1911 hammer

[bayboydray408]

every 1911 ive shot was able to have the hammer half cocked I never knew what its purpose was? round chambered then a speed hammer cock? what is it for haha

[wu_dot_com]

every 1911 ive shot was able to have the hammer half cocked I never knew what its purpose was? round chambered then a speed hammer cock? what is it for haha

i would suspect that its there in case of a finger slip during cocking. where if you were to slip during cocking, the half cock would catch the hammer rather than strike the firing pin. since the series 70 lacks the auto firing pin block, this would be the only reasonable explanation that i can think of.
the Beretta 92 also have the similar quarter cock feature for the same purpose. .

[bayboydray408]

ya that makes sense but do peoples fingers slip that much during a hammer cock for them to make the1911 like that? lol

[BigDogatPlay]

The only reason for half cock on a 1911 is to catch the hammer should the thumb slip during cocking. That was what it was designed for from the gate.

1911's should never, ever be carried with the hammer on half cock. There is very little sear engagement and there have been many instances documented of 1911s on half cock where the pistol discharged when the trigger was (foolishly) pulled with the hammer at half cock, or when the gun was bumped or roughly handled. I've seen both happen, more than once.

[littlejake]

That was the original intent of the 1/2 cock on the 1911.

One popular carry condition was with a round in the chamber and the hammer down.

[BigDogatPlay]

One popular carry condition was with a round in the chamber and the hammer down.

That would be 'Condition Two', of four possible conditions for a 1911 as first described by Colonel Cooper.

The conditions of 1911... as well as some more info on the half cock notch at the bottom of the page.

[bayboydray408]

The only reason for half cock on a 1911 is to catch the hammer should the thumb slip during cocking. That was what it was designed for from the gate.

1911's should never, ever be carried with the hammer on half cock. There is very little sear engagement and there have been many instances documented of 1911s on half cock where the pistol discharged when the trigger was (foolishly) pulled with the hammer at half cock, or when the gun was bumped or roughly handled. I've seen both happen, more than once.

whats that svt 40 quote mean?i have an svt 40

[tacticalcity]

That would be 'Condition Two', of four possible conditions for a 1911 as first described by Colonel Cooper.

The conditions of 1911... as well as some more info on the half cock notch at the bottom of the page.

That was an interesting read. Especially the WWII trivia about lefties and their 1911s.

[wu_dot_com]

ya that makes sense but do peoples fingers slip that much during a hammer cock for them to make the1911 like that? lol

i dont think its something that happens often, but its a safety where if it could happen, it will.

also, depend on the situation, if the grooves on the hammer is light and the hand is oily or wet, the likelihood of the finger slippage is probable.

[Artery]

I was under the impression it was in case the sear notch on the hammer broke/slipped while it was cocked, hence the half-cock notch being hook shaped, so it would catch the sear before it struck the firing pin.

[Fjold]

The only reason for half cock on a 1911 is to catch the hammer should the thumb slip during cocking. That was what it was designed for from the gate.

1911's should never, ever be carried with the hammer on half cock. There is very little sear engagement and there have been many instances documented of 1911s on half cock where the pistol discharged when the trigger was (foolishly) pulled with the hammer at half cock, or when the gun was bumped or roughly handled. I've seen both happen, more than once.

The half-cock notch on the 1911 hammer is much deeper than the full-cock notch and has much more sear engagement.

The half-cock notch is the upper notch on the ones pictured.

[-hanko]

whats that svt 40 quote mean?i have an svt 40

Uh, svt40 is the screen name of the guy that posted the quote...nice to give credit to the author of the sigline.

-hanko

[tiko]

I was under the impression it was in case the sear notch on the hammer broke/slipped while it was cocked, hence the half-cock notch being hook shaped, so it would catch the sear before it struck the firing pin.

I agree, this is a safety for the hammer itself, genious design. Beside, nobody cock 1911s by thumbs, when chambering a round, the slide cocks the hammer and people should carry cocked and locked.