internal hammer pistols

[simonrichter]

just a brief question concerning pistols with an internal hammer: Is there any reason why these usually feature a slit in the back of the slide instead of being completely closed like striker fired models? I mean theoretically, in good light conditions, you could see the status of the hammer, but I don't think that's the reason

[jetinteriorguy]

Perhaps to keep the slide as short as possible with the hammer fully cocked.

[Sharkbite]

There are a number of internal hammer guns with fully enclosed hammers. The most modern of those are probably the Smith and Wesson EZ series.

[bac1023]

The Alien is completely enclosed

[highpower3006]

The Alien is completely enclosed

So is a 1903/1908 Colt.

[bac1023]

HK P9S also

[jar]

One of my favorite completely enclosed internal hammer models and one of the very few honest pistols.



it has the ejection port on the PORT side.

[simonrichter]

well, exactly - it IS possible and not uncommon to completely enclose the action, but why do some opt against this? (e.g. the Ruger 57, as the most recent example that comes to my mind...). I just see it as a way for dirt and debris to enter the action, but no obvious advantage of this design detail comes to my mind...

[jar]

Originally Posted by simonrichter

well, exactly - it IS possible and not uncommon to completely enclose the action, but why do some opt against this? (e.g. the Ruger 57, as the most recent example that comes to my mind...). I just see it as a way for dirt and debris to enter the action, but no obvious advantage of this design detail comes to my mind...

Keeping crud out was a major issue during the design phase of many handguns leading up to WWII. That was a reflection of the mud and trench warfare of WWI. The Mauser HSc is a great example, an external hammer but sitting on a longer arc so the slot is filled constantly.

But the reality was that the internal hammer designs were not significantly more reliable than the relatively open exposed hammer designs just as striker fired designs were not significantly more reliable than hammer fired.

Some advantages of the exposed hammer is it's a BIG cocked indicator and a safety feature when re-holstering plus allowing selective Single Action shots for increased accuracy.