Target Sports

Alaska boy shot when gun drops from mom's holster

The #1 community for Gun Owners of the Gulf Coast States

Member Benefits:

  • Fewer Ads!
  • Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership
  • Discuss anti-gun legislation
  • Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section
  • Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses
  • Discover free outdoor shooting areas
  • View up to date on firearm-related events
  • Share photos & video with other members
  • ...and so much more!
  • Droshki

    Master
    Joined
    Oct 23, 2013
    Messages
    3,864
    Points
    38
    Location
    Texas
    http://www.cbsnews.com/news/alaska-boy-shot-when-gun-drops-from-mom-holster/

    Besides being the AD/ND of the week.... revolvers can go off when dropped? I'd figure there was something to block the hammer until the trigger was pulled. Is this what I hear people call a "transfer bar", and it's not present on older designs?

    Sorry, as is probably obvious by now, I know nothing about wheelguns.
     

    Jeb21

    Master
    Joined
    Jul 27, 2014
    Messages
    2,098
    Points
    0
    Location
    Cantonment
    That is not always true. Modern revolvers with a hammer mounted firing pin should be drop safe. Any Smith and Wesson revolver made after WWII should have a hammer block safety that makes the weapon drop safe. Rugers should be drop safe after 1975 or so. Taurus, Charter arms ect. . . all use either a transfer bar safety or a hammer block safety to achieve a drop safe weapon. Here is a copy of a really good post on this topic from the Smith and Wesson forum

    "A hammer block and transfer bar use different method to accomplish the same basic thing: preventing the hammer from traveling far enough forward to ignite a primer unless the trigger is pulled.

    All S&W revolvers made since WWII, with the exception of DAO "Centennial" models like the M40 and 42, have a sliding-type hammer block regardless of whether they have a hammer or frame mounted firing pin. The sliding-type hammer block is considered very safe and positive and a so-equipped revolver is just as safe to carry fully loaded as one with a transfer bar.

    The hammer block itself is a small piece of metal that, when the action is at rest (hammer down, trigger fully forward) sits between the hammer and frame thus restricting the hammer's forward movement. When the trigger is pulled or hammer cocked, the trigger pushes the rebound slide backward. The bottom of the hammer block has a diagonal groove in it which sits over a stud on the side of the rebound slide so that as the rebound slide moves backward, the hammer block is pulled down and out of the path of the hammer. When the trigger moves forward (either by being released after firing the gun or from manually decocking), it allows the rebound slide spring to push the rebound slide forward. As the rebound slide moves forward, it both cams the hammer back a slight amount and pushes the hammer block up into position between the hammer and frame.

    As has been mentioned, the only S&W revolvers made since WWII without hammer blocks are the DAO "Centennial" models. These models do not need hammer blocks because their hammers are completely enclosed within the frame thus making a blow to the hammer pretty much impossible.

    A transfer bar, on the other hand works in what could be described as the opposite manner of a hammer block. In a transfer bar gun, the hammer has a small shelf on top of it which rests against the frame and thus prevents the hammer from directly contacting the firing pin (this is why all transfer bar revolvers have frame mounted firing pins). The transfer bar itself is a flat piece of metal that is hinged at the bottom to the back of the trigger. When the trigger moves backward by either being pulled or the hammer cocked, the transfer bar slides up into position between the hammer and firing pin. This, in essence, "fills the gap" between the face of the hammer and the firing pin so that when the hammer falls, its energy is transferred through the transfer bar to the firing pin (hence the name). As the trigger moves forward (either by being released after firing or by manually decocking) the transfer bar is pulled back downward and out of the path of the hammer.

    As I explained before, both systems are equally positive and safe. The hammer block is, theoretically, slightly less prone to light strikes because none of the hammer's energy is lost through a transfer bar. That being said, I've shot many guns with both types and the only time that light strikes was ever a problem in a transfer bar gun was one which had lighter-than-factory springs installed. On the other hand, the transfer bar system uses fewer parts and looks to me like it would require less machining and thus be less expensive to produce."

    The guy who wrote this has a member name of Webleymkv. He knows his stuff.

    I am really interested in finding out how this weapon malfunctioned. My bet is that she had an old model Ruger Blackhawk which is not drop safe unless the hammer is resting on an empty chamber.
     
    Last edited:

    Snow Bird

    Master
    Joined
    Feb 11, 2013
    Messages
    3,218
    Points
    0
    Location
    Foley, AL
    The only gun I have ever sent back to the factory was a old Ruger Black Hawk to have the transfer bar installed. They sent the old parts back in case I wanted to return it to stock.
     

    flyandscuba

    Master
    Joined
    Sep 26, 2012
    Messages
    3,112
    Points
    38
    Location
    Anchorage, AK / Milton, FL
    I'm not buying the story. I'm thinking this was someone's booger hook inside the trigger guard with an induced ND. Out of fear - the "dropped on the pavement" story was concocted. I was at this shop last Monday. Small well stocked store. Limited gravel parking. With the temps lately, most of the snow is gone but slippery ice is on many parking lots and walkways... Could be a factor with a slip and the finger inside the trigger guard situation.
     
    Last edited:

    Droshki

    Master
    Joined
    Oct 23, 2013
    Messages
    3,864
    Points
    38
    Location
    Texas
    I'm not buying the story. I'm thinking this was someone's bugger hook inside the trigger guard with an induced ND. Out of fear - the "dropped on the pavement" story was concocted. I was at this shop last Monday. Small well stocked store. Limited gravel parking. With the temps lately, most of the snow is gone but slippery ice is on many parking lots and walkways... Could be a factor with a slip and the finger inside the trigger guard situation.

    Honestly thats what I think and was what I was fishing for by asking about the safety features of revolvers. I just find it hard to believe that anything made in the last 30 years will go off if dropped, but my qualification is still true, I don't know anything about revolvers. But for one thing, how (un)lucky would you have to be to have it land right on the hammer? And where do people buy these holsters that the gun just falls the f@ck out every time they move?
     
    Top Bottom