Curing hammer bite. For me anyhow.

Lavan · November 12, 2021, 05:39 PM

Both 1911 and Hi Power used to bite me.

Put some Altamont grips on the BHP snd stag on the 1911.

The extra width stretches my thumb web enough to stop the hammer bite.

Worth a try.

FITASC · November 12, 2021, 08:20 PM

Nice, doubt it will work on my Beretta Model 34 (made in 1943); damn thing eats the web of my hand every time.

**Unclenick** · November 13, 2021, 10:23 AM

It never occurred to me a fatter grip might solve that problem. Jeff Cooper had us focused on reducing frame width, as he thought it was too fat for the best trigger finger location and for fast and sure control changing magazines or making a fast presentation, so beavertail grip safeties are what I've always used. But it sounds like, depending on your hand size, you may want to go the other way.

**4V50 Gary** · November 13, 2021, 11:43 AM

Thanks for the tip! I generally don't suffer from hammer bites, but the suggestion may be helpful to people I may instruct.

BTW, the only gun I fired that I had consistent hammer bit was a small ring hammer C96 with shoulder stock (this was in Germany).

HiBC · November 13, 2021, 08:04 PM

I wear an XL,or preferably a 2XXL glove. Work history from skidding fenceposts out of the woods,7 years busting tires and 30 years machinist, I have fairly meaty hands.
I take a high grip on a handgun.
On guns like a short spur 1911,a BHP,a PPK, the hide of the web of my hand just WILL roll up over the spur. I've found no grip or technique to avoid it.

Looking at the web of my hand shows a series of scars,like rungs of a ladder.

I hate bleeding on guns. It makes them rust.

I do appreciate the problem you are solving is real.

Beavertails work,of course, but I built a 1911 I wanted to appear in military trim.
A purist would notice,but I used a military long spur grip safety,lightly dehorned,and a slightly bobbed and dehorned GI type hammer.Not much, It does not bite me,and,IMO,it "looks right"
It still will properly disengage the grip safety when one handed de-cocking

(Think a Cavalry Troop,reins in one hand,lowering hammer to half cock. No,I'm not advocating carrying with the hammer on half cock. Perhaps from a military requirement,JMB designed the gun so thumbing the hammer fully back,the hammer spur against the grip safety spur would permit trigger pull to lower the hammer.)

tangolima · November 13, 2021, 09:12 PM

I never had hammer bite problem when I was young and trimmed. Now fat (not much) and floppy skin start giving me problem. Normal beaver tail can't "dam" the "over flowing" skin out of trouble anymore. I despise those pimpy-looking oversized beaver tails. The only option is glove. A single sailing glove on my right hand will do.

Thick grips may work. But they are just not always a viable options. I like old milsurp guns. They don't make grips for those. Besides thick grips induce other problems. I just save the dough to buy another pair of gloves.

-TL

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

rodfac · November 14, 2021, 09:53 AM

Yep...I've never been 'bitten' by a BHP or 1911 hammer....Knock on Wood....Rod

JDBerg · November 16, 2021, 11:46 PM

My 2 BHP’s do not hammer bite me. Every one of my Glocks will slide bite me, if I didn’t have Grip Force Adapters on my Gen3 17 & 19, and the large beavertail backstrap on my Gen4 21 and my 19X.

November 12, 2021, 05:39 PM	#1
Lavan Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 1999 Location: California Posts: 2,716	Curing hammer bite. For me anyhow. Both 1911 and Hi Power used to bite me. Put some Altamont grips on the BHP snd stag on the 1911. The extra width stretches my thumb web enough to stop the hammer bite. Worth a try.

November 12, 2021, 08:20 PM	#2
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,446	Nice, doubt it will work on my Beretta Model 34 (made in 1943); damn thing eats the web of my hand every time. __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

November 13, 2021, 10:23 AM	#3
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	It never occurred to me a fatter grip might solve that problem. Jeff Cooper had us focused on reducing frame width, as he thought it was too fat for the best trigger finger location and for fast and sure control changing magazines or making a fast presentation, so beavertail grip safeties are what I've always used. But it sounds like, depending on your hand size, you may want to go the other way. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

November 13, 2021, 11:43 AM	#4
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,838	Thanks for the tip! I generally don't suffer from hammer bites, but the suggestion may be helpful to people I may instruct. BTW, the only gun I fired that I had consistent hammer bit was a small ring hammer C96 with shoulder stock (this was in Germany). __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

November 13, 2021, 08:04 PM	#5
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,286	I wear an XL,or preferably a 2XXL glove. Work history from skidding fenceposts out of the woods,7 years busting tires and 30 years machinist, I have fairly meaty hands. I take a high grip on a handgun. On guns like a short spur 1911,a BHP,a PPK, the hide of the web of my hand just WILL roll up over the spur. I've found no grip or technique to avoid it. Looking at the web of my hand shows a series of scars,like rungs of a ladder. I hate bleeding on guns. It makes them rust. I do appreciate the problem you are solving is real. Beavertails work,of course, but I built a 1911 I wanted to appear in military trim. A purist would notice,but I used a military long spur grip safety,lightly dehorned,and a slightly bobbed and dehorned GI type hammer.Not much, It does not bite me,and,IMO,it "looks right" It still will properly disengage the grip safety when one handed de-cocking (Think a Cavalry Troop,reins in one hand,lowering hammer to half cock. No,I'm not advocating carrying with the hammer on half cock. Perhaps from a military requirement,JMB designed the gun so thumbing the hammer fully back,the hammer spur against the grip safety spur would permit trigger pull to lower the hammer.) Last edited by HiBC; November 13, 2021 at 08:16 PM.

November 13, 2021, 09:12 PM	#6
tangolima Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2013 Posts: 3,824	I never had hammer bite problem when I was young and trimmed. Now fat (not much) and floppy skin start giving me problem. Normal beaver tail can't "dam" the "over flowing" skin out of trouble anymore. I despise those pimpy-looking oversized beaver tails. The only option is glove. A single sailing glove on my right hand will do. Thick grips may work. But they are just not always a viable options. I like old milsurp guns. They don't make grips for those. Besides thick grips induce other problems. I just save the dough to buy another pair of gloves. -TL Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

November 14, 2021, 09:53 AM	#7
rodfac Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,623	Yep...I've never been 'bitten' by a BHP or 1911 hammer....Knock on Wood....Rod __________________ Cherish our flag, honor it, defend it in word and deed, or get the hell out. Our Bill of Rights has been paid for by heros in uniform and shall not be diluted by misguided governmental social experiments. We owe this to our children, anything less is cowardice. USAF FAC, 5th Spl Forces, Vietnam Vet '69-'73.

November 16, 2021, 11:46 PM	#8
JDBerg Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2015 Location: PA Posts: 1,835	My 2 BHP’s do not hammer bite me. Every one of my Glocks will slide bite me, if I didn’t have Grip Force Adapters on my Gen3 17 & 19, and the large beavertail backstrap on my Gen4 21 and my 19X. __________________ Words to Live By: Before You Pray - Believe; Before You Speak - Listen; Before You Spend - Earn; Before You Write - Think; Before You Quit - Try; Before You Die - Live