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Gordon
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I'm here in Chino Valley with some BHP gunsels.I have been carrying condition one, but for everyday carry , the SFS system which I just saw solves all my problems and I'll be going that way. Real trick system!
BHP safety
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Gordon
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Well after 2 weeks of carry condition one, THIS particular BHP has a very positive safety I guess I feel better now.
Glad it's working out for you.
earlthegoat2
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I might have to look into that as well.
Does this enhance condition one carry though or is it primarily for hammer down carry.
Does this enhance condition one carry though or is it primarily for hammer down carry.
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Billy Shears
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If you are asking about the SFS, it's for condition one carry. Hammer down carry with the SFS would NOT be a good idea, as the hammer spur is so small, thumb cocking the gun under stress would be a difficult thing to do. The SFS trigger is cocked, either via thumb cocking or racking the slide, and then rather than puch the safety lever up to the engaged position (in fact, you can't do this; it won't move if you try), you just push the hammer forward and it snaps downward, and the safety moves up to the engaged position at the same time automatically. The pistol now looks like an uncocked pistol, even though it's not, and the mainspring is under full tension, or actually compression (if you know the system, you can actually see it's not uncocked; the hammer sits about one millimeter back from its actual uncocked position, but anyone else would never know). Then, when you want to shoot, you use the thumb of the shooting hand to wipe the safety downward to its disengaged position, just as you would for any normal BHP or 1911, and the hammer snaps back to the fully cocked position. It's just as quick as a normal single action, and you'll never hear the ignorant onlooker cry "Hey! Do you know your gun is cocked!?" As an added bonus, the SFS hammer is contoured so that it eliminates hammer bite, at least it does for me. I occasionally got bitten with my old BHP, even after installing the Cyliner & Slide "no bite" hammer, but I've never been bitten by my SFS Hi Power.
I have no qualms about carrying a 1911 or BHP in condition one, so I probably never would have carried this system if I didn't work for a police department that absolutely refuses to authorize any single action pistol for carry. FN has officially designated the SFS trigger a double action trigger to the ATF, even though it's actually nothing of the sort, so my department allows it. I'd still prefer the 1911 I used to carry as a civilian when I had a concealed weapons permit, but I certainly don't feel sorry for myself carrying a .40 S&W BHP.
jaydubya
Member
Billy Shears, that's an excellent rundown on the SFS system. I would add something that I have seen in print NOWHERE: it also makes the BHP one of the easiest pistols to field strip. I discovered this myself when I found out that, after the SFS kit was installed, I could not lock the slide all the way back to remove the slide stop. Unwilling to believe that FNH expected me to hold the slide back with one hand while removing the slide stop with the other (as was demonstrated by two "experts" on a YouTube video), I messed around. And quickly discovered that, when the hammer was in cocked position, I could push/pull the slide stop out with my fingers, and then easily move the slide off forward. It goes together just as easily. I am convinced that if FNH had marketed the SFS version more strongly, it would still be king of the road.
Cordially, Jack
Cordially, Jack
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seeker_two
Member
Gordon: I'm going to offer a contrary viewpoint to what's been said so far....don't carry that BHP on half-cock w/ the safety....go completely Condition Two and lower that hammer all the way w/o engaging the safety.
As long as you're practicing drawing and firing from that carry method (w/ SAA's and BHP's), then there's no safety reason that prevents you from carrying that way. In fact, a case could be made that JMB intended his autopistols to be carried that way...
Also, to answer some noted concerns....if a threat is close enough where you don't have time to cock the hammer on your gun, then it's probably too close for you to be going for your gun anyway. Make sure your empty-hand SD skills are up to snuff....
Nice....but we're talking about REAL training....like surviving the 10th level of DOOM or live-fire training at the local shopping mall....
As long as you're practicing drawing and firing from that carry method (w/ SAA's and BHP's), then there's no safety reason that prevents you from carrying that way. In fact, a case could be made that JMB intended his autopistols to be carried that way...
Also, to answer some noted concerns....if a threat is close enough where you don't have time to cock the hammer on your gun, then it's probably too close for you to be going for your gun anyway. Make sure your empty-hand SD skills are up to snuff....
Nice....but we're talking about REAL training....like surviving the 10th level of DOOM or live-fire training at the local shopping mall....
earlthegoat2
Member
Without a firing pin safety though?
Well I dont know if JMB indended it this way but wasnt the 1911 deployed in the field of battle with hammer down on an empty chamber?
seeker_two
Member
None of JMB's earlier designs (1903, 1905, 1908, 1910, 1911) had firing-pin safeties...some had no safeties at all.
Remember, JMB was developing autopistols at the time when the SAA was still the mainstay of the US Cavalry (who dominated small-arms procurement for the US Army) and most shooters. DA revolvers were still looked on with skepticism. Most Army types wanted something that worked similar to the SAA revolvers they knew....but with safer and quicker reloads....
Remember, JMB was developing autopistols at the time when the SAA was still the mainstay of the US Cavalry (who dominated small-arms procurement for the US Army) and most shooters. DA revolvers were still looked on with skepticism. Most Army types wanted something that worked similar to the SAA revolvers they knew....but with safer and quicker reloads....
What does that have to do with the Browning High Power? Development of the BHP began in about 1920 in response to a solicitation by the French government looking for a new service pistol. Development continued after JMB's death under the supervision of Dieudonne Saive at Frabrique Nationale. It went into production in 1935 (and is therefore referred to as the P35).seeker_two said:
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