Winchester Repeating Arms 1885 Rimfire - Manual (Page 7)

O PERATION OF THE H AMMER
Like most lever action rifles with exposed hammers,
the Winchester Model 1885 does not have a separate
manual safety. The exposed hammer is an excellent
indicator of the status of the rifle. The hammer
has three positions: full cock, half cock, and dropped
or fired.
F ULL COCK POSITION —
The hammer is all the way to the rear (Figure 4). At
this point, any pull or tug on the trigger will force the
hammer to fall, firing the rifle.The hammer can be
placed in this position in either of two ways. First,
every time the lever is cycled lever linkages will leave
the hammer in the full cock position. The hammer
may also be placed at full cock by manually moving it
rearward with the thumb until it engages the full
cock notch. Be sure to keep your finger off the trigger
while cocking the hammer.
H ALF COCK POSITION —
The half cock notch on the hammer is a safety
feature designed to protect against accidental
discharge of the rifle in the event the hammer slips
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I NITIAL C LEANING
Before the first firing, clean the anti-rust compound
from the inside of the barrel and receiver with a clean
rag and light gun oil. Lightly oil the action along
the sides of the breech block and at the pivot points
on the lever. Only a light film of oil will ever be
necessary. To prevent rust, regularly wipe down all
metal surfaces with an oiled rag. See “Cleaning and
Maintenance Suggestions” later in the manual.
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F I G U R E 2 C
Bottom of
breech block
Trigger
adjustment
screw
Lever in downward position
(underside view)
Lever
Trigger
F I G U R E 3
Record your serial number
for future reference
F I G U R E 4
Full Cock (fire) position
of the hammer