SA hammer for slip shooting?

bergwerk · February 6, 2005, 11:47 PM

My Colt SA might benefit from a hammer designed to ease slip shooting.

First question: where to look for one.

Second question: will slip shooting the hammer while the trigger is held depressed damage anything?

Jim Watson · February 7, 2005, 02:01 PM

I think a sliphammer would be pretty much a custom proposition. I doubt it will damage anything until/unless you get so fast that any style would be hard on a SAA.

Sir William · February 8, 2005, 02:46 AM

Don't do it. It does cause wear and damage. If you really want to do it, get a Ruger and have a gunsmith replace the internals. The action needs to be hardened, geometry angles need to be modified and everything needs to be polished. When you do it, budget for a rebuild also. Slip hammering is not damaging in itself. There are just a few things that can get out of alignment and tolerancs that will change enough to batter the hand and possibly break the bolt if you speed things up. I have broken a few parts and spent some money myself. It is fun and even fastdraw and sliphammering is fun. No, I can't shoot aspirin out of the sky. I have shot in fastdraw, CAS and even exhibition gunfight reenactments. I did break internals, often.

Ozzieman · February 8, 2005, 05:13 PM

Is that where as the gun is pulled out of the holster the thumb brings the hammer back and then slips off with the trigger pulled allowing the gun to fire?
If thats it, I think that a lot of practice with blanks might be in order.

Cal4D4 · February 8, 2005, 05:52 PM

Talk to Bob about what you want.

SA rework for slipshooting, etc.

bergwerk · February 10, 2005, 09:19 PM

Yes, with the taped or removed trigger and the cocking thumb slipping sideways from the hammer.

Ed McGivern got me thinking about it but Sir Williams' advice confirms my fears about damage, even though I'm somewhat surprised by his lack of ability with the flying aspirins.

Have you read McGivern's 1938 book?

beenthere · February 21, 2005, 04:39 PM

Ed McGivern was something far out of the ordinary with his handguns and talent. If I remember correctly he even had a pair of handguns with the front of the trigger guard cut out so he didn't lose a couple of thousands of a second inserting his finger in the trigger guard. It might be infintismally faster but it doesn't sound like the safest thing to do. Only my opinion.

bergwerk · February 22, 2005, 02:31 AM

He has photos of those in his book in a chapter titled "Mutilating Guns as an Aid to Speed" and he fired them in DAO mode.

My current obsession is with Colt SAAs, hence the search for slip hammers.

fal308 · February 22, 2005, 10:15 AM

Slip hammers are used mainly in fast draw competitions. You might check out www.fastdraw.org/wfda/ or www.cowboyfastdrawassociation.com/

WroughtIron · September 18, 2005, 09:58 AM

Try; "Sixguns". Elmer Keith, has images; "Newman Slip Hammer".

February 6, 2005, 11:47 PM	#1
bergwerk Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Posts: 142	SA hammer for slip shooting? My Colt SA might benefit from a hammer designed to ease slip shooting. First question: where to look for one. Second question: will slip shooting the hammer while the trigger is held depressed damage anything?

February 8, 2005, 05:13 PM	#4
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	You might want to explane what slip shooting is Is that where as the gun is pulled out of the holster the thumb brings the hammer back and then slips off with the trigger pulled allowing the gun to fire? If thats it, I think that a lot of practice with blanks might be in order.

February 21, 2005, 04:39 PM	#7
beenthere Senior Member Join Date: November 16, 2004 Location: NE Indiana Posts: 460	Slip shooting Ed McGivern was something far out of the ordinary with his handguns and talent. If I remember correctly he even had a pair of handguns with the front of the trigger guard cut out so he didn't lose a couple of thousands of a second inserting his finger in the trigger guard. It might be infintismally faster but it doesn't sound like the safest thing to do. Only my opinion.

September 18, 2005, 09:58 AM	#10
WroughtIron Junior Member Join Date: September 18, 2005 Posts: 2	Belated Slip Hammer Information Try; "Sixguns". Elmer Keith, has images; "Newman Slip Hammer".

February 7, 2005, 02:01 PM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,535	I think a sliphammer would be pretty much a custom proposition. I doubt it will damage anything until/unless you get so fast that any style would be hard on a SAA.

February 8, 2005, 02:46 AM	#3
Sir William Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2004 Posts: 3,261	Don't do it. It does cause wear and damage. If you really want to do it, get a Ruger and have a gunsmith replace the internals. The action needs to be hardened, geometry angles need to be modified and everything needs to be polished. When you do it, budget for a rebuild also. Slip hammering is not damaging in itself. There are just a few things that can get out of alignment and tolerancs that will change enough to batter the hand and possibly break the bolt if you speed things up. I have broken a few parts and spent some money myself. It is fun and even fastdraw and sliphammering is fun. No, I can't shoot aspirin out of the sky. I have shot in fastdraw, CAS and even exhibition gunfight reenactments. I did break internals, often.

February 8, 2005, 05:52 PM	#5
Cal4D4 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2001 Location: southern california Posts: 679	Talk to Bob about what you want. SA rework for slipshooting, etc.

February 10, 2005, 09:19 PM	#6
bergwerk Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Posts: 142	Yes, with the taped or removed trigger and the cocking thumb slipping sideways from the hammer. Ed McGivern got me thinking about it but Sir Williams' advice confirms my fears about damage, even though I'm somewhat surprised by his lack of ability with the flying aspirins. Have you read McGivern's 1938 book?

February 22, 2005, 02:31 AM	#8
bergwerk Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Posts: 142	He has photos of those in his book in a chapter titled "Mutilating Guns as an Aid to Speed" and he fired them in DAO mode. My current obsession is with Colt SAAs, hence the search for slip hammers.

February 22, 2005, 10:15 AM	#9
fal308 Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,992	Slip hammers are used mainly in fast draw competitions. You might check out www.fastdraw.org/wfda/ or www.cowboyfastdrawassociation.com/