Abilene, I am not touching the hammer when attempting to cock the revolver.
I also noticed, but don't know if this is a characteristic of the Schofield revolver, that if you place the hammer at the half cock position to open it if you don't open it all the way and hear the click just prior to locking it back closed you are unable to bring the hammer to full cock on the first try. It takes several attempts before you can fully cock the revolver. If you open the revolver fully and then close it back you will hear a little click just prior to the revolver locking back closed you can then bring the hammer to full cock on the first attempt. This takes place regardless of whether or not you allow the extractor to function or press the bar that disengages the extractor function.
The thing is, if you just want to take a peek to insure you have a certain number of rounds loaded by just opening the revolver just enough to peek in and then close it back it will then not come to full cock on the first attempt. Is this characteristic of the Schofield?
Man, I hate to have to send this back to Taylors, after I just received it but I agree. I really don't have any other option.
Thanks guys for the sound advise.