The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Empty chamber for safety

Driftwood Johnson · January 21, 2014, 06:12 PM

Because of their solid frame, it is impossible to see inside a Colt Single Action Army without cutting viewing windows in the frame. However S&W revolvers had removable sideplates.

Here are some photos of a Smith and Wesson Russian Model.

Sorry, the photo is a little bit out of focus, but in this photo the hammer is all the way down as it would be after the gun had fired. You can just see the firing pin poking through the recoil shield.

This is the so called 'safety position' most single action revolvers had. The hammer has been pulled back about 1/8" and the tip of the trigger has popped into a notch in the hammer. The notch has a lip on it, trapping the trigger so it cannot be pulled. Unfortunately the cross section of the parts is quite thin and they are not very strong. It would not take too much of a blow to the hammer spur to shear off either the hammer notch, or the tip of the trigger, causing the gun to fire.

And here is the hammer at full cock, ready to fire.

Although Colt parts were very differently shaped than these S&W parts, the 'safety notch' was no stronger. That is why it has been recommended for over 100 years to keep the hammer down on an empty chamber in a single action revolver with a Colt type lockup, including modern replicas and the old Three Screw Ruger single action revolvers.

The modern design of Ruger single action revolvers that incorporates a transfer block makes them completely safe ro carry fully loaded.

January 21, 2014, 06:12 PM	#44
Driftwood Johnson Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2014 Location: Land of the Pilgrims Posts: 2,033	Because of their solid frame, it is impossible to see inside a Colt Single Action Army without cutting viewing windows in the frame. However S&W revolvers had removable sideplates. Here are some photos of a Smith and Wesson Russian Model. Sorry, the photo is a little bit out of focus, but in this photo the hammer is all the way down as it would be after the gun had fired. You can just see the firing pin poking through the recoil shield. This is the so called 'safety position' most single action revolvers had. The hammer has been pulled back about 1/8" and the tip of the trigger has popped into a notch in the hammer. The notch has a lip on it, trapping the trigger so it cannot be pulled. Unfortunately the cross section of the parts is quite thin and they are not very strong. It would not take too much of a blow to the hammer spur to shear off either the hammer notch, or the tip of the trigger, causing the gun to fire. And here is the hammer at full cock, ready to fire. Although Colt parts were very differently shaped than these S&W parts, the 'safety notch' was no stronger. That is why it has been recommended for over 100 years to keep the hammer down on an empty chamber in a single action revolver with a Colt type lockup, including modern replicas and the old Three Screw Ruger single action revolvers. The modern design of Ruger single action revolvers that incorporates a transfer block makes them completely safe ro carry fully loaded.