SIRVEYR666
Member
This may be a silly question, but what is the purpose of the half-cocked posistion of a 1911 hammer? It doesn't appear to serve any purpose to me. I'm sure you all will enlighten me, though.
1911: Half-Cock?
- Thread starter SIRVEYR666
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sgb
Member
It's purpose is to stop the hammer from striking the firing pin should your thumb slip off the hammer while cocking it. Of corse carrying a 1911 with the hammer down on a live chamber isn't the brightest thing to do either.
Mad Magyar
Member
The last "fail-safe" before: KABOOM!!!
Eightball
Member
Theoretically, could one carry a 1911 in half-cock position? Or, really, what IS the point of it?
Quote:
It's purpose is to stop the hammer from striking the firing pin should your thumb slip off the hammer while cocking it.
It's also here to catch the hammer if the hammer should fall off full cock (worn sear etc).
The half cock is not designed to be a carry position. If cocked and locked bothers someone that much (although that's how the gun was designed to be carried) you are better off carrying a DA auto pistol.
It's purpose is to stop the hammer from striking the firing pin should your thumb slip off the hammer while cocking it.
It's also here to catch the hammer if the hammer should fall off full cock (worn sear etc).
The half cock is not designed to be a carry position. If cocked and locked bothers someone that much (although that's how the gun was designed to be carried) you are better off carrying a DA auto pistol.
tideguyinva
Member
so let me get this right. if you carry with the hammer back at full cock it will not drop all the way unless you pull the trigger? if it falls without then it will only goto half cock?
nwilliams
Member
Also when decocking you can lower the hammer without it striking the pin, providing of course your not squeezing the trigger. The only way the hammer will fall all the way is if you pull the trigger, lowering it however will only take it to half-cock.
Mad Magyar
Member
A lot of this depends on whether you have an inertia firing pin, have a step or half-cock notch, firing pin lock, etc...The Series 80 in Colt was a definite inprovement over the 70 Series...
Bottom line if you don't know the configuration of your pistol; don't carry in the half-cock position...C "n" L is much better or DAO serves most people very well...
Bottom line if you don't know the configuration of your pistol; don't carry in the half-cock position...C "n" L is much better or DAO serves most people very well...
1911 guy
Member
Safety stop.
The half cock position is not meant to be used by the operator. There's no reason for you to ever put you pistol at half cock. The purpose of this hammer position is to allow the pistol one last chance to prevent an accidental discharge in case of a defective ignition system. Lowering the hammer to half cock is very dangerous for two reasons. First, your hand may slip off the hammer and send it into the firing pin under spring pressure (half cock won't save you here, you're pulling the trigger to release the hammer). Secondly, lowering it to half cock may or may not achieve full engagement between the bearing surfaces since you've pulled the trigger to get it there.
The half cock position is not meant to be used by the operator. There's no reason for you to ever put you pistol at half cock. The purpose of this hammer position is to allow the pistol one last chance to prevent an accidental discharge in case of a defective ignition system. Lowering the hammer to half cock is very dangerous for two reasons. First, your hand may slip off the hammer and send it into the firing pin under spring pressure (half cock won't save you here, you're pulling the trigger to release the hammer). Secondly, lowering it to half cock may or may not achieve full engagement between the bearing surfaces since you've pulled the trigger to get it there.
tegemu
Member
In order to completely drop the hammer, you must not only pull the trigger but you must also depress the grip safety and have the thumb safety lever in the fire position (Down). These are the features that make the 1911 so safe to carry with the hammer full cocked and a round in the chamber (Cocked and Locked). Three distinct, separate actions are required in order to fire the pistol.
No matter what modern theorists say, there is no doubt that Browning fully intended the half-cock to be the safety position. It was used as such on every other gun Browning ever designed, except those with concealed hammers, and there was usually no other safety. Only military demands caused the installation of the manual and grip safeties on what became the Model 1911.
Those who doubt this can look for a manual safety on an (original design) Winchester 97, Winchester 92, Winchester 94, and Colt dual link autos (except the early sight safety, which didn't last long). On a Browning design, if it had an exposed hammer, the half cock was the safety, and the only safety.
JMB apparently did not suffer fools gladly and believed that the half-cock was all the safety any sensible person needed. Of course he hadn't met our new breed of fools and their greedy lawyers.
Jim
Those who doubt this can look for a manual safety on an (original design) Winchester 97, Winchester 92, Winchester 94, and Colt dual link autos (except the early sight safety, which didn't last long). On a Browning design, if it had an exposed hammer, the half cock was the safety, and the only safety.
JMB apparently did not suffer fools gladly and believed that the half-cock was all the safety any sensible person needed. Of course he hadn't met our new breed of fools and their greedy lawyers.
Jim
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