Hammer Spur Damaging Shirt - Problem Solved

[chief38]

Putting shrink tubing, surgical tubing, etc on a hammer spur sort of negates the whole purpose of the knurling on the hammer - to assist in a non slip thumb cocking. IMHO, if you have this issue with it catching clothing then I'd buy another hammer and do some minor alterations to the new one. You can slightly bob the tip of the hammer spur. In other words, remove about 1/3 of it but round the ends off to smooth. You can also slightly sand down the knurling to a less aggressive "grab" and it will still function as intended but will not be as sharp as the originals are. Personally some might recommend removing the hammer spur completely, but I am not a fan of that as I do like the option of thumb cocking for a precise, aimed shot.

I would not alter the original hammer! If you do not like this modification, you can always reinstall the original.

All that said, if the shrink tubing works for you, you can stick with that.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

My former friend G. Gordon Liddy relates in his book WILL that he had his tailor sew a piece of sailcloth inside his suit coat so hammer would not wear hole in coat. He also had his tailor rearrange his belt loops so that holster was always in same place when he reached for it.

Back in the day when I wore a suit to work daily I would take the coats to a local tailor and have the silky, left-side breast pocket removed and replaced with denim that I supplied. Absent that the hammer would wear a hole there very quickly. Concealed carry was not yet on the horizon and I worked in an office where firearms were not permitted. My little Beretta .25 ACP Model 950 BS was unseen forever..........after work and the removal of the suit it disappeared into my pants pocket.

 

[GerSan69]

Only one issue with "capping" the hammer spur - moisture accumulates in there no matter how tight the cap might be.
My example is a 60's-vintage Model 60 I found at a gun shop on consignment for $350 a few years back. The owner had used the heat-shrink method. It was somewhat worn down, like it was filed or otherwise scraped on an abrasive surface, so I decided to remove it. What I found underneath was an irregular-shaped patch of rust had formed on the spur. Some of it was in the knurling and I had a heck of a time getting down into those tight little grooves to clean it up. Lesson learned: take off whatever you use periodically to clean the hidden part of the hammer!

 

[rednichols]

There have been sharp hammer spurs on DA revolvers since the end of the 19th century! So holster makers resolved that problem long ago. The best solution was the now-common thumbsnap but the 'dog ear' hammer spur protector was the earlier solution.

I see from the OP's images that it's the trend to strapless holsters that has caused folks to return to the problem with clothing wear. The true purpose of spur guards: to prevent the elbow of the gun hand from cocking the revolver in the holster, without noticing while moving the elbow in daily tasks. I know of one chap who killed his partner while showing off his revolver and touching the trigger with it cocked.

This early design from John Bianchi (1960s) was an improvement on the Heiser 459 (1950s) by having the spur guard on BOTH sides of the hammer; yet the revolver draws as if they guards aren't there.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Just don't wear a shirt , problem solved , cost $00.00 .

 

[jframejoey]

I remember seeing lots of red rubber tips on hammers of J & Ks in the gun stores around me here in the Boston area in the 80s & 90s.

 

[VictorLouis]

NCB, can you please tell us about the holster? That's so rare to see one with the clip where it SHOULD be. Thanks

 

[K Frame Keith]

There have been sharp hammer spurs on DA revolvers since the end of the 19th century! So holster makers resolved that problem long ago. The best solution was the now-common thumbsnap but the 'dog ear' hammer spur protector was the earlier solution.

I see from the OP's images that it's the trend to strapless holsters that has caused folks to return to the problem with clothing wear. The true purpose of spur guards: to prevent the elbow of the gun hand from cocking the revolver in the holster, without noticing while moving the elbow in daily tasks. I know of one chap who killed his partner while showing off his revolver and touching the trigger with it cocked.

This early design from John Bianchi (1960s) was an improvement on the Heiser 459 (1950s) by having the spur guard on BOTH sides of the hammer; yet the revolver draws as if they guards aren't there.

I have a few of this style. Comfortable.