1911 acting like a single action. Have to #### the hammer to fire. Help?

D

Dweano

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Hey guys. I got in on the Canadaammo 1911 and 1000 rounds deal, and like usual I couldn't leave anything well enough alone. So I put on new grips, a dlask hammer, and trigger, slide release, and a wilson combat beavertail safety. I did have to do some modification, when I first put it all together the trigger wouldn't fire. So I took about 2-3 passes with a file on the two hammer hooks and it was all good. I made sure not to modify the angle, just remove the tiny little lip. So then it all worked fine. Fired about 100 rounds off in three or four different sessions, everything all fine. Good to go and loving handguns. THEN:

Yesterday I was shooting, and the hammer started not catching. It would fire, the slide would cycle, a new round would be loaded in but the hammer was down. So I would #### it back, shoot, and it would be fine. But now it is ending up about three or four out of every seven rounds will not #### the hammer. And more disturbingly, once or twice I am positive it double fired. I pulled the trigger once and it went bam bam! Not good.

This all happened with Norinco ammo that came with the combo.

I am thinking I have a hammer problem? The sear is not catching the hammer? Could the sear spring be not bent right and weak? That would be the easiest thing to check eh? After that...??
 
To be perfectly honest I have no idea how to help You, but for sure it's a unique firearm now.
You can sell it on EE for like $500 more than You paid. Maybe even $800...seriously though - contact the seller.
They may replace this pistol for a new one for You.
 
Nestor said:
To be perfectly honest I have no idea how to help You, but for sure it's a unique firearm now.
You can sell it on EE for like $500 more than You paid. Maybe even $800...seriously though - contact the seller.
They may replace this pistol for a new one for You.
Click to expand...

After taking a file to it?
 
Yeah I polished the hammer and honestly filed two light passes. Removing like...a thousand of inch. I knew I was taking a risk. I was just wondering what possible fixes could be? The sear to hammer engagement seems to be the problem tho likely? I am trying to learn as I go
 
Seems like the hammer hook filing is the culprit. Probably replace hammer.

Does this image help?

sear-engagement-4.png
 
That does. I will take it all apart and see what it looks like. The filing was to bring the hammer hooks back to ninety because there was a lip on it slightly preventing the sear from releasing. Its not like I just took the files to it and hoped for the best haha
 
Dweano said:
That does. I will take it all apart and see what it looks like. The filing was to bring the hammer hooks back to ninety because there was a lip on it slightly preventing the sear from releasing. Its not like I just took the files to it and hoped for the best haha
Click to expand...

Theres your problem
 
On the bright side, it didn't go full auto on you. That happens to a lot of people who mess with the sear on a 1911. Be sure to only load one cartridge in the magazine at a time, and then two, if you keep messing with it. Unfortunately, filing the sear without the proper tools can easily thin the surface hardening of the surfaces, and the full auto may not happen until the surface wears down at some point in the future, so be careful.

The reality is that the 1911 is not really a "drop-in fit" type of firearm (without using very sloppy tolerances on parts), and when it comes to altering the angles of the sear faces you are quite honestly in dangerous territory.
 
It was a dollar store file. The hammer probably took more off of the file than the file took off the hammer. Haha. It worked fine for 100 rounds. Just recently it looks like it maybe wore down a bit. Or could it just be a sear spring issue? I know I am a newb here but is that a possibility?
 
Taking a file or other abrasive/cutting methods to sears or hammers without proper jigs and fixtures for the 1911, and even more importantly.
The knowledge required to do the job correctly.
Recipe for disaster. accident just waiting to happen here.

And please don't sell it on the EE without disclosing what you have done to this poor defenseless firearm.:p
 
Don't worry guys I won't sell it. I fix my own problems. I'll slap the old hammer back in and see if that works. I don't know alot but that tiny little lip prevented my gun from firing. What should have I done instead? Just trying the learn the ways of the 1911 here
 
I realize that you were just trying to achieve a better trigger. No harm, No Foul. Instead of a file and removing material, at most what you're looking to do is polish any rough surfaces maintaining the profiles of everything. This is generally done with stones or polishing compounds. Remember that "smoothing" doesn't equate to "rounding" or removing edges.

A gunsmith or someone very experienced can drastically improve a firearm by re-profiling sears, hammer catches and the like, but not only does he know what he's doing, he also has the tools to aide him (jigs).

A few cheap internals and you'll be back in business...until then, treat that one as if it'll go off "half cocked". ;)
 
Nestor said:
I knew it. EE and profit is the way to go!
Click to expand...
I would be interested in the new liabilities issue.

Say the new owner does not make *any* change to the gun's internal. He goes to the range, load a mag, rack the slide, and the round being loaded ignite out of battery, blowing him thumb. Could he sues the previous owner for hidden flaws ?
 
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