What's this on my hammer?

[Mr. Fahrenheit]

Hey, all.

I've got a S&W 1911, Model 108282, that I purchased new about six months ago with an anomaly on the hammer. I never noticed it until the first time I cleaned the gun after about 100 rounds. To date, I've only put about 400 rounds through the barrel and the weapon is otherwise superb. Sweeeeeeet trigger, excellent fit and finish, and enjoyably accurate. I've just been too lazy to bring the camera into the garage and take pictures.

However, there appears to be a manufacturer's defect on the hammer - as shown below.

The hammer is made out of steel, right? I'm guessing it had to come off the assembly line with the defect?

I'm hesitant to send it back to S&W, lest the gun is returned to me functioning even a little bit worse.

Anybody ever see something like this?

Thanks.

 

[Rastoff]

Nothing to worry about. It is just a part of the manufacturing process.

I believe the hammer is a MIM part and this is just the result of the molding process.

I have the brother to your gun, 108284, and my hammer has the exact same mark. I will upgrade it to a billet hammer one day, but I'm not worrying about it now.

Nice gun by the way!

 

[357larry]

It's in a no-stress, no-bearing location. Why would you even worry about it?

 

[Mr. Fahrenheit]

Nothing to worry about. It is just a part of the manufacturing process.

I believe the hammer is a MIM part and this is just the result of the molding process.

I have the brother to your gun, 108284, and my hammer has the exact same mark. I will upgrade it to a billet hammer one day, but I'm not worrying about it now.

Nice gun by the way!

I was wondering if it was MIM. Any time I went to a gun counter at any of my local gun shops I made a point to see if any other brands had such a mark. Oddly, I haven't stumbled upon any S&W 1911's lately, but I didn't see the mark on any other brand of 1911 which made me think it was defective on the manufactured end.

Eh...what do I know? But if the gun is firing superb and the hammer isn't experiencing any stress, I'm not fixing what isn't broken.

 

[PHB]

It is the injection point of the MIM mold I know at what was paid it should not be their I have a Kimber with about the same mark on the hammer it is nothing to worry about.

 

[SMSgt]

Welcome to the world of MIM. As long as it works, don't sweat it.

 

[mike from st pete]

If it was plastic the spure (sp?) or the gate where the molten material enters the mould cavity. I would expect the same terminology would be used?

 

[LesterPTelestrat]

I have that exact same mark on my Made in Oct of 2011 E Series 1911. I figured it was the injection point for the MIM manufacturing process so I never gave it another thought. The gun is so awesome to shoot I don't want to mess with what aint broke.

 

[heekma]

Nothing at all to worry about-it's a gun, not a work of art. Small artifacts show up all over the place on guns. None of them are ever perfect.

Wanna make yourself even more nuts? Go over the gun with a fine-toothed comb and a pair of calipers if you really wanna go hog wild. You'll find all kinds of things that aren't perfect.

Not trying to come off as rude-when a fella pays premium money for a premium gun you expect premium fit and finish-I get that. Keep in mind 20 years ago most guns had very major manufacturing defects, so much so getting a little bent oit of shape about a small casting/sprue mark on the hammer is a bit silly.

Go over a Les Baer or Wilson with such a critical eye and you'll find plenty of tiny, meaningless things that aren't perfect. That's fine and expected. What's important is whether or not the important things are perfect.

You've got a very nice gun-enjoy owning and shooting it.

Best,

Heekma

 

[ralph7]

hammer anamoly

i like the way that kinda rolls off your tongue.