Here's a couple pics of the lock at half cock. I wanted to do a video of what I was talking about but cant figure out this camera. When you pull the hammer back, there's 3 clicks of the hammer to full cock. the first click is half cock, the hammer holds in place. when you pull the hammer past half cock you hear a second click. this is what I was told that it's made so you can ease the hammer down on the nipple without going to full cock and pulling the trigger. If you let go thinking its full cock, the hammer drops on the nipple as if you pulled the trigger, when you pull the hammer all the way back you hear a third click and that's full cock. I know it's not the safest and there's nothing in the book that mentions this feature. I'm not disputing anyone's opinion that this shouldn't happen. I'm just telling what I was told about why this pistol does it. My pistol is new not used. I purchased it from Muzzleloaders. com