What is this part ?

[model14]

In dissassembling my friends Colt, Series 80, Mark IV Gold Cup, for cleaning, there is a very small stamped clip and itty bitty spring attached to the left side of the seer. I have never seen this in a 1911 before. The clip fits between the seer and the disconnector and the really tiny spring is inserted in the seer and held in place by the clip. Would someone please tell me what this is and what it is for. Thanks.

[Hawkmoon]

The Gold Cup is tuned with very light springs, for light target loads. With everything set for a light trigger, hammer bounce or hammer follow is a possibility. Those extra bits you see are intended to ensure that the seer resets, to prevent hammer bounce.

[model14]

Hawkmoon,
Thanks for the answer. Now the challenge will be getting that little sucker back together without losing the spring!

[Joni Lynn]

Cut a Q tip down and use it as a slave pin. Putting those parts back in is very trying on my patience, as it probably will be on yours as well.
Good luck.

[model14]

Hawkmoon,
Just out of curiousity, does any other 1911 manufacturer do something similar? I know at our range some guys are shooting really light loads with light trigger pull from their Kimbers and Springfields. I wonder if they have something that does the same thing? Thanks.

[Joni Lynn]

It was done on the Gold Cup due to the heavier steel trigger.
I think that's the only 1911 using that system.

[model14]

Joni,
What is the hazard of hammer bounce? I am having difficulty visualizing the mechanics. I would think any bounce would dissipate very quickly and not affect the rate of fire. I think there is always some bounce when the hammer slams down on the seer. We just don't notice it. On this particular Gold Cup I measured the hammer seer slot at about .018" depth. Think of the pressure exerted on that slot when the hammer comes slamming down on it? The peak pounds per square inch at impact must be astronomical!

[Joni Lynn]

With the Gold Cups that have steel triggers, it's trigger bounce that is the issue.
Things in motion tend to stay in motion, things at rest tend to stay at rest. The extra mass of the steel trigger weight reacts to the inertia on the slide slamming forward which can effectively move the gun or some of the parts forward and the heavier steel trigger will stay at rest. The effect is like pulling the trigger. The extra parts cushion this movement to help prevent trigger bounce from tripping the sear and having the hammer drop.

[Hawkmoon]

What Joni is saying is that the gun might fire two rounds when you pull the trigger once.

[model14]

Thanks to both of you.