External Hammer/Sear Inspection Pins
See Hammer and Sear Engagement—Clearly and Confidently
The TMC External Hammer/Sear Inspection Pins let you observe hammer and sear interaction outside of the frame with complete clarity. Instead of guessing what’s happening inside the pistol, you can see the contact surfaces directly as they actually engage. As a result, you eliminate uncertainty and gain immediate visual confirmation of your work.
Just as importantly, these inspection pins remove the need for constant disassembly and reassembly. Rather than “blind testing” every adjustment, you can evaluate changes in real time. Consequently, you save time, reduce frustration, and work with far greater precision.
Why External Inspection Matters in 1911 Gunsmithing
Frame Variations Change Everything
Although hammer/sear jigs appear precise, no two 1911 frames share identical pin spacing. Because of these natural manufacturing variations, the spacing on a jig rarely matches the spacing inside your actual frame. Therefore, relying solely on a jig can lead to misleading results.
Avoid False Positives from Jigs
While a hammer and sear may appear perfectly mated on a jig, that same relationship can change once installed in the frame. In other words, what looks correct in the jig may be incorrect in the pistol. By contrast, TMC External Hammer/Sear Inspection Pins show you the true engagement geometry as it will exist in real-world operation.
Precision You Can Trust
By allowing direct observation of hammer and sear contact, these inspection pins help you fit smarter, work faster, and achieve safer trigger geometry. Ultimately, they provide the confidence that your engagement surfaces are correct—not just on the bench, but in the gun itself.
External Frame Mounting
First and foremost, the TMC External Hammer/Sear Inspection Pins mount on the outside of a 1911 frame.
Because of this placement, they provide a clear, unobstructed view of hammer and sear engagement.
As a result, you can see exactly what happens as you work.
Instead of repeated assembly and disassembly, these pins simplify the process.
More importantly, they allow real-time observation of engagement surfaces.
Consequently, adjustments become precise and confident.
In other words, trial-and-error blind testing is no longer necessary.
Proper Frame Setup
To begin, refer to Figure 2 for the correct setup on the frame.
First, insert the inspection pins through the hammer and sear pin holes.
Just like factory pins, they install easily and correctly.
Because the pins remain external, they hold the hammer and sear in their true operating position.
At the same time, the engagement surfaces remain fully visible.
Therefore, you can evaluate engagement accurately without disturbing your setup.
O-Ring Installation
Once the pins are in place, install the supplied O-rings on the opposite side of the frame.
These O-rings are critical to the process.
Specifically, they apply light tension against the frame.
At the same time, they eliminate side-to-side pin movement while you work.
As a result, alignment stays consistent.
Consequently, stoning, polishing, and geometry changes remain controlled and repeatable.
Real-Time Engagement Adjustment
With the pins fully secured, you can safely cock and release the hammer.
As you do, you can watch the sear engagement change with each adjustment.
Because of this immediate feedback, every change is visible.
Likewise, every result is easy to verify.
Final Results
Ultimately, the TMC External Hammer/Sear Inspection Pins streamline the fitting process.
At the same time, they reduce unnecessary wear from repeated assembly cycles.
In the end, they help deliver clean, precise, and reliable 1911 trigger geometry.
Initial Engagement Inspection
Once the hammer and sear are installed on the external inspection pins, inspection begins immediately.
At this point, you can clearly see how the sear nose fits against the hammer hooks.
As a result, the true engagement geometry becomes visible right away.
From here, inspect hook depth and contact location.
At the same time, evaluate overall surface mating.
Because the frame no longer blocks your view, nothing is hidden.
Consequently, you gain a clear and accurate picture of how the parts interact during operation.
Pin Alignment and Frame Influence
Just as importantly, any cant or misalignment in the frame transfers directly to the inspection pins.
This includes hammer and sear pin holes that are not perfectly parallel.
Because of this transfer, the pins replicate real in-frame geometry.
In other words, they show the true working relationship between the hammer and sear.
As a result, problems that bench jigs often hide become immediately obvious.
Top and Bottom Engagement Checks
For this reason, always inspect engagement at both the top and the bottom.
First, examine the hammer hooks.
Then, inspect the sear nose.
Although a fit may appear correct at one edge, it may be incorrect at the other.
Therefore, uneven contact must never be ignored.
By inspecting both areas, you can identify taper and angular mismatch early.
In addition, you can spot uneven bearing surfaces before damage occurs.
As a result, you prevent inconsistent trigger pull and premature wear.
At the same time, you reduce the risk of unsafe engagement.
Focus Areas for Correction
Figure 3 highlights the critical inspection areas.
Once the parts are installed, concentrate on these points.
Using what you see, make targeted and deliberate corrections.
Then, verify uniform contact across the full engagement surface.
In this way, you ensure the hammer and sear function as a matched set.
Final Trigger Results
Ultimately, this inspection process produces a cleaner break.
Consequently, trigger feel becomes consistent and predictable.
Over time, long-term reliability improves in your 1911.
Specifications
Material: Stainless Steel
Hammer Pin Diameter: 0.157″ (−0.002″)
Sear Pin Diameter: 0.110″ (−0.002″)
These precision-ground stainless steel pins maintain proper fit and alignment, ensuring accurate hammer and sear inspection during setup and adjustment.
cabemis (verified owner) –
These external hammer and sear pins were shipped in a proper box and quickly. I took them out, oiled them up a bit, and placed them in my 2020’s production Kimber Custom II TLE 1911 pistol. The pins fit perfectly. No real slop at all. I dialed in an older Colt hammer and WW-II sear. The pins let me see an exact orientation, outside the 1911 frame of the hammer and sear.
Yes, you do want these!