Action will not break open

[jimbug]

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I have an early A.H. Fox A grade with 32" barrels that I had reconditioned years ago. The serial number is 8523. Due to my ignorance of the workings of this fine piece, I dry-fired it a few times without snapcaps being in place. Now the piece will lock in place when closed, but will not completely break open even when the lever at the top is moved all the way to the right. Could someone provide some guidance on how I should proceed to correct this?

[ViperR]

With the action completely closed, remove the fore end and try to take the barrel off the receiver for starters.

[jimbug]

Thank you Viper. I am able to close the action with the forestock off. Once I put the forestock on, the firearm will not break open. It will begin to break, about a 1/16 inch, but that's it.

[ViperR]

You might want to start taking it apart if you are handy and look for anything broken or chipped off. If it opens and comes apart fine with the fore arm off, then that is a good place to start in the receiver. There is a really good section here on disassembly with nice pictures. Maybe post pics as you do the work and possibly someone here will catch something wrong.

[Mike of the Mountain]

When you remove your fore end, look at the two "pawls" that stick out the bottom of the receiver to cock the hammers. If one or both are broken or bent the gun won't open. I had this same problem at one time and that was the problem. It can also be the cocking slide too that is effecting it. My case it was a bent pawl and a chipped cocking slide.

[ViperR]

Any luck so far?

[Sporrns]

Per Mike, also check the cocking slide spring - they can break and bind the slide from achieving full travel, Kevin