The 1911's oft discussed and usually misunderstood half cock has been the subject of many a flame war on the interwebz.
Claims that it was never intended to be a safe carry position and that its only function is arresting the hammer should the hammer hooks fail abound.
But, let's take a look at it and see. For the record, I'm referring to the original captive half cock notch as designed by John Browning.
First, the more obvious.
If its only intended function was a means to arrest the hammer's unintentional fall, there would have been no need to make two machine cuts. A simple, flat shelf similar to the hammer that Colt started using in the Series 80 pistols would have sufficed. Simpler, easier...and cheaper.
Next, when the sear is engaged with the half cock, hammer and sear are firmly interlocked. The hammer can't fall, and the sear can't move even with a vigorous pull of the trigger. If all is within spec, even the trigger is frozen and has zero play in either direction.
If that doesn't meet the criteria for a safety, I'd like to know what does.
Last, but not least...the clues.
The captive half cock was present on all of Browning's guns with exposed hammers. Examples are seen in the Models 1892 and 1894 Winchester carbines and the Model 1897 shotgun. It was there during the development of the 1911 pistol from Models 1900 to 1910 and remains to this day on many, even if it's never used.
Finally...from the 1910 patents...before the famous thumb safety was added, we hear from Mose himself.
Heretofore in the pistols of this class,
when the hammer was cocked ready for firing,
and it became necessary to lower the hammer
to the safety position without allowing it to
touch the firing-pin, it required both hands
of the user to accomplish this act.
Here, Browning was clearly describing the half cock...his true intended manual safety.
It also addresses the claim that the hammer should never, ever be lowered with the chamber hot.
And...exit, stage right!
Claims that it was never intended to be a safe carry position and that its only function is arresting the hammer should the hammer hooks fail abound.
But, let's take a look at it and see. For the record, I'm referring to the original captive half cock notch as designed by John Browning.
First, the more obvious.
If its only intended function was a means to arrest the hammer's unintentional fall, there would have been no need to make two machine cuts. A simple, flat shelf similar to the hammer that Colt started using in the Series 80 pistols would have sufficed. Simpler, easier...and cheaper.
Next, when the sear is engaged with the half cock, hammer and sear are firmly interlocked. The hammer can't fall, and the sear can't move even with a vigorous pull of the trigger. If all is within spec, even the trigger is frozen and has zero play in either direction.
If that doesn't meet the criteria for a safety, I'd like to know what does.
Last, but not least...the clues.
The captive half cock was present on all of Browning's guns with exposed hammers. Examples are seen in the Models 1892 and 1894 Winchester carbines and the Model 1897 shotgun. It was there during the development of the 1911 pistol from Models 1900 to 1910 and remains to this day on many, even if it's never used.
Finally...from the 1910 patents...before the famous thumb safety was added, we hear from Mose himself.
Heretofore in the pistols of this class,
when the hammer was cocked ready for firing,
and it became necessary to lower the hammer
to the safety position without allowing it to
touch the firing-pin, it required both hands
of the user to accomplish this act.
Here, Browning was clearly describing the half cock...his true intended manual safety.
It also addresses the claim that the hammer should never, ever be lowered with the chamber hot.
And...exit, stage right!
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