Henry Rifle Forums

I have watched a lot of videos about these revolvers... a LOT of videos.
I would really like to add a 357 color case hardened Single Action with Birds Head Grips to my Safe.
I'd like mine to be Stag, or Bone... but nicely figured wood would suit in a pinch.
A friend wanted to buy one of my extra Glocks... set up for competition, and some of the extra mags.
Nope... but i'll trade yah... the gun above and a belt and holster.

Deal, he said.
Then something came up.
Doesn't it always? if you have a house, a car, or a family... and are responsible.... these things happen.
I told him that gun wasn't going anywhere.
So, I'm watching videos....

And who knew Uberti Single Actions had Safeties?
Give this guy a break for confusing his firearms terms... he learnt me something.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZabndddxLkQ

My rimfire Henrys have the same thing. You just pull the hammer back slightly. But don't trust it. The only sure safe way is to do the John Wayne load.

Interesting. My 1871 Uberti does not have that so it's hammer on empty chamber always.

I learned the hard way about that safety cylinder pin on my Uberti Smokewagon. When I first got it, I dry fired the gun with the safety pin pushed all the way in, which created a heck of a burr on the pin. When I went to release the safety, I had a devil of a time pulling that pin out again. I called CS, who informed me that it's a common problem. It can be fixed by filing the burr away, which I did, but I also bought a replacement pin, too. And I don't dry fire it like that anymore.

CT,

I saw a new video this morning that shows the series II guns no longer have that cylinder pin safety, but a concealed passive safety built into the hammer/trigger combo. If the hammer should fall without the trigger pulled... the firing pin doesn't (shouldn't) penetrate thru it's hole in the frame. A hammer block of a sort.

But as always... the safety minded among us, follow the four primary rules of good gun safety... and no need to worry.

My Pietta Colt clone has a similar setup. I regard the the two position base pin as a gun lock to be used when the gun is stored, rather than an operational safety when the gun is carried. Can't say for sure, bit I doubt whether Uberti or Pietta meant it to be anything else. For sure, it is in no way equivalent to a transfer bar safety as used on Ruger single actions and other revolvers. As those of us who shoot single actions, know, those base pins can be a real devil at times to move. If you're carrying a Colt clone, there's still only one way to carry it, safely, and that is loading the gun with five rounds and the hammer resting on an empty cylinder. (Load one, skip one, load four.) Not sure where that John Wayne label came from. Folks have known this from day one, long, one before John Wayne's time.

I had never heard it called a John Wayne load either but knew what it meant without explanation. I don't trust the safety on my Henry either. My triggers are light enough that a good bump and it closes from the full cock position to safety. If it is on the level it will not fire. But if it is pointed upwards just the weight of the trigger falling back will fire the round on closing. I do not carry it with a round in the chamber and only cock it when ready to shoot. After shooting I don't work the action till I'm ready to shoot again.

North Country Gal wrote: Load one, skip one, load four.

My SAA is never loaded at home, but even at the range and just because it's a good practice, I load one, skip one, load four. Then I load five into my Henry and alternate guns, shooting five shots each at targets. I'll be getting back to the range in January. By then, it will have been a full year since I've been shooting, so I am very much looking forward to getting back in the saddle. After that, I expect to shoot several times per week.

Uberti and/or other Italian Colt clone manufacturers apparently did that due to import restrictions requiring a safety on handguns. If that is correct, it is a very nice way of doing it without altering the action.

CT, glad to hear you'll be shooting soon. Good for you.

There was another feeble attempt to add a safety on a Colt SA, back in the 80s with the last run of the Colt New Frontier 22 revolver. It had a funky cross bolt safety incorporated into the loading gate. After loading the gun and before closing the loading gate, you had to depress the safety, first, in the loading gate in order to get the gun to fire. NOT a popular feature with Colt fans, so this version was doomed from the start, but the 80s were a period big on lawyer proofing.

All my Cimmarron / Uberti have the same safety on them and I love them , but I'm old school I only load 5 even in my Ruger SA . It is just a old habit for 50 years . On the bench I load 6 for target work . Below is the new type pin for safety

I've loaded like that before just to do it but I've never carried a SA. I only shoot it at the range and load six. Good to see you posting again John.