Notch in hammer cup

[Antelope Pete]

So I was looking at some original Lemans at the Museum Of the Fur Trade in Chadron and I have always thought the notch at the front of the cup in the hammer was to be able to more easily take out the cap after firing. I noticed that there seemed to less wood damage to the guns with the notch in the hammer cup and it got me to wondering if the notch is to allow the cap flame to divert up and away from the wood. Any thoughts or knowledge on this? My gun doesn't have the notch and it was getting some serious burns on the wood so I went to a flash cup.

 

[Phil Coffins]

Flash and flame are going to go somewhere, seems directing it is a good thing.

 

[Pete G]

I have always thought that the notch was to deflect the cap blast.

 

[Antelope Pete]

I have always thought that the notch was to deflect the cap blast.

That's good to know. Well I might just have to put a notch in. The original Lemans I saw had a thin or narrow slot with a small inverted V at the bottom.

 

[westrayer]

Makes it easier to remove the cap if it sticks to the hammer?

 

[52Bore]

All good answers above..
I always wondered who did it 1st?
I do believe the shooter can tell/feel the difference with & without.

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

Pressure always goes to the path of least resistance. If it can go up, it won't go down.

ADK Bigfoot

 

[russellshaffer]

Hey 52 - is that your shotgun and if so do you have more photos? That's a really nice gun.

 

[Antelope Pete]

All good answers above..
I always wondered who did it 1st?
I do believe the shooter can tell/feel the difference with & without.

1st, nice shotgun. 2nd, what do you mean "tell/feel the difference"?

 

[52Bore]

1st, nice shotgun. 2nd, what do you mean "tell/feel the difference"?

My limited experience (1) with percussion doubles that DO NOT have the notch/split in the hammer nose - this rifle would splatter my forearm everytime!

 

[M. De Land]

So I was looking at some original Lemans at the Museum Of the Fur Trade in Chadron and I have always thought the notch at the front of the cup in the hammer was to be able to more easily take out the cap after firing. I noticed that there seemed to less wood damage to the guns with the notch in the hammer cup and it got me to wondering if the notch is to allow the cap flame to divert up and away from the wood. Any thoughts or knowledge on this? My gun doesn't have the notch and it was getting some serious burns on the wood so I went to a flash cup.

That is what I have always thought the notch was for.