Model 14 on gunbroker

[35Rem]

without looking at the auction, early guns had the safety on the bolt. It was refered to as a "thumbnail" safety. There are several transition guns out there with the cutout for the bolt safety and have the crossbolt safety.

[shot1too]

In 1919 Remington changed the safe system on the Model 14. The cross-bolt-safe behind the trigger was replaced with a safety located on the bolt. What you are observing is recess cut along the ejection port to access the safe on the bolt. After a couple of year another safe system was introduced and the cross-bolt-safe returned with some modifications. Remington didn't waste the receivers with the cut. The breeck bolt system is commonly know as the thumbnail safe.

Loren

[wiktor]

A far as I know the thumbnail safety was an option. When a rifle had it, it had a blank where the crossbolt safety was. I always wondered if the rifles with the cutout but not the thumbnail safety had been converted back to a crossbolt safet because the thumbnail was inconvenient to use????

[shot1too]

Wiktor

The the thumb-nail safe was not an option you could order. It was a total change in production. The fact that the serial numbers of the receivers observed are inline with the TN safe indicate they were transition guns to the third safety system. I have observed some TN rifles that were changed back to the First type of safety. Most of those still had the safe on the breech block. It would take some work and a new breech bolt (and other parts) to convert a TN to the thrid safety system.

Loren

[wiktor]

Thanks for the reply Shot1too! You mentioned the third safety change. All I have ever seen were crossbolt safeties or thumbnail safeties. Was the internal design changed?Thanks!

[shot1too]

Wiktor

There were internal changes made between the TN and the final safe system. If you disassemble a late model 14 you will see a hook system that engages the cross bolt safe. Some of us researchers have named this the "HOOKS" system (we do try to keep things simple.) The TN is full of mystery, and we are still trying to find more information. At this time, most of our sources for information on this subject have been exhausted. I'm afraid that like so many other questions on the 14 the TN will hold some secrets for some time to come.

Loren RSA

[wiktor]

Thanks Shot1too!