Mark;
Not to be argumentative, but once again to be precise, Mdl. 97's are the only FA's to have a transfer bar. A transfer bar is a device to transfer the energy from a falling hammer to a firing pin. The 97's transfer bar slides withiin the hammer. When the hammer is down and the trigger forward, the hammer does not contact the firing pin ; it can only contact it to transfer the blow when the trigger is pulled, and the transfer bar is in line with the firing pin.Drop the gun, beat the hammer, whatever. Same principle, but different mechanics with the Ruger, or old Iver Johnson.
However, instead of a transfer bar, the 83 has a device to prevent the hammer from resting on the firing pin, provided that device is activated as I described above. That gizmo (part # 34) is called a safety bar. You could think of it functioning the opposite of a transfer bar.As you know, if it's not properly activated the hammer rests on the firing pin. When pulling the trigger on an 83, the hammer strikes the firing pin directly.
Ak guy,
Yep, that first notch is called a "safety notch", and believe me, I don't care how anybody else carries their 83's as long as they're not pointed in my direction . As I said, I carried mine loaded with 5 rounds for 10 years. For me, the drill of loading 5 and engaging the safety bar/notch was more aggravation and the process less safe, particularly in hunting conditions-cold, rain, snow,-than loading 4, as described.
Ruger, incidentally, didn't develop New Models with transfer bars for fun. They did it following millions of dollars in legal costs and settled lawsuits resulting from accidental discharges. Some involved inexperienced shooters, but others did not.
Naphtali, this detail might be a little annoying for you to sort through, but you were correct in your original post in stating that the FA Mdl. 83 .454's do not have an automatically engaging safety. These posts show there are different views on how to make them satisfactorily or most safe.
