Winchester Repeating Arms 1886 (Historic Manual) - Manual (Page 17)

hammer is moved to when firing is imminent (See
Figure 6). It is also the position the hammer moves to
when the action is cycled using the finger lever.
WHEN THE HAMMER IS IN THE COCKED
POSITION THE SAFETY SHOULD BE IN
THE “ O N ” P O S I T I O N (WITH THE “S”
SHOWING) UNLESS FIRING IS IMMINENT.
SAFETY POSITIONS
-
The safety (also referred to as the manual hammer
stop) is a modem feature built into the action of your
Model 1886 to provide an additional level of safety.
When the safety has been placed in the “on” position
it serves the function of blocking the hammer from
striking the firing pin. Even if the safety is on, it does
not prevent the hammer from falling to the rebound
position when the trigger is pulled. When the trigger
is pulled - with the safety on
-
the hammer drops,
going immediately to the rebound position without
impacting the firing pin.
The safety on your new Model 1886 is built into the
top tang of the receiver. The safety “switch” itself is
fitted into an elongated, machined recess in the tang.