Holland & Holland .375 takedown fires when safety flipped off

[flyfishdoc]

Hello, I recently acquired a .375 H&H takedown and upon inspection once bolt is cocked I cannot engage the safety to the upright position unless I remove the bolt from the rifle and cock it manually. when bolt is placed back in rifle and safety flipped to fire position the rifle immediately fires without trigger input
Obviously dangerous... How to remedy?
I have completely disassembled the bolt/lubricated and reassembled to no relief. Looks to have low round count and I see no evidence of anyone attempting to work on the trigger nor file on the sear, etc.
Anyone know a competent gunsmith?

 

[baxterb]

Lots of missing info…factory rifle? What action? Numbers match? Where are you located?

lots of guys can help you out, but think more info is needed to get you pointed in the right direction.

but yeah, a serious issue. One that sounds like someone tried to install a 3-pos safety but didn’t really know how.

 

[DG Gunsmith]

Need more information... Pictures will help... Even better, a video demonstrating the issue...

 

[flyfishdoc]

.375 Magnum Holland&Holland factory rifle. built by H&H mid 1950s on Mauser long action with the typical Mauser flag safety. left safety position is fire/upright is safe/right safety position locks the bolt into receiver as well as trigger. numbers matching.
I will try and get some pix tomorrow as I am at work tonite
Im located in Florida.

 

[Hunter4752001]

Unfortunately I lent my copy of Kuhnhausen's Mauser Shop Manual to someone a few years back and haven't seen it since. However I seem to recall that this is known condition, I believe caused by someone modifying the relationship between the sear and the cocking piece. A good quality smith experienced with Mauser actions would know how to repair.

Definitely not something you want to do yourself or even worse, ignore.

 

[flyfishdoc]

Yes I agree. I ordered a copy of the Mauser shop manual mostly out of curiosity as it is not something I want to tackle.

 

[GuttormG]

Easy, let a gunsmith fix it..

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

I had the same thing happen on my old Jefferies rifle. I think you will need to back off the trigger engagement screw (if it is adjustable). If you do this and the rifle cocks and stays cocked when the safety is released, release safety and bang the butt against the ground or some other semi-soft surface.


Since the rifle is new to you, but presumably old I would recommend that you take the rifle to a competent gunsmith just to have completely checked over. The rifle being a takedown I would have the "tightness checked" and headspace.

You have a very classic rifle!

 

[Nhoro]

I saw this on a Mauser action I looked at buying-needless to say it remained on the shelf.

I did research, as I understand, basically a flag safety on a mauser locks the firing pin. It actually engages with the pin and takes the weight of the firing pin spring. So it actually hold the pin back and if incorrect, it lifts the pin off the sear and disengages the trigger. So when you release the safety and spring tension, it jumps over the sear and fires. So adjusting the trigger (making it heavier and more creepy) can help or a gunsmith can adjust the safety/firing pin engagement.

 

[John Telford]

It’s a mauser 98 action so take it to a Smith that knows these actions. It sounds like the trigger sheer is incorrectly set up preventing the safety from engaging.

 

[Joker12]

Its not a Maurer problem its a trigger adjustment problem and should be a simple fix.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Is this ( by any chance ) a 1950s to 1970s era Holland & Holland Mauser actioned rifle ? They were notorious for their uncharacteristically poor quality. They used to feature a low grade aluminum magazine instead of a proper steel one. I know of at least two other examples ( one in .300 Holland & Holland Magnum and one in .375 Holland & Holland Magnum), which automatically discharges whenever the safety is disengaged.

 

[flyfishdoc]

yes it was built mid 50s I think... Mauser action
surprised me with H&H

 

[baxterb]

May call LD McCaa at Westley Richards in Florida , he may know a local guy who could take a look.

and not to pile on re: quality issues, but I’ve seen a H&H that has a flag safety that was inoperable because of scope clearance AND also a side safety. Same rifle (458 win) had set screws in the rings to give extra grip on the scope. Odd stuff.

 

[Nevada Mike]

yes it was built mid 50s I think... Mauser action
surprised me with H&H

I think H&H used (and still uses) Mauser 98 type actions on their magazine rifles. From what I have seen they often used actions with the thumb slot - military style actions - in the past. I believe they are using German-made (Johannsen?) commercial Mauser 98 actions on the later and present rifles.

 

[flyfishdoc]

Westley Richards iOS close by so I will give them a call. good idea

 

[Joker12]

This issue doesn't sound like a problem with the action. Its either a trigger adjustment problem or a worn sear. Both are simple and inexpensive to fix.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I think H&H used (and still uses) Mauser 98 type actions on their magazine rifles. From what I have seen they often used actions with the thumb slot - military style actions - in the past. I believe they are using German-made (Johannsen?) commercial Mauser 98 actions on the later and present rifles.

They use FZH commercial Mauser 98 actions, currently. According to their current website ( after Beretta bought Holland & Holland ), they appear to be manufacturing bolt action rifles in only .375 Holland & Holland Magnum caliber now.

 

[baxterb]

They use FZH commercial Mauser 98 actions, currently. According to their current website ( after Beretta bought Holland & Holland ), they appear to be manufacturing bolt action rifles in only .375 Holland & Holland Magnum caliber now.

interesting. I thought they used Prechtl. But haven’t been paying that close attention recently.

 

[Nevada Mike]

They use FZH commercial Mauser 98 actions, currently. According to their current website ( after Beretta bought Holland & Holland ), they appear to be manufacturing bolt action rifles in only .375 Holland & Holland Magnum caliber now.

So the .400 and .465 Holland & Holland are GONE already? If so, are they still proprietary cartridges?