Where is a Intercepting sear found and is it an important feature on a Double rifle?
Thanks,
Adam C.

As I understand it. It is basically a second set of sears that, if the first set slip due to a hard jar or fall the second set catch the hammer hooks preventing a discharge. I believe they ride next to the main sears.
According to Searcy's machinist they are the main reason in the cost increase from a PH modle to a deluxe. Some have said they are not needed, but they are an added safety.

One of the main things they do is keep the second barrel from firing from recoil. I think it is important on a bigger bore but not as important on a smaller one.

How large of a chambering should intercepting sears be considered.

I would want it on any centerfire double rifle, if only to reduce the likelihood of a doubling sending a bullet off to do unintended damage somewhere.

George

Just to clarify, an intercepting sear is only disabled by the rearward pull of the apropriate trigger. Since the typical tang safety only locks the trigger and not the hammer or pin a discharge is possible if the rifle treated pretty roughly, like dropped, or if your primary sear lets go from recoil - which it shouldn't.

I like them and most of my better double guns - one rifle, four shotguns - have them. But they are not essential and I would hunt with a rifle that doesn't have them and often hunt with shotguns that don't have them.

In combination with a bolted safety, which I also like, they render a DR absolutely safe so long as the user uses the bolted safety feature. Safety can be knocked to fire, triggers can't be moved rearward, if a sear lets go it won't strike the hammer.

I carry my DR with the safety bolted unless I have some reason to believe that some DG are close.

JPK