WRT the half cock position on a lever action, I have seen too many people who are not aware of a safety hazard using the half cock. To set a lever on half cock the hammer should always be set by RAISING the hammer from the full down position to half cock. NEVER lower a hammer to the half cock position.
The reason for this is that when you raise the hammer from the full down position the mating surfaces of sear and hammer fall into the proper notch. If lowered from full cock to half cock the notch on the sear may not engage the hammer (essentially the corners butt each other). What can happen in this situation is a sharp blow to the hammer or jarring the rifle (such hitting the butt on the ground) can cause the hammer to slip (or shear off the corner of the sear) with enough momentum to cause a discharge.
Of course we always point our firearms in a safe direction but it is a problem stopping to clean out our shorts after such an incident to say nothing of explaining to a buddy why he has mud splattered all over his body and a hole in the ground near his feet.
))
Such an incident happened to a young fellow who had joined a friends' hunting party a few years ago and was manipulating the hammer with wet gloves on cold hands. Although not 'exactly' the situation I described above it was a real world safety lesson not wasted on those present. Fortunately no one was hurt and all parties were once again reminded about watching your barrel movement.
FWIW, be safe......................
