Just noticed the firing pin retaining plate on my Browning Hi Power had a crack in it. This has happened to me several times over the years with my 1911's, probably from dry firing along with regular shooting. Not a big deal if discovered, as they usually just split from the FP hole to the edge, not completely through both sides to break off. If discovered, just replace with another. I did have one 1911 many years ago that somewhat flattened the rear stub of the firing pin (apparently, the firing pin was not hardened properly) enough that it wedged in the FP retainer plate, and would not function, so it is not a bad idea to see if your firing pin is being misshapen or deficient, and clean the FP channel. This has been a friendly reminder to help you keep your guns running.
