got booted off another site for asking this. so dont read if your in a nasty mood..

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xcaret

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I got my restricted licence again after it lapsed years ago ,and surrendered my Makarov pa-63 because of it,and am looking for another handgun. I see many with this big kinda pointed thing that sticks out right above where your hand goes,just below the hammer. Surley it cant be to stop your hand from sliding up and coming in contact with the hammer. My Mak didnt have it ( well a tiny bit maybe) and the tt-33 dont have them,but some have it sticking way out ,like an inch or more . I wonder how americans ( we dont do these things in Canada) would ever yank it out of their pocket in an emergency. As you by now know I'm not much of a gun expert, and I wont be buying a gun like I described, but still am curious,.
Thanks.
more dumb questions to follow.
 
That's because most people don't drop their 9 in their pocket. Someone came up with an ingenious device known internationally as a "Holster", of which there are many types.
 
Well I still dont see why it put on the gun. The Sam Titan 1911 has a huge piece sticking out but not on a Gloc . So why is it there in the first place.. Yeah I get the thing about the holster ,I just threw the pocket thing in to make my point .
 
Most pistols have something to protect the hand from sliding up too high and getting "slide bite" (when the slide hits the hand). The slide recoils, which ejects the spent casing, and loads the next round. Stopping the slide from moving will not allow it to function correctly. The 1911 has an exposed hammer, with the slide pushing the hammer back each shot. The "huge piece sticking out" protects one's hand, and allows for proper function of the firearm. The Glock has an internal hammer, and with the way the slide is designed, doesn't need that "huge piece sticking out"
 
Generally that is called a Beavertail. On some guns such as the 1911 style pistols there is a functional element due to the safety located at the rear of the grip. On other guns it's more of a style issue. In some other cases it was intended to aid in proper hand positioning while gripping the pistol. That is not meant to stop you from touching the hammer, but rather to stop you from having your hand in a place where the slide can cut, pinch, or tear it as it violently cycles back and forth. When that happens it is usually called slide bite. People have lost a fair amount of flesh to it.

Not all pistols have a beavertail grip though, and among those that do the prominence of it varies greatly. Some people don't need such artificial aids to get a proper grip, and some designers don't think that other people should need such. There are many features like this that serve useful purposes in some cases, and yet are potentially hazards in other situation. Reciprocating charging handles are a prime example, and forward assists to a lesser degree.

I hope that answers your question. If you have other questions don't hesitate to ask.
 
Thanks for the information, now that you have explained it I see clearly the importance of it. And thanks for mentioning the Gloc has an internal hammer, I'm new to this and will look that up to see how it works.
 
Thanks Stevebot, I just now read your answer. I'm learning lots tonite. Since I'm on a roll I'll ask one more . I notice on most SAM and some Remington semi automatics there is a hole in the part of the hammer you pull back with your thumb. It goes through sideways and doesn't interfer with anything. I notice in my firearm saftey course manual they show a safe way of securing a hand gun to a wall by running a cable through the ejection port and down through where the magazine would go ( page 155 ) . Running a cable through this hole in the hammer wouldn't stop the gun from being fired but I'm wondering if theres a device that fits into the hole to render it safe , kinda like a trigger lock but on the hammer instead?
 
xcaret said:
Thanks Stevebot, I just now read your answer. I'm learning lots tonite. Since I'm on a roll I'll ask one more . I notice on most SAM and some Remington semi automatics there is a hole in the part of the hammer you pull back with your thumb. It goes through sideways and doesn't interfer with anything. I notice in my firearm saftey course manual they show a safe way of securing a hand gun to a wall by running a cable through the ejection port and down through where the magazine would go ( page 155 ) . Running a cable through this hole in the hammer wouldn't stop the gun from being fired but I'm wondering if theres a device that fits into the hole to render it safe , kinda like a trigger lock but on the hammer instead?
Click to expand...

