[38 Super Combat Commander]

I took my Hi Power out today for the first time.It shoots great.But I have one problem.It bites me on the web of my hand every so often.Does this happen to you?If it does what did you guys do to solve this problem?Thanks Armond

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. If you're being bitten by the spur, I bob it at the second lateral serration, reshape, and refinish. If you have a factory BHP ball hammer, either the bottom half of the ring will need to be removed or greatly reshaped.

If the rear of the hammer spur or ball is the offender in the "bite" you mention, another solution is to install C & S's grand little abbreviated ball hammer. This has worked well for me.

If the web of skin between the thumb and trigger finger is being pinched because it's over the abbreviated tang common to HPs, Wickmann and Novak both offer a thinning process that greatly alleviates it. If your normal grip causes this, the above is about your only remedy unless you're willing to grip the gun too low for you.

The final option, in my view, is to have an extended beavertail tang added. This is costly and detracts from the gun's looks in my admittedly subjective opinion.

Best.

 

[Rosco Benson]

The P-35 "bites" in two ways. First, the hammer spur can some back and "smack" the web of the hand. This isn't a pinch, it's just a smack. However, repeated smacks will wear a hole in the shooter's skin...especially if the hammer spur has sharp edges. The remedy is to shorten the hammer spur and to round its edges.
Secondly, the P-35 can pinch the web of the shooter's hand between the base of the hammer and the frame's tang. This can be remedied by either welding up a beavertail (expensive and, in my view, UGLY on a P-35) or the back surface of the hammer can be hogged out in what Novak calls the "no bite hammer modification". Novak's shop http://www.novaksights.com and Kurt Wickmann http://www.kwgw.com both offer this mod.

Rosco

 

[Rosco Benson]

Steven, it's not too strange that we posted a reply at almost the same instant...but it's getting creepy when we say the same thing :wink:. It must be mind control by the ghost of JMB.

Rosco

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello, sir. Could it be the "great minds thinking alike thing?" Nah! In my case, certainly not. Take care.

Best.

 

[38 Super Combat Commander]

I think I will try a ball hammer first .I don`t want a beaver tail added as I have seen them on Hi Powers and they don`t look so good,Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Guest]

I operate the safety on my High-Powers with the thumb of my off hand. Why? I am convinced that hammer bite comes from your hand climbing up the grip to deactivate the safety. If you eliminate this movement you avoid the bite. If I am wrong please advise me but I no longer suffer from hammer bite. Regards, Richard

 

[amalgam]

I have a little hammer bite, not enough to bother me anymore.

right after I got my hipower it was more noticeable.


I wouldnt mind putting a rounded-spur hammer on it, if it was
a simple job , maybe for a local smith. Hate to spend more
on shipping two ways than the work costs.

 

[Rosco Benson]

On 2001-05-05 01:25, Richard wrote:
I operate the safety on my High-Powers with the thumb of my off hand. If I am wrong please advise me but I no longer suffer from hammer bite.

Richard, I wouldn't be so presumptuous as to say you were "wrong", but consider what you will do if you have to present and fire the pistol strong-hand-only. The need to do this can arise from the weak-hand being injured or otherwise occupied, as well as the need to fire from a close quarter/retention position (well before the hands would come together and make the weak hand available for safety manipulation). This technique may help one keep his grip low enough to avoid hammer bite, but at the cost of inculcating a potentially fatal habit.

Rosco

 

[Guest]

Rosco Benson,

I believe what you are saying about shooting one handed with the right hand and having a safety only on the magazine release side. I also believe what I say is true. If you doubt me put your High-Power in your right hand and follow the upward movement of your hand when releasing the safety. You will notice that this movement is what brings the web of your hand into striking distance of the hammer.

Again, there are three ways to avoid this: 1) operate the safety with the thumb of your off hand, 2) reposition your hand after releasing the safety, 3) alter the hammer or alter the tang by lengthening it.

Regards,

Richard