Took the plunge on a Star BM

[Shane333]

I put down a deposit on a Star BM and put it on layaway. Somebody really babied this pistol and it looks like it's had a little custom work done. For example, the extractor is a red color, and the hammer is new too. The gun feels appropriately tight, yet the slide works smoothly. The blueing looks practically new. I didn't have the money to buy it outright, but I didn't want to risk losing it to someone else with a good eye for value.

I really like the size and shape of this gun. I also don't mind the weight. The Spanish steel gives it a solid and rugged feel.

Another interesting feature is the fact that this BM is only marked as a "B" on the slide, even though the pistol's size and extractor clearly show it to be a BM.

I have a question. Do the BM's have a half-cock safety? When I eased the hammer down, it seemed to catch at a half-cocked position if I didn't keep pressure on the trigger. My old Marlin Model 39 has a half-cock safety, and I wondered if these pistols have something similar.

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. Yes, though not a true safety, the STAR BM does have the half-cock provision.

Best.

 

[Dave Sample]

"Half Cock"is NOT a safety on a Star or any 1911. The Star thumb safety blocks the sear at full cock or the trigger when the hammer is at rest. The half cock notch is designed to stop a hammer from going full auto when the trigger job fails. This is typical of any 1911 except the 80 series Colt 1911's that use a firing pin safety. You can drop the hammer on these with the trigger but they don't seem to go Kaboom when you do this. You also should never let the hammer down on a live round in the chamber because they have a different firing pin set up than Colt type 1911's.

 

[Shane333]

Thanks for the replies. Cocked and locked sounds like the way it's meant to be carried.

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello, sir. Speaking only for myself, when one of my single-action autos is loaded and out of the safe, it has the hammer cocked and the thumb safety engaged. If it's loaded and in the safe, it is in the same condition. If empty, the hammer is forward. While "all guns are always loaded," this method is what works for me.

Best.