Lack of cylinder safety pins

[Columbus]

Recently picked up a Pietta 1861 Navy that is just about flawless with the exception of having no safety pins on the cylinder. Can always leave one cylinder unloaded so it's not a huge issue but I'm surprised that the hammer is notched for the pins but there are none. Wonder if this was a factory second, defect or oversight, anyone seen this on their guns?

 

[hawkeye2]

I've seen it before, probably back in the 70s but I can't say for sure. I believe it was a cost cutting measure eliminating something that was of questionable value (my opinion).

 

[64Springer]

There is no reason to leave one chamber empty.

A bump on the hammer won't detonate a primer.

A heavy strike to the hammer MAY set it off.

But how often does a heavy object come flying out of nowhere and smack the back of a hammer?

 

[Columbus]

There is no reason to leave one chamber empty.

A bump on the hammer won't detonate a primer.

A heavy strike to the hammer MAY set it off.

But how often does a heavy object come flying out of nowhere and smack the back of a hammer?

It happens when you drop the gun and it lands hammer first. I have a friend who can tell the story of a fully loaded old model Ruger Blackhawk .44 mag going off when he dropped it - slug went through the bone just below the knee. 40 years ago, still has a bad limp.

 

[Cavalry Joe]

Would it be feasible to replace the cylinder with one that has the pins ? I have never dropped a firearm in over 40 years of shooting, but I hear what you are saying.

 

[64Springer]

Would it be feasible to replace the cylinder with one that has the pins ? I have never dropped a firearm in over 40 years of shooting, but I hear what you are saying.

Nor have I seen anyone else drop a pistol in 45 years of shooting.

Load all six and have at it.

Actually, loading just five isn't safe either.

Cuzz the revolver could be dropped at any time on any chamber.

 

[M. De Land]

There is no reason to leave one chamber empty.

A bump on the hammer won't detonate a primer.

A heavy strike to the hammer MAY set it off.

But how often does a heavy object come flying out of nowhere and smack the back of a hammer?

May as well carry it around cocked while in the holster! This is a very bad idea !
In looking two of my revolvers over I don't see why there would be any problem to install some safety pins ones self with some wire spring stock, drill press and red loc-tite.

 

[SPQR70AD]

It happens when you drop the gun and it lands hammer first. I have a friend who can tell the story of a fully loaded old model Ruger Blackhawk .44 mag going off when he dropped it - slug went through the bone just below the knee. 40 years ago, still has a bad limp.

more of a chance to get hit by lightning. what fun is living if you always scared of dying

 

[Columbus]

Here are Colt's instructions from the era - note what it says "to carry the arm safely........" you tough guys go right ahead, carry these, carry 1873s, etc. with the hammer down on a live round. Throw them in your car, in and out of the holster, take them anywhere and everywhere, don't have to worry about a thing. Guns ended up with transfer bar safetys for a reason.

 

[64Springer]

What happens if you only load five then shoot once then cock the hammer then decide to not shoot then gently lower the hammer?

You're right back to having the hammer resting on a nipple and loaded chamber. Are we to fire all five shots? So we always end up with an empty revolver? Are we to index the cylinder to one the two empty chambers? Can't be too safe.

There's a higher probability of the ISS falling from the sky and hitting you then a nipple detonating before you want it to.

I think the moral of this story is don't be a fumble fingered klutz and drop a loaded revolver.

Time for a new thread. To see who has dropped a loaded revolver on the ground or who's witnessed someone dropping a loaded revolver on the ground.

 

[Justin.44]

What happens if you only load five then shoot once then cock the hammer then decide to not shoot then gently lower the hammer?

You're right back to having the hammer resting on a nipple and loaded chamber. Are we to fire all five shots? So we always end up with an empty revolver? Are we to index the cylinder to one the two empty chambers? Can't be too safe.

There's a higher probability of the ISS falling from the sky and hitting you then a nipple detonating before you want it to.

I think the moral of this story is don't be a fumble fingered klutz and drop a loaded revolver.

Time for a new thread. To see who has dropped a loaded revolver on the ground or who's witnessed someone dropping a loaded revolver on the ground.

One time I was shooting my 1851 Navy in the woods behind my house and I cocked the hammer but before I fired it I took a step back and tripped on a small stump sticking up from a tiny tree that had been cut down. I fell backwards and the gun went flying out of my hand and landed a few feet away from my wife. Luckily it didn't go off but it could've been bad! Yes, it rarely happens but it did happen to this klutz once!

 

[hawkeye2]

Not rocket surgery, rotate the cylinder so that the hammer rests on the last fired chamber and one is ready to go again.

I have read more than one account of a stirrup falling on a Colt hammer firing the gun while the owner was putting the saddle on.

Back 50 or so years ago when I hunted with my S&W .41 mag I carried it with the hammer down on an empty chamber even with all Smith's safety features and if I needed all 5 shots I figured I should stay home and practice more.

