kimber question 1911 - The Firearms Forum

cycloneman · 10-29-2010, 08:09 PM

The gun: Kimber 1911 target mdl in 10mm.

The question: It seems as tho there is a half cock to the hammer. I think i read somewhere that this is not actually a half cock. What is the purpose of this and can it be used as a half cock?

Jay · 10-29-2010, 08:17 PM

That half-cock position is there to catch the hammer if the hammer hooks should fail.... NOT as a safety.

cycloneman · 10-29-2010, 08:19 PM

Not sure what that means but i got my answer. Not a safety.

Jay · 10-29-2010, 08:57 PM

At full cock, the hammer hooks are caught by the sear. When you pull the trigger, the sear slides off those two hooks, and the hammer falls..... BOOM..... if those hooks should fail/break, the half cock notch will catch the hammer, and prevent firing.

http://www.m1911.org/locking.htm

http://usgi1911.tripod.com/function/

http://www.edbrown.com/adobe.pdf/hgunmanual.pdf

From the Ed Brown link....

5. Do not place the hammer or allow the hammer to remain in the half-cock
notch. This is not a safe carrying position and any effort to engage the
hammer in the half-cock notch may result in the hammer perching on the lip
of the half-cock notch. This is extremely dangerous. If the hammer is in this
position it could fall forward and discharge the pistol, thereby risking injury,
death or property damage.

cycloneman · 10-29-2010, 09:14 PM

thanks i got my education on 1911's

great links

TheGunClinger · 10-30-2010, 07:12 AM

I have a 1911 that was built by a gunsmith. At half cock, if you pull the trigger it will go off. I tried it a few times with a primed case with no powder, no bullet. Primer set off. Now I discover that it will also go off if your hand is not on the grip safty!

Just hold it by the grips and not engage the grip safty, pull the trigger and Boom. I think I will have it re-worked.

Jay · 10-30-2010, 07:34 AM

some half cock notches look like this... the half-cock notches are at the three o'clock position in both images......

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...sting-_-137959

Others have a notch that "contains" the sear..... like this

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...sting-_-637505

The second example will be much safer and much more likely to contain the sear, and not "bounce off" in case of hammer hook failure.

Just my opinion.....

10-29-2010, 08:09 PM	#1
cycloneman Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 7,437	kimber question 1911 The gun: Kimber 1911 target mdl in 10mm. The question: It seems as tho there is a half cock to the hammer. I think i read somewhere that this is not actually a half cock. What is the purpose of this and can it be used as a half cock? __________________ Who are you going to serve today? -->

10-29-2010, 08:17 PM	#2
Jay Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,286	Re: kimber question 1911 That half-cock position is there to catch the hammer if the hammer hooks should fail.... NOT as a safety. __________________ "For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected cannot taste." "USMC 8652, 2531, RVN Jun '67, - May 69"

10-29-2010, 08:19 PM	#3
cycloneman Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 7,437	Re: kimber question 1911 Not sure what that means but i got my answer. Not a safety. __________________ Who are you going to serve today?

10-29-2010, 08:57 PM	#4
Jay Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,286	Re: kimber question 1911 At full cock, the hammer hooks are caught by the sear. When you pull the trigger, the sear slides off those two hooks, and the hammer falls..... BOOM..... if those hooks should fail/break, the half cock notch will catch the hammer, and prevent firing. http://www.m1911.org/locking.htm http://usgi1911.tripod.com/function/ http://www.edbrown.com/adobe.pdf/hgunmanual.pdf From the Ed Brown link.... 5. Do not place the hammer or allow the hammer to remain in the half-cock notch. This is not a safe carrying position and any effort to engage the hammer in the half-cock notch may result in the hammer perching on the lip of the half-cock notch. This is extremely dangerous. If the hammer is in this position it could fall forward and discharge the pistol, thereby risking injury, death or property damage. __________________ "For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected cannot taste." "USMC 8652, 2531, RVN Jun '67, - May 69" Last edited by Jay; 10-29-2010 at 08:59 PM..

10-29-2010, 09:14 PM	#5
cycloneman Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 7,437	Re: kimber question 1911 thanks i got my education on 1911's great links __________________ Who are you going to serve today?

10-30-2010, 07:12 AM	#6
TheGunClinger Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: SW Florida Contributor Posts: 2,401	Re: kimber question 1911 I have a 1911 that was built by a gunsmith. At half cock, if you pull the trigger it will go off. I tried it a few times with a primed case with no powder, no bullet. Primer set off. Now I discover that it will also go off if your hand is not on the grip safty! Just hold it by the grips and not engage the grip safty, pull the trigger and Boom. I think I will have it re-worked. __________________ New England Patriots Rule Next year.

10-30-2010, 07:34 AM	#7
Jay Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,286	Re: kimber question 1911 some half cock notches look like this... the half-cock notches are at the three o'clock position in both images...... http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...sting-_-137959 Others have a notch that "contains" the sear..... like this http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...sting-_-637505 The second example will be much safer and much more likely to contain the sear, and not "bounce off" in case of hammer hook failure. Just my opinion..... __________________ "For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected cannot taste." "USMC 8652, 2531, RVN Jun '67, - May 69" Last edited by Jay; 10-30-2010 at 07:35 AM..