What does hammer block safety in a pistol mean?

Answer 1

A safety device that blocks the hammer. The hammer being the part of a pistol that impacts the primer. The primer being the part of a metalic cartridge that

detonates or ignites the propellant that propells the projectile or bullet. This safety device may be actuated by the firer of the pistol by moving a lever or switch or by pulling the trigger to its full travel. The trigger being the switch, lever. or button that fires the pistol when pressed or moved by the firer. The device that requires an intentional movement of a button or lever to activate

would be a manual safety. The device that activates by gripping the pistol's frame or by pressing the trigger to fire might be considered a passive safety.

The term hammer block safety would differentiate between safetys that block

function of the pistol by stopping movement of the hammer and those that block

movement of the trigger or some other part of the pistol to prevent unintentional firing of the pistol.