1911 / 1911A1 Hammer Identification

cololab · Jun 19, 2024

Here are two hammers I picked up years ago from a gunsmith who told me these hammers were takeoffs from WW2 1911A1s of some make. I've tried to determine what these actually are, but even with the help of Clawson's books, I'm uncertain. The wide spur resembles Colt and the narrow spur is possibly Remington Rand. Are these military or some aftermarket commercial items?

Can any of you 1911 aficionados be of help?

AJ · Jun 19, 2024

The wider hammer spur is for an M1911, the narrow spur is for a M1911A1.

Try here: https://www.coolgunsite.com/

cololab · Jun 19, 2024

AJ said:
The wider hammer spur is for an M1911, the narrow spur is for a M1911A1.

Try here: https://www.coolgunsite.com/

According to Clawson, some WW2 early production Colt 1911A1 pistols had wide spur hammers, but I'm not sure this is one of them.

Ivan the Butcher · Jun 19, 2024

Long before AR-15s existed, the Government Model was the Lego kit of the gun world.

The most common "Mix and Match" parts are Triggers, Mainspring Housings, and Hammers.

I talked to WWII vets that said they had armorers that would swap out anything that had parts for. My personal builds always had the wide "Beaver Tail" hammers (except for one I did with a Commander hammer & modified grip safety). They didn't change function at all, but it made me happy.

Ivan

flintsghost · Jun 19, 2024

The wide spur hammer is a Colt 1911A1. It differs from the 1911 hammer in that the spur is shorter and the 1911 has a more pronounce curvature on the spur. Very early 1911's used a short spur also for a few months. The other hammer is also a Colt 1911A1 for pistols after Colt switched around serial 1.7 million, (exact serial is unknown). The 2nd hammer is similar to a Remington Rand except on the Colt the diamonds are sharper and more distinct whereas on the Rand the diamonds are flat and more rounded. The narrow checkered hammer also appears on US&S pistols but the checkering is noticably different than Colt or Rem Rand. To tell if the hammers have been refinished look at the flat running up to the sear notches. On Colt hammers, both installed and replacements the flat up to the flat side of the sear notches will always be bare metal with no finish as if they had just been stoned or machined. They were always machined after they were finished and that's why they look that way. You will find that in pistols as well as new replacement parts that you unwrap from military oil paper.

cololab · Jun 20, 2024

flintsghost said:
The wide spur hammer is a Colt 1911A1. It differs from the 1911 hammer in that the spur is shorter and the 1911 has a more pronounce curvature on the spur. Very early 1911's used a short spur also for a few months. The other hammer is also a Colt 1911A1 for pistols after Colt switched around serial 1.7 million, (exact serial is unknown). The 2nd hammer is similar to a Remington Rand except on the Colt the diamonds are sharper and more distinct whereas on the Rand the diamonds are flat and more rounded. The narrow checkered hammer also appears on US&S pistols but the checkering is noticably different than Colt or Rem Rand. To tell if the hammers have been refinished look at the flat running up to the sear notches. On Colt hammers, both installed and replacements the flat up to the flat side of the sear notches will always be bare metal with no finish as if they had just been stoned or machined. They were always machined after they were finished and that's why they look that way. You will find that in pistols as well as new replacement parts that you unwrap from military oil paper.

Thanks for the analysis you provided! Here is a photo of the flat area you mention above.

flintsghost · Jun 20, 2024

Those are both Colt hammers, not aftermarket. Colt was based on my experience the only manufacturer that did that, both in new parts to be installed in pistols at the plant and shipped out as spare parts. I have a fairly extensive collection of both pistols and parts, myself. If you decide you want to let them go, I am in the Denver metro area and would be interested.

cololab · Jun 20, 2024

flintsghost said:
Those are both Colt hammers, not aftermarket. Colt was based on my experience the only manufacturer that did that, both in new parts to be installed in pistols at the plant and shipped out as spare parts. I have a fairly extensive collection of both pistols and parts, myself. If you decide you want to let them go, I am in the Denver metro area and would be interested.

I'll send you a PM.

offrdmania · Jun 20, 2024

Looks like a Colt and Remington Rand to me but hard to say 100% without them being in my hands. I would have to feel the finish to see if they are a repro part or original USGI. From your first pic, they almost look like they are crudely cast.

1911 / 1911A1 Hammer Identification

cololab

Member

Attachments

AJ

US Veteran

cololab

Member

Ivan the Butcher

Member

flintsghost

Member

cololab

Member

Attachments

flintsghost

Member

cololab

Member

offrdmania

Member

Similar threads

Latest posts