And what say you, then, of the hammers that have BOTH the quarter cock and half cock notches on them?
I don't know. You'll have to ask them. Maybe it's backup/fail-safe because they don't trust their cast or MIM hammers. You're aware that they don't machine those...right?
Gloob...I was speaking of the original design. "Why would they go to the trouble to machine that notch if all it was meant to be was a hammer arrest."
Personally, I won't carry one with a cast or MIM hammer in Condition One. I've seen the hammer hooks roll off a Springfield MIM hammer with one light boosting, so that may have something to do with their reasons for two.
Look...I'm not trying to tell anybody to use the half cock as a way to carry the gun...captive or shelf-type. I'm telling you what it is...how it functions...and what it will and won't do. Nothing more and nothing less. Jim and Bob and Joe will have to decide for themselves how to carry the piece.
I never advise anybody on how they should carry a 1911. Ever. When I'm asked, I outline their options and leave that up to them. I also show them the correct way to lower the hammer, along with all due caveats involved with it. Beyond that...I offer no advice.
But, the captive half-cock is a safety. Says so right there in the original patents. I guess if the ghost of John Browning were to appear and confirm it, there are several who would argue with him, too.
Now, about that drop-test. Anybody care to try it? I've demonstrated it about 2 dozen times over the years. The sear falls into the captive notch...every time.
Because...
The sear spring keeps the sear under constant tension. The instant that the hammer bounces a little, and removes force on the sear...it resets and moves back into the hammer.