kit, and fire lapped a few barrels. The worst result is it did nothing. Sometimes you get lucky and it helps quite a bit accuracy wise. Plus they clean up easier.

 

[TheTinMan]

Find a new Marlin. Not perfect but holy guacamole the QC issues I’m reading about on the 1854s …

 

[roundgunner]

What kind of 5 shot accuracy are you getting at 25 and 50 yards?

I’ve used the Wheeler kit, and fire lapped a few barrels. The worst result is it did nothing. Sometimes you get lucky and it helps quite a bit accuracy wise. Plus they clean up easier.

I have fire lapped quite a few with the wheeler kit also. I feel like it always helped especially rough barrels that snagged lead.

 

[pcmacd]

Ejector it is. Don't know why I did not notice that.

Thanks to you all.

 

[pcmacd]

Great minds think alike….

I've done a few rifles with the Neco kit. I want to get to know this rifle better before pursuing that option.

 

[pcmacd]

OK. I got the ejector seated, and put the bolt all the way in.

Now I can't get the lever to seat in the bolt, and the bolt cannot be pushed out with a brass rod.

Something is holding the bolt in? If so, how do I release the bolt to get it half inserted to complete reassembly?

The hammer is back, of course, and fiddling with the trigger doesn't seem to make it want to release.

 

[pcmacd]

Come on guys, I'm dying here.

This just does not make sense?