Exposed Hammer Concern or Not?

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Nathan

New member
For those of you who CCW an exposed spur hammer gun like a S&W revolver, classic 1911, etc...Do you get spur marks(sores, pain, bruising) in your side from it? Any other issues?

Please give some background like gun, holster, how often carried, etc?

I'm just sort of wondering truth or fiction here.
 
I carry 1911s and S&W revolvers, and no, the hammer has never once been an issue.

With a quality holster, there will be a flap of leather sticking up past the hammer, so it never touches your skin. Furthermore, take a good look at the gun- the hammer is narrower than the back end of the slide or the frame (whether a semiauto or revolver). It's just not likely to make contact with you, or if it does, you're also going to have issues from the grips, the back end of the slide, and the rear sights.

It's generally a nonexistent concern that is further mitigated by having quality gear.
 
At various times I've carried S&W K-Frame and N-Frame revolvers, usually in "pancake" type holsters (e.g., Don Hume #721). Some have thumb break; some are open top.

I regularly carried "classic" SIGs (P220 and P239) in similar holsters (DH #721 or DeSantis "Speed Scabbard").

Never a problem with hammer hitting me or my clothes. I do have one jacket that has a thin lining (almost like silk, though I doubt it is really silk) that took a beating from a K-Frame hammer.

Never a problem with sights or frame.
 
I carry a 1911 Colt Officers model in SS. My first IWB holster had the hammer in my love handles (I'm not as trim as I used to be) but a better holster with leather that reaches above the hammer solved the issue. Sorry, I don't remember the brand of the holster. :)
 
I prefer an exposed hammer on all my revolvers. And I carry a S&W Chief's Special IWB (appendix carry). For this reason, I ensure there is leather between me and the hammer. I comfortably carry my snubbie in a Bianchi Pro 100 holster:

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Handgun hammer spurs; CCed firearms....

Approx 90-95% of my own(not issue or authorized) sidearms have been "spurless". ;)
To me, it's a non-issue. A smooth or reduced spur like a DA only revolver or semi auto pistol is a lot of sense.
It does not snag or get caught in garments. The spur doesn't cut or wear on bare skin. The smooth type exposed hammers like the ParaUSA LDA, HK-LEM or SIG Sauer DAK also speed ignition.
A few gun show rangers or weekend Rambos may gripe about DA/SA controls or if the hammer can fully hit the round's primer but DA only pistols have been in service for decades(US federal agencies, Canada, NYPD, Chicago PD, etc).

I'll continue to buy & carry DA only hammer fired systems for years.
Clyde
 
My primary concern here would be with drawing in an SD situation snagging on clothing. As has already been addressed the comfort of it never bothered me as you have to really be contorted to have the hammer digging into your hip.
 
I carry a variety of S&W J,K, and N frames. On the 'old' Bodyguard J the hammer is almost invisible tho it can be pulled, the others have exposed hammers but with a proper holster its not a problem. Should mention that J-frames can be pocket carried sans holster, especially the Bodyguard (M438) and hammerless M442.

The 1911s are carried C&L and are quite streamlined that way, never a snag, and the smaller ones, ie Mustang, Officers, or Micro size can even be carried in a back jeans pocket (when necessary) sans holster.

The Sigs have rounded hammers which do not interfere (ie Sig P239).

As for holster, I use ankle, IWB, OWB, and/or shoulder holsters, and some of the brands are mentioned upstream.

"Do you get spur marks(sores, pain, bruising) in your side from it?" [Nathan]

No. You just have to find the best location(s) for carry. Some work better than others.

The exposed hammer handguns are much easier/safer to carry than my hammerless striker fired Walther PPS which requires a proper and robust holster because of the lack of any effective external safety (ie 1911 type or other). Hate to part with it, but I will likely be selling my PPS because of this lack of tactical flexibility.
 
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With pocket carry, I remove the spur. With other carry, it's nice to have around. I've had more discomfort from thumb safeties than hammers.
 
Nope, not a concern. With just a little practice, it's as easy to get my spur hammer Model 60 from my pocket, as easy as drawing my Model 38, although the Model 38 is lighter. I've never known spur hammers to be an issue, except to the uninitiated.
 
Carry Guns

No problems with S&W M337PD 10 oz. or M60 carried in a pocket holster. Uncle Mike's SideKick. Carried 24/7 Sits outside the shower, not water proof. :D
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I carry both a 1911 and or a S&W 637 snub nose. Never once has the spur been an issue. The holsters are Galco Fletch holsters along with a Bianchi IWB for the snub and a Don Hume pocket holster.

An exposed spur isn't a problem with concealed carry.
 
I carry a 1911 in an OWB holster. Some of my holsters have a "sweat shield" between me and the pistol, some don't. I have never even felt the hammer "digging into me," let alone actually leaving marks.

I am not morbidly obese, but I am overweight for my height and age.
 
Nice grips Skadoosh!

I never had problems with getting poked by the hammer and I made it a habit to put my thumb on the hammer when drawing so no problem in snagging either. If carried in a pocket without a pocket holster the gun can get turned around where the hammer catches in the corner of the pocket so best not to do that.

mike
 
I generally carry a cocked and locked Hi-Power when I am not working, and on rare occassions carry a 1911 instead. I carry IWB, but I order holsters with the extra leather that goes up by the hammer/frame and slightly higher to keep from having the skin bite. It makes tons of difference for me
 
Pittsburgh PA area incidents....

As a youth in west PA, I saw a TV news report of a Pittsburgh area detective who had his revolver hammer spur snag on his winter parka as he made an arrest of a violent subject.
The cop wasn't hurt but I'm sure he learned a big lesson. ;)
I also worked briefly with a former county "sex crimes"(now called SVU or special victims unit) investigator who laughed with me about how his big Colt Python .357magnum.
The ex-cop said he ruined a few sport coats & suits because the spur would wear into the fabric. He'd tote the .357magnum on his strong side hip at a FBI cant(slight muzzle rearward).
 
yup

I've never had a revolver tear me up, but my Browning HiPower will bite me now and again in the holster. My solution was to go with a holster that carries the pistol a bit "lower". I have to wear a longer outer garment, but that solved the holster bite from my Browning.
 
Even though I never use it, except for messing around at the range, I always prefer a spur. I've never had any snagging or comfort issues. Of course, a good holster always helps..

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