Is there a difference between the 1894 and the 1915 mainsprings?

Cat_Whisperer wrote on Oct 16^th, 2013 at 6:56am:


The 1915 employs a coil spring--a "better idea" if it could be adapted to the '94.  Would have ordered both had I anticipated this problem.  Now, however, I'm not willing to waste another $6.50 shipping charge (actual cost about $2) to find out if it could be used.

Is everyone aware that there are THREE differenet 1894 Favorite mainsprings. Also THREE differenet Hammers due to the spring seat to match the Mainspring

The early one is about .055" thick and is not screwed to the bottom tang, it rests against the side of the screw head, arcs up almost to the top tang, drops back down and the last 5/8" of the spring bends back up under the hammer, the spring recess is a square cut with a very small raduis in the corner.

Then the intermediate mainspring is 3/32" thick that is screwed to the bottom tang, it moves up slightly and foreward, then at the end the tail is a upside down tear drop shape to match the larger raduis in the hammer.

The last version is 3/32" thick is screwed to the bottom tang, moves up slightly and is fairly flat all the way to the tip. This hammer is differenet as the spring seat is much lower and goes almost all the way into the pivot screw hole. BUT has a lowered pad section that rides on top of the flat section of the mainspring.

The 1915 hammer and coil spring system is a whole other thing, and you could fit it IF you can find a 1915 Hammer.

The hammers and mainsprings do not interchange, so it is imporant to match the proper mainspring to the hammer.

So bottom line is after how many decades of use for that rifle, parts could have been changed, and altered vs what you think you have.

WCF

The early Favorites with the square breech cut on the receiver, are also fitted with the 7 O'clock extractor. All of those have the early high arched mainspring that is not screwed to the lower tang. 
All lot of those also have the two diameter barrel shank, and the tension screw in the breech to bear against the receiver to tighten up the lever from drooping. 
The screw in the lower tang the mainspring butts against has a high, 1/4" tall head.
The hammer spur also has a very nicely shaped double radius spur that sits lower than the later hammers. Once Stevens made the mainspring heavier they raised the spur upward, and longer to make it easier to cock the hammer.

WCF

I found this in an old post on this forum:
The early Stevens 44 had a very special mainspring-the more tenson on the hammer, the less on the trigger-it;s the shape of the spring.Call Norman Johnson @ 701-448-9188 for new springs like these, he make's em.

Sounds like this might be a possible source, but I don't have any personal knowledge of him or his products.