Noob has a Question for the 1911 Guys.

[prelaw09]

WARNING: Noob question:

Please forgive me if this has been asked and answered (I looked in the search) or this seams like a really stupid question.

1911 guys- I have a question for you. Why is it that almost every (with the exception of the GI type of Mil-Spec type) 1911 has a “combat hammer”? Is there a real benefit to this type of hammer? Is that some high end makers or ‘smiths used them so now everyone wants one and its just monkey see, monkey do? Whats up?

 

[steveracer]

No benefit, really. Just the ease of fitting a "beavertail" grip safety, which can not be fitted with a spur-type hammer in place. I like the true Commander-style grip safety and round-spur hammer, but for comfort factor, the beavertails are pretty great, and a hammer that fits into one nicely is a thing of beauty.
steve

 

[PO2Hammer]

I have a new 1911, and I would like to swap out some of the 'star wars' parts for more traditional looking parts (trigger, hammer, both safeties), but it's getting hard to find traditional parts, let alone finding a company that uses them on production guns.

I guess for me it's the trigger, an aluminum speed trigger in a 1911 always looked a little like robocop driving a Ford model T.

I think there is a little monkey see, monkey do.

 

[steveracer]

Caspian sells a nice GI-type trigger. So do a host of others, but they have fantastic prices.

 

[2RCO]

If you don't want to grind down the spur on government hammer you need a combat style hammer to accomodate the beavertail grip safety --as stated above. Also it's what customers expect these days.

 

[prelaw09]

thanks guys

While I do like the traditional parts, you can't even find a "commander" hammer on a commander any more. Don't get me wrong, I liked the combat hammer... 10 years ago. Now that it's on every other 1911 it just looks blah. I don't know, maybe I'm over thinking this, but I just want to buy a nice (not GI) 1911 with out one, and it is becoming almost mission impossible.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I agree with the noob.

 

[steveracer]

Gonna have to buy a Colt.

 

[Gunfighter123]

On the blackboard --- the lightened hammers are made to cut down on "lock time" ---- time it takes for the hammer to hit fireing pin to hit primer.
After shooting MANY 1000s of rds. thru all sorts of 1911s --- I can tell no difference.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

"Combat" is a meaningless term, bandied about almost as frequently as "tactical." A real combat hammer, IMO, would be the one the pistol actually went into combat with, i.e., the original spurred one.

You don't need a so-called combat hammer to clear a beavertail grip safety, just cut off and reshape the spur.

 

[Tirod]

Having shot the issue 1911, I question the need for the beavertail. For me, it's unecessary. My hands aren't so beefy it's a problem - and lots of others could say the same.

Moot point, SA guns are no longer considered appropriate for combat. They just hang around in inventory because of the long life cycle.

 

[CWL]

I don't have big hands and I shoot primarily M1911s but I prefer bobbed hammers and beavertails for a reason.

There is a scar on my primary shooting hand at the web from where accumulated "hammer bite" from Govt. hammers + Govt. spur safety has chewed-up my hand.

If you use a high grip for your M1911 (and why wouldn't you?), then hammer bite will be a concern.

 

[PO2Hammer]

It seems like the guys with the biggest hands have the most problems with hammer bite.

I never got bit by a service gun, but many did.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I've shot them both with and without b-tails. I find the b-tail to make it more comfortable to shoot, as I get abrasion from the long sharp-edged tang on the standard.

I also prefer the appearance of the standard Commander hammer (round, serrated, hole through the middle) as opposed to those elongated skeletonized ones.

 

[conan]

The beavertail is so you can grip the gun higher, helps faster follow shots.

 

[scottishclaymore]

Moot point, SA guns are no longer considered appropriate for combat. They just hang around in inventory because of the long life cycle.

Is that you just being sarcastic or do you actually believe them to be inadequate?