The Savage actually does not have a hammer. What looks like a hammer is actually a cocking piece. These are truly excellent pieces of workmanship, and have an unusual rotating barrel which provides a hesitation of the blowback action. I have developed some truly hot .32 ACP loads at a MV around 1200 ft/sec with 90 grain lead bullets. Pretty potent for a .32, and I wouldn't use them in anything other than a Savage.