Abstract: My invention is a new and improved hammer mechanism which reduces the strength of the hammer mainspring without also reducing the hammer's strike force. My invention comprises a link mechanism integrally assembled to the hammer of a firearm. The link mechanism moves at a positive velocity relative to the hammer as the hammer itself moves from the “cocked” position to the striking position. Both the hammer and the link mechanism are biased into the striking position by the hammer mainspring with a section of the link mechanism protruding from the front surface of the hammer and impacting the firing element of the firearm or primer. The link mechanism thus impacts the firing element or primer at a velocity and force roughly equal to the aggregate velocities and forces of the hammer and the link mechanism.