Pedersoli Lock

So. I dropped the lock from my Pedersoli 50cal Blue Ridge (Hatfield?) .flinter and the mainspring with assorted parts popped off. I was thinking about an expensive mainspring vise or visegrips. However, the spring can be replaced if you partially assemble the whole mechanism, insert the tenon on the short arm of the mainspring into the lockplate's mortise and pull on the bend of the spring. The whole thing will pop into place. Remember to use safety glasses etc.

A mainspring vise isn't all that expensive, maybe $15 or so. But my Pedersoli Blue Ridge rifle has a coil spring.

Don't use Visegrips or pliers as they can scratch the spring creating stress risers where the spring may break.

:hmm: Dang. I am 73 and counting so I looked again and, yep, the mainspring on my rifle is not a coil nor is the sear spring. Perchance, Cabellas sent me something other than what I ordered but a friend identified my gun as a Hatfield so I went with that since he is far more knowledgable than I. The only coil spring in any of the locks of my rifles is on a sear.

hawkeye2 said:

Don't use Visegrips or pliers as they can scratch the spring creating stress risers where the spring may break.

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WHAT HE SAID!!

and, let's be reasonable, we'll leave the subjunctive case behind (could, might, may, should, etc.) ... the spring will break ... not right away, but it will break.

would you use a tool that put a nick in your brake lines?

"would you use a tool that put a nick in your brake lines?"

Not mine, maybe my wife's but I would never use Visegrips on her musket mainspring. :grin:

If you don't have a mainspring vice but just have to remove the spring. do the following: put the lock on full cock. bend a small piece of aluminum flashing to wrap around the exposed sides of the compressed mainspring. Now, take the vice grips and just barely clamp them on the spring, over the flashing. Let the hammer down gently. Slide the mainspring out of the lock. Reverse to reinstall. I do have a spring vice but this has worked for me in the past. If you do break your spring, don't come crying to me. If you don't know where to buy a new mainspring, buy a vice.

Gene L said:

A mainspring vise isn't all that expensive, maybe $15 or so. But my Pedersoli Blue Ridge rifle has a coil spring.

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Interesting... Can't say I knew they built those with coil springs... Glad mine has a typical mainspring. What year of manufacture is your Hatfield? I have a low numbered rifle that has the most beautiful curly maple I've ever seen, sparks great and is an excellent shooter.

Anywho, Frogwalking has a good method if a mainspring vice isn't available. Certainly purchase one to have on hand. A cheap investment to safe guard a very important piece!

Crewdawg445 said:

Gene L said:

A mainspring vise isn't all that expensive, maybe $15 or so. But my Pedersoli Blue Ridge rifle has a coil spring.

Click to expand...

Interesting... Can't say I knew they built those with coil springs... Glad mine has a typical mainspring. What year of manufacture is your Hatfield?

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It's at least 20 years old. And it's a Cabela's, not a Hatfield. I may be wrong about the lock, it's been a long time since I had it off the stock.

I just purchased a replacement lock for a Jager from Pedersoli. I can remember buying whole rifles for what it cost me; I sure hope it doesn’t arrive with coil springs.