What is a hammer block for?
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BBBBill
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The hammer block rides in a slot in the side plate. It is actuated by a stud on the side of the rebound slide. They angled slot in the hammer block fits over the stud and moves the block up between the bottom face of the hammer and the frame, preventing the hammer from being able to move forward when the trigger is at rest. You could beat on the hammer when it is at rest with no fear of the firing pin hitting the primer. Pulling the trigger withdraws the hammer block downward, clearing the path for the hammer to go all the way forward and ignite the primer.
It works exactly as he said. Non technical answer:
It blocks the hammer from hitting the primer unless the trigger is fully pulled back. The gun will operate without it (unlike a transfer bar safety), but it's safety is enhanced with it in place.
It blocks the hammer from hitting the primer unless the trigger is fully pulled back. The gun will operate without it (unlike a transfer bar safety), but it's safety is enhanced with it in place.
rmfnla
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The hammer block is actually a bit redundant since there is a raised section on the trigger rebound slide that moves the hammer out of battery and does a pretty good job of preventing accidental discharge.
I have heard of people removing the hammer block for DA tuning but I wouldn't do it.
I have heard of people removing the hammer block for DA tuning but I wouldn't do it.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Prior to WWII, no S&W had the second hammer block safety.
During WWII there was an incident aboard a navy ship in which a sailer dropped a S&W a considerable distance to the deck, which sheared off the hammer pin inside the frame.
The gun fired, killing the sailer.
S&W then added the second hammer block you ask about that would prevent a recurrence.
No matter what else happened internally to the redound slide hammer block they had used since the first Hand Ejector revolver was introduced in 1896.
Think of the original rebound slide safety block as seat belts.
The Hammer block as air bags.
Do Not remove it.
rc
During WWII there was an incident aboard a navy ship in which a sailer dropped a S&W a considerable distance to the deck, which sheared off the hammer pin inside the frame.
The gun fired, killing the sailer.
S&W then added the second hammer block you ask about that would prevent a recurrence.
No matter what else happened internally to the redound slide hammer block they had used since the first Hand Ejector revolver was introduced in 1896.
Think of the original rebound slide safety block as seat belts.
The Hammer block as air bags.
Do Not remove it.
rc
Hi, rcmodel and guys.
Not quite true. S&W installed a hammer block safety in the Hand Ejector series around 1915, and then a second version in 1926. Both were made as springs and were non-positive, depending on spring tension to operate. The second type failed in the famous case of the sailor, and the new (1944 - to current) block is positive, not dependent on spring tension.
The rebound slide does work as a hammer block, though that was not its original purpose. But under an extreme blow, the hollow rebound slide can be crushed, the hammer pin can shear off, or the top of the hammer can even break off and drive forward. The hammer block will prevent firing in any of those situations.
The real purpose of the rebound slide (it was a rebound lever in early hand ejectors) is to pull the firing pin back out of the primer so the cylinder can be opened. That was not necessary with the old top-break guns because when the gun was opened, the arc of the opening moved the cartridge away from the firing pin.
Jim
Not quite true. S&W installed a hammer block safety in the Hand Ejector series around 1915, and then a second version in 1926. Both were made as springs and were non-positive, depending on spring tension to operate. The second type failed in the famous case of the sailor, and the new (1944 - to current) block is positive, not dependent on spring tension.
The rebound slide does work as a hammer block, though that was not its original purpose. But under an extreme blow, the hollow rebound slide can be crushed, the hammer pin can shear off, or the top of the hammer can even break off and drive forward. The hammer block will prevent firing in any of those situations.
The real purpose of the rebound slide (it was a rebound lever in early hand ejectors) is to pull the firing pin back out of the primer so the cylinder can be opened. That was not necessary with the old top-break guns because when the gun was opened, the arc of the opening moved the cartridge away from the firing pin.
Jim
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Well, true or not true:
Don't take the hammer block out and toss it because you don't think it does anything.
rc
Don't take the hammer block out and toss it because you don't think it does anything.
rc
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
+1 It's not very heavy, and it doesn't alter the trigger pull quality. It renders the gun pretty near 100% drop safe...and removing it can possibly bite you on the sittin' place if anybody ever shoots themselves in the foot with it, and the attorney handling the civil suit discovers that you removed an integral safety device. There's just no good reason to remove it.
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