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Gun dropped -- Gun goes off

Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 2:18 pm
by grad_Student
There is a story on KHOU in Houston about a gentleman who dropped a gun, gun went off, striking another individual. Can someone explain to me how dropping a gun would make it discharge. I was under the impression that grip safety guns cannot be discharged unless the grip safety is engaged. I was also under the impression that pistols with a decocker cannot be discharged because there isn't a way for the hammer to strike the pin. Someone school me in internal operations of a pistol should it be dropped.

Re: Gun dropped -- Gun goes off

Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 2:30 pm
by seamusTX
No firearm manufactured in a civilized country after about 1980, and most for about 80 years before, will discharge when dropped.

We haven't determined whether this incident involved an antique firearm or some kind of careless handling.

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=41205" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Now here I get on my soapbox before this thread is locked. Who in their right mind trusts their life to a Saturday night special that sold for $10 in 1920. Sheesh. Are you driving a Model T? Are you wearing button-up long johns?

- Jim

Re: Gun dropped -- Gun goes off

Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 2:38 pm
by Oldgringo
seamusTX wrote:No firearm manufactured in a civilized country after about 1980, and most for about 80 years before, will discharge when dropped.

We haven't determined whether this incident involved an antique firearm or some kind of careless handling.

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=41205" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Now here I get on my soapbox before this thread is locked. Who in their right mind trusts their life to a Saturday night special that sold for $10 in 1920. Sheesh. Are you driving a Model T? Are you wearing button-up long johns?

- Jim
Hmmm? I thought that the "cocked and locked" attitude for a 1911 was so that it couldn't discharge if dropped on its hammer with a live round in the chamber. Who told me that?

Re: Gun dropped -- Gun goes off

Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 2:45 pm
by seamusTX
1911s are drop-safe. So are all Beretta 92 and their imitators. Nobody is talking about such firearms in this incident.

- Jim

Re: Gun dropped -- Gun goes off

Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 2:46 pm
by Keith B
As mentioned, thread already running here viewtopic.php?f=7&t=41205" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; so locking topic and continue discussion in other thread.