The basic component of the LDA pistols is their hammer, which in reality is a two-piece part, with an inner and an outer hammer. In the earliest LDA pistols, the outer hammer resembled the appearance (from the outside) of a conventional 1911 Commander hammer. Newer LDA pistols have no spur, the hammer is completely flush with the rear surface of the slide.
Both parts of the LDA hammer ride on the same hammer pin. Only the inner hammer is connected to the mainspring, and it acts semi-independently of the outer hammer. When the LDA's outer hammer is pushed to the rear by the slide, it carries with it the inner hammer and cocks it.The outer hammer never stays to the rear, instead it follows the slide to the front, under the pressure of a light torsion spring. The inner hammer however, stays cocked.
Another part that differs from the standard 1911 design, is the LDA's trigger, which is connected to a draw bar, instead of a conventional yoke (and of course, it pivots around a pin, instead of moving back and forth as a single unit). The trigger has its own torsion return spring. The draw bar is inside the right part of the pistol (the right rails are partially cut to allow the draw bar to fit) and at its rear, it features a raised part, which acts as the disconnector.
When the shooter pulls the LDA's trigger, the draw bar causes the outer hammer to move to the rear, against the light pressure of the outer hammer's torsion spring (hence the Light, in the LDA acronym, the double action pull, which cocks the hammer is very light). When the draw bar reaches the sear, a slight continuous pressure trips the sear and releases the precocked inner hammer. The inner hammer now rotates forward, taking the outer hammer with it, to fire the pistol.
In effect, the outer hammer carries the inner hammer with it, to cock the pistol, while the inner hammer carries with it the outer one, to fire the gun.
Remember, for a complete tear-down of your LDA pistol, go here.
Bookmarks