 

[SPQR70AD]

Here are Colt's instructions from the era - note what it says "to carry the arm safely........" you tough guys go right ahead, carry these, carry 1873s, etc. with the hammer down on a live round. Throw them in your car, in and out of the holster, take them anywhere and everywhere, don't have to worry about a thing. Guns ended up with transfer bar safetys for a reason.

yea I am sure the guys fighting in the civil war and the others going in indian territory only loaded 5 chambers. propane tanks ended up with overflow devices (OPDs) where nobody ever got hurt with the older tanks

 

[64Springer]

Saw a guy riding a motorcycle yesterday. A brand new Harley.

He had all of his poserware on proud display. New leather jacket. That of course said Harley Davidson on the back. New Harley boots too.

Know what he had protecting his newly minted outlaw skull? Take a guess. He was wearing the brightest of bright blaze orange helmet you ever saw.

Gleaming. Highly visible. And, yup, brand new too.

Point of the story. Don't be afraid of what ever sport you're trying to enjoy. If dying from an accidental gunshot wound or being turned into ground beef on the highway frightens you, take up needlepoint. But be careful. Pointy objects.

 

[stikshooter]

Here are Colt's instructions from the era - note what it says "to carry the arm safely........" you tough guys go right ahead, carry these, carry 1873s, etc. with the hammer down on a live round. Throw them in your car, in and out of the holster, take them anywhere and everywhere, don't have to worry about a thing. Guns ended up with transfer bar safetys for a reason.

Because of lawyers would be the reason ,anything else is an after thought !/Ed

 

[LRB]

There is no reason to leave one chamber empty.

A bump on the hammer won't detonate a primer.

A heavy strike to the hammer MAY set it off.

But how often does a heavy object come flying out of nowhere and smack the back of a hammer?

When you happen to drop one as I did once!!! Picked a SA Colt up by the holster and did not notice the hammer wasn't secured and it slid out. The guns hammer was in that faux safe position over a loaded chamber. Being as how nothing broke and it landed butt first, the jar of hitting the hard floor must have made the hammer bounce out of the so called safety notch and fire the gun. No damage, no injury, but lesson learned. AND, if the hammer is down on a primer or firing pin, modern or cap, a blow to the hammer will fire the gun quite easily. In the case of a real Colt and most copies, a hard blow to the hammer can easily break the thin hardened sear tip and fire the gun if it is fully loaded. Even if in the so called safety notch position on a Colt SA model P and any other gun that depends on a similar arrangement such as old model Ruger SA's. It is not a difficult job to drill holes for pins on a typical C&B Colt copy that does not have the pins. I have 2 ASM Colt C&B types that did not have them. Oddly, the hammers had the little receptacles for the pins but the cylinders were not pinned nor drilled for them. Just for the record, I hate guns with transfer bars, handgun or rifle, but I can live with 5 rds loaded rather than 6 to be safe. If you know trouble is imminent you can always put #6 in if you think you may need it.

 

[64Springer]

To all the guys who drop their pistols and send bullets flying in all directions, please wear highly visible signs at the range indicating that you do this.

So the rest of us can return when you're not there.

 

[SPQR70AD]

To all the guys who drop their pistols and send bullets flying in all directions, please wear highly visible signs at the range indicating that you do this.

So the rest of us can return when you're not there.

When you happen to drop one as I did once!!! Picked a SA Colt up by the holster and did not notice the hammer wasn't secured and it slid out. The guns hammer was in that faux safe position over a loaded chamber. Being as how nothing broke and it landed butt first, the jar of hitting the hard floor must have made the hammer bounce out of the so called safety notch and fire the gun. No damage, no injury, but lesson learned. AND, if the hammer is down on a primer or firing pin, modern or cap, a blow to the hammer will fire the gun quite easily. In the case of a real Colt and most copies, a hard blow to the hammer can easily break the thin hardened sear tip and fire the gun if it is fully loaded. Even if in the so called safety notch position on a Colt SA model P and any other gun that depends on a similar arrangement such as old model Ruger SA's. It is not a difficult job to drill holes for pins on a typical C&B Colt copy that does not have the pins. I have 2 ASM Colt C&B types that did not have them. Oddly, the hammers had the little receptacles for the pins but the cylinders were not pinned nor drilled for them. Just for the record, I hate guns with transfer bars, handgun or rifle, but I can live with 5 rds loaded rather than 6 to be safe. If you know trouble is imminent you can always put #6 in if you think you may need it.

do not understand why you hate transfer bars. where would a safety notch be on a colt SAA-P?

 

[64Springer]

Shooters didn't design the Transfer Safety Bar.

Lawyers did.

A revolver isn't a true revolver without a firing pin pinned to the hammer.

 

[SPQR70AD]

Shooters didn't design the Transfer Safety Bar.

Lawyers did.

A revolver isn't a true revolver without a firing pin pinned to the hammer.

S&W revolvers have a pinned firing pin and a transfer bar to block the hammer