Chipped something when hammer dropped

[AirCommando]

I hope I didn't ruin my brand new Springfield SS Loaded! I accidently dropped the hammer while the slide was off. Afterwards, I noticed a little chip out of what the hammer hit, I don't know what it is called, I am new to 1911's. Here is a pic of the chipped area. What do I do?

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/AirCommando/Chip.jpg

[1911Tuner]

That's the frame. From the looks of the damaged area, it's not a problem.
Looks like more of a peen than a chip, going by the photo. A slide-off picture from 2-3 different angles may give us a better shot at a diagnosis/assessment.

[AirCommando]

It is definately a chip out of that area. This was the first time stripping a 1911 for me and it wasn't easy! I couldn't get the recoil spring assembly out (this is a Champion), and then I finally put it back together without taking the recoil spring out, didn't want to damage anything; and then I hit the trigger before I got the slide on. This scares me to do it again to take pictures! Next time I strip it, could I just file that chipped area down a little?
I'm going to call Springfield tomorrow to see why there is not enough room to remove the recoil spring assembly, the guide rod head hits against the barrel link when pulling it back and the front of the guide rod and reverse spring plug won't clear the bottom of the slide.
OK, got the recoil spring out. Here are some more pics.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/AirCommando/Chip001.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/AirCommando/Chip002.jpg

[AirCommando]

OK, I got a fine needle file and dressed up the chip. Looks like it should be OK. I don't think that area on the frame is mated to anything, it is just a shelf. Man, I learned my lesson on this deal!

[Tom]

I don't think that what happened is "right", but I don't think it is of major concern outside of aesthetics. I've dry fired my Springfield many times without the slide attached (like after a detailed strip and reassembly) and I haven't noticed anything like what you're showing us.

[AirCommando]

Roger, Tom. Must have been a weak spot there, and the hammer blow chipped it out. At least it is now filed down so a crack won't start there.

[HercPilot]

I can't find any reference to dry firing the pistol with the slide removed in the SA users manual but in the Colt manual, section 3, item 34 says "Never dry fire the pistol when the slide is removed..." amongst the dozens of other do nots. I had a locally well known AMU armorer at Nashville threaten me with bodily harm if i ever dry fired my pistol with the slide removed. It just doesn't seem right to me to do it but I am no expert by any means.

[Tom]

Keep an eye on it. Take a look every time you field strip the pistol and just make sure the problem isn't getting worse.

[John]

Dry firing a 1911 without the slide, you should not do. The frame gets battered there (where the chip got off) and you do not want to do that. Usually no pieces fly out, but the metal there is relatively thin and the hammer just ... hammers it. Not good.

[1911Tuner]

Among the other things classified as "Not Good": Metal filings falling into the hammer/sear/disconnect area.

Just a little food for thought...

Cheers!

[AirCommando]

Thought about that as I was doing the filing, Johnny. Kept blowing the area out after every few strokes, and then used a spray can with straw of CLP and flushed it out.

[Paratus]

At this point I would strip it down and do a good cleaning to get rid of the metal filings, one small peace of these filings under the hammer hooks, and there could be a problem. Have heard that dry firing with the slide removed could snap the hammer off.

[AirCommando]

Good idea, Paratus. Wilco!