Why did the hammer not fall?

w_houle · May 5, 2007, 12:23 PM

I went to the pawn shop and saw a Hungarian copy of a Browning, tried the safety but it didn't go. So I cocked the hammer back (2 clicks) and put the safety on, pulled the trigger and the safety worked so I clicked off the safety. Pulled the slide back and the slide stayed open. I dropped the magazine and inspected the chamber then eased the slide forward. I grabbed the hammer and pulled the trigger and... nothing. I didn't think a Hi-Power had a magazine disconnect but i figured what the heck so I put the magazine in and tried it again and still nothing. After sitting there and messing with it for a while (more like five minutes) the hammer finally dropped. The pawn shop owner grabbed the pistol, shucked it back and flipped the catch to keep it open, then dropped the catch and let the slide fly home, and still the hammer still took some working on to get it to drop. By about this time I'm wondering if I left my iron on, or something in the oven, 'cause I felt like running.
Now the question: What was wrong with it?

Bruxley · May 5, 2007, 02:20 PM

Action is gummed up. Lint + old oil + half assed attemt to clean etc. prob needs complete striping (chemical). Then see if that frees it up. NO AMMO. Dry fire. lube it back up then dry fire more. No probs then OK. DO NOT BUY THAT GUN FOR MORE THAT $50..........lol. Offer $25.

AngusPodgorney · May 5, 2007, 08:09 PM

FN/Browning High Powers come standard with a magazine disconnect safety. So have all the F.E.G. clones that I have seen. The might be a bad fit between the magazine and the safety.

JoshB · May 6, 2007, 08:26 AM

I've heard of guns that will only drop the hammer when a round is in the chamber. I've never actually seen or handled one; I've just heard of them in conversation. This may be one of those guns. However, if the dealer doesn't know anything about it and you can't back it up with some research on your part, I'd stay away from it.

hksigwalther · May 6, 2007, 09:08 AM

As noted above, the mag has to be inserted into the gun for the trigger (via the trigger lever) to actuate the action bar (sear lever). Could be a bad mag or something wrong between the trigger lever and the magazine safety. Maybe the trigger lever is missing. Look inside and to the right of the barrel through the ejection port. The lever should be visible.

w_houle · May 6, 2007, 07:25 PM

Yeah, there's no sense in sinkin' money in a pistol that might be more of a project to get working than I care to do. Thank you all for the info

May 5, 2007, 12:23 PM	#1
w_houle Senior Member Join Date: March 29, 2007 Location: Lincolnville, KS Posts: 1,088	Why did the hammer not fall? I went to the pawn shop and saw a Hungarian copy of a Browning, tried the safety but it didn't go. So I cocked the hammer back (2 clicks) and put the safety on, pulled the trigger and the safety worked so I clicked off the safety. Pulled the slide back and the slide stayed open. I dropped the magazine and inspected the chamber then eased the slide forward. I grabbed the hammer and pulled the trigger and... nothing. I didn't think a Hi-Power had a magazine disconnect but i figured what the heck so I put the magazine in and tried it again and still nothing. After sitting there and messing with it for a while (more like five minutes) the hammer finally dropped. The pawn shop owner grabbed the pistol, shucked it back and flipped the catch to keep it open, then dropped the catch and let the slide fly home, and still the hammer still took some working on to get it to drop. By about this time I'm wondering if I left my iron on, or something in the oven, 'cause I felt like running. Now the question: What was wrong with it?

May 5, 2007, 02:20 PM	#2
Bruxley Senior Member Join Date: April 26, 2007 Posts: 1,477	Action is gummed up. Lint + old oil + half assed attemt to clean etc. prob needs complete striping (chemical). Then see if that frees it up. NO AMMO. Dry fire. lube it back up then dry fire more. No probs then OK. DO NOT BUY THAT GUN FOR MORE THAT $50..........lol. Offer $25. __________________ If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.

May 5, 2007, 08:09 PM	#3
AngusPodgorney Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2004 Location: DelaWHERE? Posts: 514	FN/Browning High Powers come standard with a magazine disconnect safety. So have all the F.E.G. clones that I have seen. The might be a bad fit between the magazine and the safety. __________________ Gunstock 2007 coming soon!

May 6, 2007, 08:26 AM	#4
JoshB Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2006 Posts: 333	I've heard of guns that will only drop the hammer when a round is in the chamber. I've never actually seen or handled one; I've just heard of them in conversation. This may be one of those guns. However, if the dealer doesn't know anything about it and you can't back it up with some research on your part, I'd stay away from it. __________________ -Josh Deut. 12.32

May 6, 2007, 09:08 AM	#5
hksigwalther Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 1998 Location: NE OH, USA Posts: 3,202	As noted above, the mag has to be inserted into the gun for the trigger (via the trigger lever) to actuate the action bar (sear lever). Could be a bad mag or something wrong between the trigger lever and the magazine safety. Maybe the trigger lever is missing. Look inside and to the right of the barrel through the ejection port. The lever should be visible. __________________ - Ron V.

May 6, 2007, 07:25 PM	#6
w_houle Senior Member Join Date: March 29, 2007 Location: Lincolnville, KS Posts: 1,088	Yeah, there's no sense in sinkin' money in a pistol that might be more of a project to get working than I care to do. Thank you all for the info