Caption: Taylor & Company's Model 1865 Spencer with lever down and
breechblock lowered.
To replace the trigger assembly, be sure the
breechblock is forward.
The case rim had extruded out between the
breechblock and receiver and now measured about 0.040 inch thick.
This
breechblock was in the original Model 51 and is referred to by most people as the Pedersen block, and it has been tweaked to handle 9mm +P.
Select a drill a few thousandths larger than the diameter of the firing pin body (the large diameter) and drill a hole from the rear of the
breechblock to a depth that will just intersect with the smaller diameter hole.
That lets the
breechblock close firmly, but the constant pressure wears out the springs and leads to early failure.
It featured an 8.5" browned barrel, sheathed spur trigger and walnut grips while the receiver,
breechblock, hammer, trigger and sheath were color case hardened.
The winner of the trials was a rifle that used a dropping block action designed by Henry Peabody of Boston and modified by the Swiss engineer Friederich von Martini, with a spring loaded striker/firing pin assembly inside the
breechblock and used a separate lever to lower the
breechblock.
Well, the copper solid was high ten inches but the
breechblock and the slide are locked up in the receiver face.
Worn breech assembly components can cause the firing pin to protrude past the face of the
breechblock. If that happens, the gun can fire when you close the breech, even with the safely levers on!
In battery the components of the
breechblock are in a straight line.
The
breechblock, left in-the-white, is permanently fixed to the slide by means of a steel pin.