Why a transfer bar?

[Buster95]

Probably a dumb question but why H&R use a transfer bar and not a cross bolt safety like Marlin?

[cwlongshot]

There are NO dumb questions!
They are really two different style safety's. Better said, having one dosen't negate the other.

A crossbolt merely blocks the hammer from moving. A transfer bar allows the gun to fire ONLY when the trigger is pulled.

CW

[quickdtoo]

Pretty simple, a transfer bar is automatic, a crossbolt has to be set, an unintended hammer fall without the trigger pulled won't set a round off, an unset crossbolt will allow it to fire.

Tim

[Buster95]

Yeah good replies guys, I asked this because I have seen many threads on different forums about broken transfer bars.

[quickdtoo]

I've only had one break in all the H&Rs I have, it happens, but not all that often. One member here has over 3500 rounds thru his 38-55 Target, went thru two hammer springs, still on the original t-bar. Like a spare tire for your car, keeping a spare t-bar handy will insure you'll prolly never need it! 

Tim

[keith44]

Probably a dumb question but why H&R use a transfer bar and not a cross bolt safety like Marlin?

so I would buy one...
Seriously I hate the idea of a safety on a lever gun.  they are safe enough without the extra do dads.  More buttons, more fiddling, less natural to operate.  The transfer bar is automatic and does not add any fiddly buttons to the gun.  Ever snick the safety off on a bolt gun only to spook what you were wanting to shoot?  Reason enough to avoid them.

[Ranger99]

in spite of my oldest h&r just recently
breaking one, it's the only one i've ever
personally seen broken, and i've owned,
handled, and seen a huge number of h&r's
in various conditions and states of repair.
i'd never heard of another breaking until
becoming a member of this nationwide
forum.
my gun was bought used in the early 80's,
and has had a gazillion rounds through it,
and no telling how many before it came
my way.
i've seen a lot of brand new more expensive
firearms malfunction with less dirt time
and less harsh conditions.
still, in spite of my misfortune, i think it's
a great system, and i'll continue to use
and own h&r's. 

[BBF]

.....
.................... A transfer bar allows the gun to fire ONLY when the trigger is pulled.

CW

In the case of the H&R's the trigger also has to be pulled all the way back after the sear breaks and held until the rifle fires.
With the prevailant trigger pull poundage this is no problem. "Fixin" it to a much lower effort can cause a problem in which the pressure is released on the trigger prematurely and the transfer bar is moving upwards before the hammer can strike the firing pin.
 
Been there have the shirt.

[Ranger99]

if you think about it, most every other
type of firearm is sitting cocked with
an internal hammer waiting to fall, or
a spring-loaded firing pin waiting to
be released.
i like an exposed hammer h&r , and
feel it's safer than most others.

[Doublebass73]

The transfer bar is my favorite type of safety. It is the best safety design in my opinion since there is zero chance of the gun going off unintentionally. It is especially good for new shooters who are just learning about gun safety.

I've actually seen posts on other forums of people criticizing H&R's, saying that they're not good guns for kids because they don't have a "safety" like their bolt action does. 

[Flynmoose]

When I was in high school a kid I knew lost his dad to a hunting accident. He pulled his Winchester lever action out of his truck by the barrel, the hammer cocking when it hit the floor shift lever. It was cocked far enough to fire, hitting him in the chest. I know this is a Handi rifle forum but I fully support the manufacturer for installing the transfer bars in the Handi rifles to keep this terrible sort of accident from happening.
FM

[Ranger99]

the tragedy as you describe it, was
of course the man's fault.


some of the ten commandments of gun safety:


always assume every gun is loaded.
never point a gun at anything you
do not intend to shoot.


without a person using common sense
gun handling, no kind of firearm is
safe in their hands.

[Buster95]

Thanks guys  look like the transfer bar is not that bad.

[keith44]

When I was in high school a kid I knew lost his dad to a hunting accident. He pulled his Winchester lever action out of his truck by the barrel, the hammer cocking when it hit the floor shift lever. It was cocked far enough to fire, hitting him in the chest. I know this is a Handi rifle forum but I fully support the manufacturer for installing the transfer bars in the Handi rifles to keep this terrible sort of accident from happening.
FM

Yes tragic that he lost his life,


I am somewhat jaded.  Guns and other things that can kill the operator require a certain knowledge and skill base to operate safely.  Trying to idiot proof these with added safety devices tends to make better idiots that require further safety devices...
safety switch on a lawn mower, crossbolt safety on a lever action, air bags on a motorcycle... all the same category. 


and yes Honda put air bags on the Gold Wing, guaranteeing I will NEVER purchase one
http://www.diseno-art.com/encyclopedia/vehicles/road/bikes/articles/goldwing_airbag.html

[cwlongshot]

Thanks guys  look like the transfer bar is not that bad.

I too have a "few" handis.  (At last count was mid 30's with another dozen sold, traded or parted out. )
The single transfer bar problem I did have, I created, when I got a bit over zealous with a trigger job.   

CW

[Ganjiro]

I love the transfer bar system.  In twenty something years I have owned Handis & Pardners I have never had a transfer bar break on me.  I like having the option to safely carry the gun with the hammer down on a loaded chamber without fear.   As easy to cock for a shot as it is to push a safety  to the fire position.  I also own a Rossi single shot rifle in 357 mag (sort of a mini Handi clone) which has both a transfer bar and a hammer block safety but I strictly use safe handling practices and rely on the transfer bar rarely if ever using the hammer block safety, Handi habit I guess.   
If I recall the older models did not have have a transfer bar but instead incorporated a halfcock position on the hammer.  If I recall correctly this design did allow the ocassional slipped thumb and discharge so to me the transfer bar a big safety improvement.
 

[Sourdough]

Lawyers

[lrrice]

Cheap, safe, reliable and as close to idiot proof as possible.  I love them.

[kennyd]

Am I right to think that Bill Ruger came up with the T bar?  It sticks in my memory also that he offered free license to anyone. 


If you ever look at the half cock notch, you can understand how a gun can". go off half cocked.  [size=78%]"   Being left handed, a cross bolt will not work well, the one gun I have with one has it glued into fire, otherwise, just holding the gun it will slide enough to stop the shot.  This gun also has a transfer bar and rebounding hammer.[/size]

[Doublebass73]

Am I right to think that Bill Ruger came up with the T bar?  It sticks in my memory also that he offered free license to anyone.

I'm not positive on this so anyone is free to correct me if I'm wrong but I think it might have been Iver Johnson that invented the transfer bar safety. They used to have "hammer the hammer" advertisements: