Newbie Question,Locking Block

[Komodoj]

Just picked up a 1951 Wingmaster to restore, I noticed the bolt has no channel for the Locking block pin and the locking block has no protrusion on either side(Or a pin). The locking block just kinda rests on top of the firing pin. Is this a normal set up for an older Wingmaster or is mine unique? Thank you in advance.

[Komodoj]

Found a video of some guys that looks like mine. It's at 6:30, which resembles how mine drops in?

https://youtu.be/brLgCb4QR18

[Synchronizor]

I've heard some very early 870s had locking blocks with no retaining pins. They just drop into the bolt as you describe.

Once the gun is assembled, the retaining pin does nothing. The locking block is constrained by the slide assembly, bolt, receiver, and barrel. The pin is only there to keep the bolt & locking block from falling apart when the breech bolt assembly is out of the gun. This reduces the number of loose parts to keep track of, and makes it easier to get the gun back together.

[Komodoj]

Awesome! I thought I was losing my mind. Thank you for the info on this.

I've heard some very early 870s had locking blocks with no retaining pins. They just drop into the bolt as you describe.

Once the gun is assembled, the retaining pin does nothing. The locking block is constrained by the slide assembly, bolt, receiver, and barrel. The pin is only there to keep the bolt & locking block from falling apart when the breech bolt assembly is out of the gun. This reduces the number of loose parts to keep track of, and makes it easier to get the gun back together.

[Komodoj]

So yesterday was trigger group parts disassembly. I noticed when comparing all my parts to a traditional newer manufacture parts diagram that my TG has no Action bar Spring? Is it missing? Or normal for the 50's units?

[Synchronizor]

Are you talking about the action bar lock spring?

[Komodoj]

Yes. My trigger group doesn't have one?

Are you talking about the action bar lock spring?

[Komodoj]

Gave in and called Remy. They say that "Spring" didn't start appearing in guns until the early 70's. So I'm gtg. Thought I was loosing my mind and lost it. Ty all for the replys.

[Synchronizor]

Interesting, I didn't know that older 870s didn't have that spring.

The action bar lock is usually held where it needs to be by the hammer spring or the sear spring, but there is one situation where it's somewhat left to its own devices, that being when the user fires, then cycles the action and re-cocks the hammer before letting up on the trigger. In that case, the connectors are still lifted, and not rotating the action bar lock fully upward to where it would engage the end of the action bar. It's part-way there, but not entirely, and may not fully lock if the gun is held in a certain orientation, or - particularly - if the end of the action bar and/or action bar lock are worn. The helper spring makes sure the action bar lock is always trying to tip upward and lock properly by default, so to speak.

[Komodoj]

Yeah not quite sure why it doesn't have one because the main function is to push the slide release lever down. I haven't had a chance to work on the Remy again but from what tech branch said that the trigger group and the way it is designed it doesn't require one. They said I could ad one but it might effect how it's set up? They said that, that spring which really isn't a spring it's just a piece of formed wire wasn't used until gun produced after 1970ish??
I will try and reach out to tech branch and get a more definitive answer. To be honest he went into a long story about the spring and how trigger groups and carriers changed but I was just really trying to listen when he said my unit didn't have one and I didn't loose anything.

Interesting, I didn't know that older 870s didn't have that spring.

The action bar lock is usually held where it needs to be by the hammer spring or the sear spring, but there is one situation where it's somewhat left to its own devices, that being when the user fires, then cycles the action and re-cocks the hammer before letting up on the trigger. In that case, the connectors are still lifted, and not rotating the action bar lock fully upward to where it would engage the end of the action bar. It's part-way there, but not entirely, and may not fully lock if the gun is held in a certain orientation, or - particularly - if the end of the action bar and/or action bar lock are worn. The helper spring makes sure the action bar lock is always trying to tip upward and lock properly by default, so to speak.