Answer

By looking at the schematic in Rossi’s manual (http://www.rossiusa.com/pdf/Rossi_Manual_Rio_Grande.pdf), the part looks like a leaf spring between the rear and front firing pins. It is a strange design, probably to save money. -TL

Question Follow Up

That’s the same schematic I was looking at TL but it wasn’t half as clear as this one. A small piece of flat metal did fall out when I broke down the bolt, but I have no way of knowing the length or width. I’m sure I can come up with something close (I hope). I’m still hoping someone that owns one will have to take theirs down to clean it and maybe take a picture and get some measurements

Answer

Isn’t the Rossi Rio Grande compatible to the Marlin lever action, 336 and so on? Firing springs for those are a couple bucks and available just about everywhere. It’s a flat spring with a bend in it and a 90 degree angle at the end. Jeff

Answer

You have the gun and bolt so you should be able to determine the dimensions you need. You will probably have to fabricate this one. Sorry. Ken

Question Follow Up

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the responses. Hmm…I just looked and the Marlin does have a round bolt like the Rossi. I hadn’t taken the time to check that. Either way I’ll probably end up making one. Here’s something I was questioning and some food for thought. After super clean, polish and lube I put the Rossi back together, less the broken spring. Out of curiosity I put tape on the primer area of a dummy 30-30 round. The hammer spring on these are heavy and hit hard. I wanted to see what difference the missing fire pin spring made. After pulling the trigger the two piece fire pin pierced the tape nicely just from the inertia of being ‘slapped’ by the hammer. Just for my edification, other than some possible mushrooming of the pin if shot a lot what is the purpose of that spring? And why not simply use a one piece fire pin? Thanks again folks! Roy

Answer

The Marlin 336 has the same firing pin as well, I believe. A firing pin and then the rear part of the pin. I’m almost positive you could take the Marlin 336 bolt assembly and drop it in the Rossi and have it fit and function the same. But I don’t have a Rossi to test this theory. I think they’re all based on the 1893 lever action.

Used to be the Rossi was more desirable than the Marlin when Remington first took over the Marlin line and was having quality control issues. Jeff

Answer

Looks like this gun is almost identical to the Marlin 1894cs that I recently worked on. The rear firing pin actually tips out of alignment with the front pin when the action is unlock (see attached picture). The spring is there to tip the rear pin. When the action is locked up, the locking block (#14) pushes the rear pin up to align with the front pin.

The spring is a safety mechanism, so do NOT use the gun without it. –TL

Answer

The spring pushes the rear firing pin down out of alignment with front pin when the lever pulls the locking block down. This keeps the gun from firing when it is not locked up. When the lever closes the bolt it also raises the locking block, pushing the rear firing pin up into alignment with the front.

Cowboy shooters use one piece pins in their 1894s. The powder puff .38spl creates no problems if it lights off just a skosh early, the lever nose keeps it closed. Jack

Answer

Try stevesguns.com. He has Rossi parts and does lots of work on 92s , cowboy actions.

Question Follow Up

Thanks for the picture TL. All the help and input here is awesome. I didn’t think about it before you mentioned it but I looked at my Marlin 336 and without disassembling it (yet) and I can see that it has a round breech bolt just like the Rossi. I checked a Marlin 336A schematic and damned if it doesn’t have the same type two piece fire pin with what looks like may be the same flat spring. Numrich did have one so I ordered it. Even if it’s not exact I’m sure I can use it to improvise what I need from this part. You guys were exactly right and I’m thankful. I’m still not exactly sure of how it functions. It seems that the locking bolt pushes the rear pin back up when the lever is closed so if the rifle is dropped without the safety being on…? Anyway the experiment I tried without the spring was just that, an experiment with dummy rounds in my shop. I’m with you TL. I’m a stickler for functioning safeties as well. I had a cowboy action Rossi lever action come in with the safety removed and replaced by a short metal round stock piece to circumvent the button safety. I was told this is done to avoid the safety possibly going on during competition. Somehow I don’t think forensic attorneys would care much about that if God forbid there was an accident. This was brought in by a good friend who was handing down the carbine to his grandson. I explained to him that I have to R&R a new safety or I simply won’t work on it. He was completely in agreement. I realize some safetys are redundant but I didn’t design it and of course safety is always our first concern. I will get back and let you all know how it worked out. Thanks for the info on Stevesguns. Can’t have too many parts suppliers. Again, thanks much to the AGI troops!

Answer

Glad your customer agreed to you replacing the missing cross bolt safety in the Marlin. I have the same policy in my shop.

On the firing pin spring. The spring pushes the rear firing pin down out of alignment with the front firing pin. The locking block pushes the rear firing pin up into alignment with the front firing pin. So if the locking block is not up or not up all the way and the hammer happens to fall and strike the rear firing pin it can’t hit the front firing pin and discharge a live round in the chamber. The gun must be locked up to fire a chambered round. Ken

Reply

Thanks for making that clear Ken. I just received the new Marlin 336A spring today that looked pretty close to the Rossi spring so I’m going to take ‘er back down and see how close and if it will work. I’ll let you all know. Thanks and take care!

Reply

Nice and easy. I received the new Marlin 336 rear fire pin flat spring from Numrich. All I had to do was straighten it, re-bend at the correct length and it fit the Rossi Rio Grande. It now functions very well (with dummy rounds) and the rear pin offsets and returns back as it should when locking bolt is up. It took a lot of work and time to get this ‘brand new’ little lever action clean of rust, remove some terrible machining burs, honed, smoothed up and working properly. Instead of being upset at the manufacturer now (which does no good anyway) I’m thinking it was a pretty cool project and I learned something as well. One thing for sure. The more experienced smiths in this organization like Jeff, TL, newbie and of course Master Ken and many others who help don’t stop trying until they get you an answer or some help finding parts. This ain’t no commercial but honestly, since buying the Master course and the many other accessories I’ve bought through AGI I have never once regretted spending one penny. To have the support we get here is kind of priceless. Thanks again guys. Roy