[martyu]

I've read a number of threads that tell of a problem caused by the hammer "falling" to the safety catch position and the need to have the sear-hammer surfaces repaired. Just what is the result of this fall? Is it safety related of does it just make for a bad trigger pull?

Thanks,
Marty U.

 

[John Lawson]

If the pistol is cocked and locked and pressure applied to the trigger with the grip safety depressed, the hammer should not move; that is, the sear should not re-position itself in the hammer notch closer to the edge. If it does, slight pressure on the hammer will cause a very faint "click" that signals movement and an unsafe lockup that will eventually loosen further and cause unintentional discharges. The thumb safety should be replaced with one properly fitted. Sometimes, a thin coating of silver solder on the filed contacting surface will rejuvinate the safety without having to replace it, and I've seen this done many times, but it is considered questionable, and ultimately...even if it works temporarily...the thumb safety should be replaced.
If you are talking about the hammer dropping to half cock, you can search for the thread that covers this condition exhaustively.

 

[John Lawson]

If you mean that when the trigger is pulled the hammer drops only to half cock, the overtravel screw is too tight. You can correct this easily by backing it out. If this results in an undesirable overtravel, you will have to file the lip off the halfcock notch until it just clears the sear tip during the drop. Note that this will result in an unsafe condition if the trigger is changed or if the overtravel screw is moved in an extreme manner, resulting in greater overtravel. Also note that you cannot "peck" the trigger like on a .22 pistol when overtravel is removed, since releasing the trigger after hammer drop and before the hammer reaches the firing pin will result in a capture at the half cock notch

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: John Lawson on 2001-08-16 13:57 ]</font>

 

[dfariswheel]

If you mean the hammer falls to half cock when the slide slams shut: This is a classic sign of a "shade-tree" gunsmith attempting a "trigger job", and botching it. The engagement of the hammer/sear is improperly fitted, and the shock of the slide closing jars the sear out of the hammer notch. The hammer's safety notch, (half-cock notch) does it's job and catches the hammer, preventing the gun from firing.

In addition to being mucho unsafe, the hammer slamming into the sear batters both hammer and sear notches.