Series 80/70 difference?

[Bronson7]

My brother has a series 80 Colt and I have a SA milspec. His hammer will drop from the half cock position when pulling the trigger. His series 80 has a small metal lever at the back end of the receiver that looks like it engages the firing pin safety. Exactly what does this do and what are the differences between the series 70/80.
Bronson7

[aglocker1911]

The series 80 doesn't actually have a half cock position, it has a safety shelf. Yes the trigger will fall from there. The series 80 has a firing pin lock, the 70 doesnt. The 80 has two small levers in the frame operated by the trigger that raise a plunger in the slide to release the firing pin. Although some don't like it, it is a much better firing pin safety system than the grip safety actuated version Kimber and Smith use, although from what I've seen, the Smith system seems a litle better than Kimbers.

[Bronson7]

Aglocker, is the firing pin locked in the half cocked position? When the trigger's pulled from half cocked on my brother's 70, it does leave a light imprint in the primer. Is this normal or does he have a major problem? Thanks.
Bronson7

[Jim Watson]

The firing pin is not locked when the hammer is on the safety stop AND the trigger is pulled. The Colt Series 80 firing pin block is cleared by trigger travel no matter where the hammer is at the time.
The safety stop is NOT a half cock and there is NO reason for the hammer to be on it short of internal breakage. It is low enough that falling from safety stop position is not SUPPOSED to fire a round but stuff happens. Do not rest the hammer on the safety stop on purpose, it is an emergency device only.

(It is not safe to half cock a real 1911 hammer, either; I don't care what Mike Hammer does.)

[Bronson7]

Thanks, Jim. That clears it up.
Bronson7