Hammer dropping from half-cock?

[dejadoo]

A couple of weeks ago I picked up a '00 model Loaded Springfield Champion, http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=24834, which I've still not had a chance to take to the range. There's been a lot of fondling and a lot of time reading about 1911's on this GREAT forum (just ask my wife :o, I read the entire "Amazing reduction in recoil..." sticky in one sitting) over that period, and I think I may have an issue that needs attention.

Yesterday I performed these safety checks, http://www.cylinder-slide.com/1911safetyck.htm, and am happy to report that everything functioned just as it should. However, when I also tried these, http://www.m1911.org/technic25.htm, my hammer did fall when I tried the half-cock test.

So... what's the next step for this newbie?

[1911Tuner]

Recently, Springfield adopted the quarter-cock shelf that is close to Colt's Series 80 design for their hammers. Not a true, captive half-cock notch, it will allow the hammer to fall, but the hammer is so close to the slide when on the shelf, that it won't have the momentum to light a primer. I've put it to the test with the Colts, and haven't had one to fire yet.

Understand that the Half-cock/Quarter-cock is not a carry position. Its sole purpose is to stop the hammer should the hooks or sear fail during cocked and locked carry...or in the event of your thumb slipping off the spur while cocking the gun. It IS not and SHOULD not be used to carry the gun with a loaded chamber.

[dejadoo]

Thanks Tuner!

By the way, since I am new to the site, I am very much enjoying and benefitting from your postings. And it would be great if you would wright "The Book" that I've seen referenced in several threads. It would keep me from having to save or print out threads and stickys for future reference.

[deadmarsh]

Tuner has too many dogs (from my reading-between-the-lines) to care for instead of writing a book -- however, he should at least write a chapter by chapter loose-leaf book that can be purchased in stages for the likes of me (a so-called smith). What I find the best from Tuner is not only his long fuse when dealing with people, but his uncanny way of describing a situation and how to handle the given problem. I've used his diatribes many times when I explain things to customers about what just might be needed to solve a given problem...

He just has a better way-with-words than this old engineer has when trying to explain a problem -- I tend to get too technical and confuse all involved with numbers and degrees. Thanks Tuner... :D


Dead

[Candiru]

I just wanted to mention that my Springfield Mil-Spec does the same thing: Pulling the trigger at half-cock will drop the hammer. Kuhnhausen mentions that Colt does (or at least did) the same thing with their civilian models.