Toz misbehavior

[Jorland]

I recently obtained a Toz 35M from "Cheaper than Dirt" - as advertised, the gun came with rough blocks of wood approximately inlet for the Toz frame. I made no effort to fire but did note that cocking and trigger set functions were in working order, barrel was not fouled and there was no rust. I removed the grip blanks preparatory to installing new grips only to find that doing so resulted in inability to set the trigger except when the trigger (accelerator) is swung away from the barrel. Under these conditions, the action can cocked, closed and the fired (using dummy rounds). If the trigger group is installed without setting, closing the cocked action results in firing pin release. After messing about with this for a day to two with much internet prowling, I have come up empty - I can fire the pistol only by lowering the trigger group, setting the trigger, cocking the bolt, loading, closing bolt, "raising" the trigger group - etc. Something is haywire - can't figure out what. Does anyone have a solution? Name of a Toz savvy gunsmith?

[Dr. Jim]

Yes, that is what happens. The fore end piece holds the trigger group at the correct spacing for the set to operate. If you want to use it without a forend in place you need to construct a short tube to mimic the spacing.

[Jorland]

Dr. Jim - Action/trigger now on good behavior thanks to your advice. Proceeding with grip issue - care to proffer an opinion as to whether or not a Molini grip sized to fit an 85 mm hand can be modified to fit a 95 mm hand?

[SamEEE]

Dr. Jim - Action/trigger now on good behavior thanks to your advice. Proceeding with grip issue - care to proffer an opinion as to whether or not a Molini grip sized to fit an 85 mm hand can be modified to fit a 95 mm hand?

On an unrelated note, want to sell me the unfinished grips? If so, send me a PM.

On a related note - buy grips that fit.

[Dr. Jim]

Jorland, a full centimetre is quite a lot to change. I would expect that a number of other areas would need to be modified. If you remove the palm shelf and it "feels" fine, and lines up then you may be able to lengthen the shelf adjusting slot with a rat-tail file to achieve your fit. However fitting a grip properly can be daunting for a first time effort. Look up some of the grip fit information pages, there was one on the Australian pistol site that was very good as I recall. I don't do grip work anymore.

Cheers. Jim