I recently acquired a Shiloh that mis-fired almost everyother round on my first outing. I immediately thought perhaps the firing pin was broke so stopped shooting after 15 rounds. At home I pulled it apart and found there were two springs in the breechblock. One was the usual small spring in the actual firing the pin and another larger diameter spring was between the block and the firing pin where it could be seen from the side of the rifle when the hammer was at half-cock. This larger spring was setting in a recess cut for it in the block. My C. Sharps 1874 does not have two springs and I don't recall seeing two in any other Sharps replica. Since the rifle has some questionable history I don't know what to think, Anyone ever see another 1874 model with two firing pin springs?

I removed the larger one and will give it a try on Sunday suspecting the problem has been cured.

SS

JT,

The spring is required with the two-piece firing pins since the cam on the dog-leg shaped piece will not pull the pin itself back.

SS