Single Action Hammers

Bob Wright · November 23, 2012, 05:19 PM

As a matter of interest, here is an assortment of hammers from different single action revovlers:

These are two Uberti revovlers, the one on the left has the Uberti hammer block safety, the one on the right has the base pin type hammer block, or, in some cases, no safety at all, the Colt is similar.

Here are two Rugers, the left one a three-screw model, the one on the right a New Model with transfer bar:

And, here on the left again is a New Model Ruger with transfer bar, and the Hy Hunter/Hawes/Great Western hammer with Christy type firing pin. This Great Western revovlers ca. 1955 era, not the current ones.

And, a view of the Christy type firing pin:

Hope someone will find this of benefit.

Bob Wright

Duke City Six · November 23, 2012, 07:31 PM

Bob,

I always enjoy your threads on single actions. Lots of nice photos, too. I've learned a number of things from you.

Hawg · November 23, 2012, 07:58 PM

Gotta love those hammer mounted firing pins.

gak · November 27, 2012, 12:05 PM

Another good post as usual Bob. It's always interesting to watch the old movies and TV shows (of the 50s/60s) for the telltale hammer to see whether a SAA or GW...though the latter sometimes was/could be fitted with a SAA hammer (I think as a GW option, or t least easy aftermarket replacement). Also, regardless of hammer type, funny how many of the actors would have a gun drawn on someone with the hammer down. You sit there saying "dummy, make a move, grab his gun it's not even cocked!" (Oh yeah, it's all make believe!)

Rainbow Demon · November 27, 2012, 12:33 PM

I a few older westerns when it shows someone fanning the hammer if you look closely you'll see that a double action revolver with ejector rod has been substuted for the SAA shown earlier.
One foreign made film used what looked to be the cheap German made western style .38 that resebled the SAA if you didn't look too closely.

Some inaccuracies in westerns are due to concern for safety. Some studios would not allow any actor to open the loading gate of a SAA much less let them load it themselves.

Now days some smaller film companies don't allow even blank firing guns. They use inert props or airsoft replicas and add muzzle blast and report using CGI and audio sound effects.
This reduces insurance costs and delays due to Fire Marshal approval for pyro-technics. Also fewer actors and crew are subject to hearing loss.

PS
For my older Single Six I'm making a chamber adapter to sleeve one chamber down from .22 mag to .22 LR.
I don't expect to use the LR cartridge much if any, but it will prevent accidentally loading a Mag round in that chamber.
I'll then mark the cylinder on each side of that chamber with indentations filled with red paint. These will be visble signs that the hammer is on the empty LR chamber when carrying with five beans in the wheel.

When/if I decide to fire a .22 LR or CB cap in the sleeved chamber I won't be carrying with the other chambers loaded.

Bob Wright · November 27, 2012, 08:47 PM

Rainbow Demon said:

Quote:

PS
For my older Single Six I'm making a chamber adapter to sleeve one chamber down from .22 mag to .22 LR.
I don't expect to use the LR cartridge much if any, but it will prevent accidentally loading a Mag round in that chamber.
I'll then mark the cylinder on each side of that chamber with indentations filled with red paint. These will be visble signs that the hammer is on the empty LR chamber when carrying with five beans in the wheel.

When/if I decide to fire a .22 LR or CB cap in the sleeved chamber I won't be carrying with the other chambers loaded.

Would you explain why this much trouble, rather than having an extra cylinder?

Bob Wright

November 23, 2012, 05:19 PM	#1
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 2,989	Single Action Hammers As a matter of interest, here is an assortment of hammers from different single action revovlers: These are two Uberti revovlers, the one on the left has the Uberti hammer block safety, the one on the right has the base pin type hammer block, or, in some cases, no safety at all, the Colt is similar. Here are two Rugers, the left one a three-screw model, the one on the right a New Model with transfer bar: And, here on the left again is a New Model Ruger with transfer bar, and the Hy Hunter/Hawes/Great Western hammer with Christy type firing pin. This Great Western revovlers ca. 1955 era, not the current ones. And, a view of the Christy type firing pin: Hope someone will find this of benefit. Bob Wright

November 23, 2012, 07:31 PM	#2
Duke City Six Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2010 Posts: 304	Bob, I always enjoy your threads on single actions. Lots of nice photos, too. I've learned a number of things from you. Last edited by Duke City Six; November 23, 2012 at 08:11 PM.

November 27, 2012, 12:33 PM	#5
Rainbow Demon Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2012 Posts: 397	I a few older westerns when it shows someone fanning the hammer if you look closely you'll see that a double action revolver with ejector rod has been substuted for the SAA shown earlier. One foreign made film used what looked to be the cheap German made western style .38 that resebled the SAA if you didn't look too closely. Some inaccuracies in westerns are due to concern for safety. Some studios would not allow any actor to open the loading gate of a SAA much less let them load it themselves. Now days some smaller film companies don't allow even blank firing guns. They use inert props or airsoft replicas and add muzzle blast and report using CGI and audio sound effects. This reduces insurance costs and delays due to Fire Marshal approval for pyro-technics. Also fewer actors and crew are subject to hearing loss. PS For my older Single Six I'm making a chamber adapter to sleeve one chamber down from .22 mag to .22 LR. I don't expect to use the LR cartridge much if any, but it will prevent accidentally loading a Mag round in that chamber. I'll then mark the cylinder on each side of that chamber with indentations filled with red paint. These will be visble signs that the hammer is on the empty LR chamber when carrying with five beans in the wheel. When/if I decide to fire a .22 LR or CB cap in the sleeved chamber I won't be carrying with the other chambers loaded. Last edited by Rainbow Demon; November 27, 2012 at 12:40 PM.

November 23, 2012, 07:58 PM	#3
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	Gotta love those hammer mounted firing pins.

November 27, 2012, 12:05 PM	#4
gak Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2005 Location: Aridzona Posts: 2,767	Another good post as usual Bob. It's always interesting to watch the old movies and TV shows (of the 50s/60s) for the telltale hammer to see whether a SAA or GW...though the latter sometimes was/could be fitted with a SAA hammer (I think as a GW option, or t least easy aftermarket replacement). Also, regardless of hammer type, funny how many of the actors would have a gun drawn on someone with the hammer down. You sit there saying "dummy, make a move, grab his gun it's not even cocked!" (Oh yeah, it's all make believe!)