Exposed Hammer

[Bruce]

I think this BS myself. In my 40 years of shooting, I've never heard of, seen, or read of anything like what he describes in this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz-7E5RxcuU

[Fjold]

In 100 years of the 1911 being in service I haven't seen any reports of the exposed hammer being a problem except for the guys with big hands getting "hammer bite".

[gorenut]

What he stated in the video CAN happen. Chances of it happening is probably extremely slim. He didn't make any claims of which firearm platform was clearly superior than the other.. what IS debatable though: whether this subject was worth making a whole video on.

[rsrocket1]

Thank you for the public service announcement. Duh.

When I see a prop 65 sign that says "this establishment contains hazardous chemicals known to the State of California", I also turn tail and run away as fast as I can.

More cans!

[odysseus]

303 views and there is a Jeep advert in there??? I didn't even get past the ad.

[vmwerks]

If you can't shoot a 1911 get out of the game... a super soaker is safe I hear.

[chim-chim7]

Sick of the what if's. A super soaker could be over pressured and blow up in some kids face. Hey it could happen. I say just use your own common sense.

[morfeeis]

If you can't shoot a 1911 get out of the game... a super soaker is safe I hear.

you're kidding right? i cant even tell at this point, if not you did hear him say he's not just talking about 1911's right?

Anyway i have heard of folks concerned about this before but i think it's not probable but is possible.......

[vmwerks]

you're kidding right? i cant even tell at this point, if not you did hear him say he's not just talking about 1911's right?

Anyway i have heard of folks concerned about this before but i think it's not probable but is possible.......

I'm not kidding - 1911 has an exposed hammer. If you're hit by any moving part of the gun you're not paying attention. Super Soakers don't have exposed hammers so you're safe...

[DannyZRC]

For anything to impede the firing of the gun, it has to stop or slow the hammer enough to prevent the firing pin from being struck sufficiently to ignite the primer.

if some debris or lint is caught in the rear of the slide, if it is adhere to the sides of that recess then there is no way for it to be stuck hard enough to not just brush off, if it is resting over the firing pin then it will just transmit the blow through itself.

you would have to get something in a position not directly over the firing pin, and it would have to be sturdy enough to sufficiently arrest the hammer to prevent ignition.

would lint or fine gravel/sand do it? no.

maybe if you caked the whole thing with wet greasy mud, anyone want to conduct an experiment?

[chaseface]

I feel dumber for having watched that video

[Pred@tor]

I guess we can all get Colt Pocket Ms (hammerless) and be safer? lol

[Mickey D]

I think this BS myself. In my 40 years of shooting, I've never heard of, seen, or read of anything like what he describes in this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz-7E5RxcuU

Perhaps not, but it 'could' happen. That's all he's pointing out.
Doesn't mean striker fired or internal hammer pistols are better, they just might not exhibit this potential fault.
That's all.

[c.j.]

In other breaking news, if the slide is out of battery on a semi-automatic pistol, it won't fire. And if you reassemble it improperly, it might not fire. And if you leave the safety on, it might not fire.

I think I'll file this mentally in the 'well duh' category. Of COURSE if something gets in between the hammer and firing pin, it might not fire.

[BigDogatPlay]

Could happen, but not inherently likely and I'm not aware of an instance in LEO use of 1911 or similar exposed hammer patterns where it has happened. Daily visual inspection and PM removes 99.8% + / - of the probability, IMO.

I think I'll stuff that space on my Combat Commander full of dust bunnies and belly button lint this weekend at the range and see if it still goes bang.