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Unsafe P64?

Posted: September 7th, 2015, 12:03 pm
by Char181
I have a P64 that that seems to be unsafe to fire. With a snap cap in the chamber and hammer cocked in the "safe" position, the hammer will drop on the snap cap as soon as the safety lever is attempted to move to the "fire position." In other words the safety lever acts like the trigger. Could a worn safety lever be the problem? A stiffer hammer spring was installed but I can't see how this could be the problem. The relic had never been fired by me nor will it until this problem is sorted out. Any thoughts?

Re: Unsafe P64?

Posted: September 7th, 2015, 4:59 pm
by Weasel640
The hammer should NOT stay locked back while the Safety is in the Safe position! Sounds like you may have a worn Safety or Disconnector, among possible other issues. Additionally it really doesn't make sense that you would have a "stiffer" Hammer Spring installed in this as the stock Hammer Spring is really stiff to begin with. Probably take it to a gunsmith to sort out.

Also Please look for a P-64 manual and study it's correct function before using it.

Re: Unsafe P64?

Posted: September 7th, 2015, 7:02 pm
by Char181
Thanks for your reply. I misspoke about the hammer spring. It was a " lighter" 18# hammer spring.

Re: Unsafe P64?

Posted: September 7th, 2015, 8:19 pm
by zardoz
Isn't that how it is supposed to work? This is the first pistol I've had that has a decocker and I was surprised on how it dropped the hammer, just like I had pulled the trigger. But shoudn't the firing pin be blocked?

Jim

Re: Unsafe P64?

Posted: September 8th, 2015, 12:13 am
by Char181
perhaps I have not explained what happens properly. With a snap cap in the chamber and the safety lever on safe, I can cock the hammer and it stays cocked. I then put pressure on the safety lever as if to switch it to fire position but the hammer drops and the firing pin is blocked and the safety lever has never reached the fire position yet. My other p64 will not cock when the safety is in the safe position and I am sure this is as it should be. Another scenerio is snap cap in chamber and safety is on safe and I can cock the hammer and hammer will fall when I push down on the rear of the slide without even touching the safety lever ( still set to safe). Probably a safety catch wear issue. I'll swap the one from my other pistol to see if it fixes the problem.

Re: Unsafe P64?

Posted: September 8th, 2015, 9:34 am
by nerillosa
You cannot cock the hammer with the safety on. Your pistol is not unsafe. Your pistol is defective. Sorry to inform you that you have a misleading title to your post.

Re: Unsafe P64?

Posted: September 8th, 2015, 7:49 pm
by Weasel640
Char181 wrote:perhaps I have not explained what happens properly. With a snap cap in the chamber and the safety lever on safe, I can cock the hammer and it stays cocked. I then put pressure on the safety lever as if to switch it to fire position but the hammer drops and the firing pin is blocked and the safety lever has never reached the fire position yet. My other p64 will not cock when the safety is in the safe position and I am sure this is as it should be. Another scenerio is snap cap in chamber and safety is on safe and I can cock the hammer and hammer will fall when I push down on the rear of the slide without even touching the safety lever ( still set to safe). Probably a safety catch wear issue. I'll swap the one from my other pistol to see if it fixes the problem.

Again sounds like you may have a worn Safety or Disconnector, among possible other issues. Most likely the Disconnector. Instead of trying to swap the Safeties, wouldn't it be easier to just swap slides for dry fire testing?

Re: Unsafe P64?

Posted: September 8th, 2015, 7:55 pm
by Char181
Thanks Weasel. Hadn't thought of that. Much simpler.

Re: Unsafe P64?

Posted: September 9th, 2015, 11:11 am
by Char181
Swapped slide from another P64 on to this pistol and everything functioned perfectly. Safety catch appears badly worn and I feel this is my problem. Anyone have a source for this part? Checking Nemrich and Gunbroker.com but no luck so far. Thanks for all the help here.

Re: Unsafe P64?

Posted: September 9th, 2015, 1:34 pm
by Curly1
Unfortunately the safety is one of the hardest parts to find.

Keep an eye on ebay and gunbroker they do come up occasionally.

Re: Unsafe P64?

Posted: September 9th, 2015, 2:27 pm
by gemini1
Or you could try to polish the disconnector. It seems like when your safety is turned to safe mode, the disconnector is not completely sliding downwards. If the disconnector is halfway up, there is that chance that it would catch the hammer as you cock it. But by not being in its proper position, it may just be holding or catching notch on the hammer at its edge, which could make it fall or fire at the slightest movement.
Use a 1000 grit sandpaper and polish all the sides, as well as the area on the frame where the disconnector rest.

Re: Unsafe P64?

Posted: September 9th, 2015, 5:28 pm
by robhic
zardoz wrote:Isn't that how it is supposed to work? This is the first pistol I've had that has a decocker and I was surprised on how it dropped the hammer, just like I had pulled the trigger. But shoudn't the firing pin be blocked? Jim
Yes, it is blocked. When you hit the decocker, it drops the hammer and also essentially puts the safety in 'SAFE' position so the FP is blocked and you're right.

Re: Unsafe P64?

Posted: September 10th, 2015, 2:24 pm
by Weasel640
Char181 wrote:Swapped slide from another P64 on to this pistol and everything functioned perfectly. Safety catch appears badly worn and I feel this is my problem. Anyone have a source for this part? Checking Nemrich and Gunbroker.com but no luck so far. Thanks for all the help here.
As Curly stated the Safety is one of the hardest parts to find these days. It would be cheaper and easier to find a NEW Disconnector. The NEW ones normally come longer than needed, they can be fitted to the function of specific Slides/Safeties. If you search the forum there are threads about how to fit the Disconnector.

Re: Unsafe P64?

Posted: September 10th, 2015, 2:51 pm
by Char181
Little confused here. If the disconnector could be the problem why did everything seem to work perfectly when I put another slide on the "defective" frame?

Re: Unsafe P64?

Posted: September 10th, 2015, 2:55 pm
by Curly1
Did put the suspect slide on your other pistol to see if it transferred the problem to the working gun?