Quote:I don't reccomend removing the safety catch lever or safety. I blew away the sky screen on my chronograph when I snappped the lever closed. This rifle was missing the catch lever. On a Borchardt, having the safety re-engage each time you reload, is for your protection and those around you.
zrifleman,
If you, as you say, you 'snapped' the lever closed (
and didn't touch the trigger whilst doing so ?) then I submit that having no safety catch had nothing to do with the rifle discharging whatsoever. What you actions did, was jar the sear off it's notch.
This could be due to either to sloppy fits throughout the trigger mechanism or a poor sear to sear notch relationship which permitted the sear to release.
From a purely engineering point of view, the Borchardt has perhaps the most complex trigger to firing pin design of any American single shot action, in that it works around corners (like Borchardts later design which became the Luger pistol)
The fitting tolerances between all the moving parts and the pins on which they are held have to be very tight indeed, not only that, the firing pin sear notch has to be perfectly aligned with the sear tip every time for a consistant trigger pull.
This means that the cocking cam plates, and the cocking pin have to fitted so precisely that they move the firing pin squarely to the rear during cocking, that the fit between the rear of the firing pin and the firing pin spring cap and the pin which holds it in place and also fits into a slot at the rear of the firing pin, all have to be fitted with the precision of a Swiss watch. (Not something that is usually found on a mass produced militarty rifle).
The Military Borchardt has a very poor reputation as far as a good trigger pull is concerned, but it can be restored and brought to a one pound pull which is reliable and safe, but only if a lot of work is done on all the parts to ensure a precise fitted relationship.
On a rifle that is at least 125 years old, and which has probably seen some considerable use, it is very likely that some parts will be worn, and therefore subject to some mechanical 'play'.
With respect, I submit that your premature discharge was caused by a part or parts that had worn out of dimensional tolerance, rather than the fact that a safety catch was abscent.
Harry