Sunday 27 June 2010

Half-cock

Half-cock is a technical firearms term referring to the position of the hammer where the hammer is partially but not completely cocked. Many firearms, particularly older firearms, had a notch cut into the hammer allowing half-cock, as this position would neither allow the gun to fire nor permit the hammer-mounted firing pin to rest on a live percussion cap or cartridge. The purpose of the half-cock position has variously been used either for loading a firearm, or, as a safety-mechanism, or for both reasons.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-cock

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