1873 revolver question

[jj850]

I know it is standard practice to load Colts and clones with 5 rounds hammer resting on an empty chamber. My questions are

1. Was this the practice when the revolvers were in military use? And if so

2. Why would the government issue a weapon that was unsafe when fully loaded?

It seems that if the contracting agency i.e. the army told Colt " great pistol but fix it so our troopers don't get shot when something hits the hammer " Colt's response would have been "we are on it."

John Browning took several tries to get the 1911 the way the government wanted it. So what was the deal with the 1873?

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Kind of makes you wonder how much has changed. Colt1873 (don't drop it) Sig Pxxx (don't drop it)