None that I know about. By the way, Glocks don't have a hammer, it's a striker. Same job, but it goes about it a different way.
 
xcaret said:
I got my restricted licence again after it lapsed years ago ,and surrendered my Makarov pa-63 because of it,and am looking for another handgun. I see many with this big kinda pointed thing that sticks out right above where your hand goes,just below the hammer. Surley it cant be to stop your hand from sliding up and coming in contact with the hammer. My Mak didnt have it ( well a tiny bit maybe) and the tt-33 dont have them,but some have it sticking way out ,like an inch or more . I wonder how americans ( we dont do these things in Canada) would ever yank it out of their pocket in an emergency. As you by now know I'm not much of a gun expert, and I wont be buying a gun like I described, but still am curious,.
Thanks.
more dumb questions to follow.
Click to expand...

What kind of a website boots you off simply for asking a question? It doesn't sound like one I would care to frequent.
 
xcaret said:
Thanks Stevebot, I just now read your answer. I'm learning lots tonite. Since I'm on a roll I'll ask one more . I notice on most SAM and some Remington semi automatics there is a hole in the part of the hammer you pull back with your thumb. It goes through sideways and doesn't interfer with anything. I notice in my firearm saftey course manual they show a safe way of securing a hand gun to a wall by running a cable through the ejection port and down through where the magazine would go ( page 155 ) . Running a cable through this hole in the hammer wouldn't stop the gun from being fired but I'm wondering if theres a device that fits into the hole to render it safe , kinda like a trigger lock but on the hammer instead?
Click to expand...

You could look at Omega locks as an alternative but I find combination trigger locks work well enough
 
just so you know, the hole is there to reduce weight in the hammer usually, although sometimes for looks too
 
As others have said, the hole in the hammer spur serves to reduce weight. I suppose that if you found a suitably small diameter cable you could run it through the hole, but as I see it in my mind it would have to be anchored to something to prevent any hammer movement. Trigger locks are much easier.
 
jeff270 said:
The hole makes the hammer lighter (that's good) but mostly it's there for style points.
Click to expand...


What he said...but by time time you add on all the other extras like a ambi safety,extended beaver tail,different sights etc. You haven't gained any weight loss..But you are more stylish!!
 
xcaret said:
Thanks Stevebot, I just now read your answer. I'm learning lots tonite. Since I'm on a roll I'll ask one more . I notice on most SAM and some Remington semi automatics there is a hole in the part of the hammer you pull back with your thumb. It goes through sideways and doesn't interfer with anything. I notice in my firearm saftey course manual they show a safe way of securing a hand gun to a wall by running a cable through the ejection port and down through where the magazine would go ( page 155 ) . Running a cable through this hole in the hammer wouldn't stop the gun from being fired but I'm wondering if theres a device that fits into the hole to render it safe , kinda like a trigger lock but on the hammer instead?
Click to expand...

Not Stevebot ( good guy on forum, btw) but will try and answer. I believe what you are describing is the ring or rounded hammer. It was an improvement on 1911 pistols to prevent hammer snag when drawing from comcealed holsters vs. the normal " tanged" hammer. Some might argue that it also is a " weight loss" savings for the overall weight of the gun but I have never noticed much difference. Another reason is your original question of the beavertail grip safety. The rounded hammer helps with hammer bite. Guns with exposed and tanged hammers like the 1911 or Browning HP ( which has a very short tang) can bite hard if your hands ride too high. Keep the questions coming!
Oops!
There is no way of safely mounting a hammer safety on guns with exposed hammers. The only ones come with the gun ie hammer drops or decocking levers. Anything mounted on an exposed hammer will be bulky, may slip off anyways or may damage the gun.
 
dan belisle said:
The "weight loss" in the holed hammer was for the hammer itself, providing for a faster hammer strike. I don't think it made too much of a difference really, though theoretically every little bit helps. - dan
Click to expand...

You are right, Dan. I stand corrected. Although it seems like a solution to a non-existent problem to me! As others have said, it's more of an esthetic thing.
 
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