Half cock hammer on Gold Cup

[jrg065]

Today my Gold Cup started not to half cock the hammer. Is this a safety issue that it needs to go back to Colt?

[John]

Care to elaborate? What do you mean, it started not to half-cock the hammer? The hammer does not stay in half-cock? Or it falls from half-cock?

[Hawkmoon]

Whether the half cock doesn't engage at all, or if the hammer can fall of half cock after engagement, either way is an indication of a problem so I would suggest that it be sent back to Colt.

Does this pistol by any chance have a lightweight trigger job?

[jrg065]

It does not stay in the half cock position. The hammer falls all the way down.

[jrg065]

No work by a gunsmith only night sites put on. I bought it in the begining of October.
Thanks,
Jay

[John]

So you cock the hammer to the half-cock notch and without touching the trigger, the hammer falls? Did you disassemble the pistol before that started? In any case take the pistol apart and make sure there is nothing broken on the hammer or sear. If you see something broken, return it to Colt, it's a new gun, they should fix it.

[jrg065]

No I did not take the pistol apart. I will call Carol at Colt tomorrow.

Thanks for the help.
Jay

[govtmodel]

Today my Gold Cup started not to half cock the hammer. Is this a safety issue that it needs to go back to Colt?

Is it a Series 80 pistol? These pistols don't have a half-cock notch but they do have a shelf that does NOT capture the hammer. It will fall if the trigger is pulled.

[John]

We cannot be of any help, if you do not answer our questions. I asked you before does the pistol hammer falls from the half-cock notch when you pull the trigger, or it drops even without touching the trigger?

[jrg065]

No the hammer does not drop from the half cock because you can not half cock it. I called Colt today and they said the hammer when pulled back should half cock. They said to return it to the factory as something is not right. I will let you know what they find out.

Thanks for all the help.

Jay

[Hawkmoon]

Bummer.

Please remember to update us when you get a report from Colt.

[1911Tuner]

Couple of possibilities on this one.

Either the half-cock notch has broken slap off due to a mishap or some enterprising moron who didn't understand what it's there for, and didn't know how to correctly modify it, removed it in order to protect the sear in case his double-throwdown 2-pound trigger job causes the hammer to follow the slide during a reload and slide release.

If it's a Series 80 pistol, it would almost have to have been ground away, since the 80s only have a flat quarter-cock shelf...and likely the same on a pre-80, since even breaking the captive ledge on those would still provide some "feel" of the sear engaging what's left of the notch.

There was a time when removal of the half-cock was fairly common, but guns so modified were strictly slow-fire bullseye guns that were handled carefully. The shooter was vigilant about holding the trigger fully rearward before releasing the slide, and the guns were usually used with light "Softball" ammo, and a light recoil spring.
Yes...We've come a long way since those days.

I vote "Idiot with a Dremel syndrome". Gonna need a new hammer.