Many of the older hammer guns were developed and sold at a time when stationary hunting was the norm. In England and Europe; Driven birds of various kinds; In the US, Ducks and Pigeons that darkened the skies.
As covered above, there still exist some selected situations where hammer guns are both effective and safe.
However, they are both ineffective and dangerous in many other situations. Walking with cocked hammers is dangerous, for obvious reasons. The "safety", in this case the uncocked hammers, are not to be taken off (cocked) until the bird has flushed. That's a basic safety tenant. Try that on a Grouse or Woodcock flush.
Even at half cock, problems can and do occur. I was hunting with someone, in Grouse/Woodcock cover, when his hammer, at half cock, was put into a semi-cocked position by a small branch and then the hammer dropped and the gun fired, without his hand touching the trigger. Luckily, no one was hurt. He has never hunted with that gun again.
As I mentioned above, I have two hammer guns, and I enjoy the nostalgia of using them, but clay targets and only selected hunting situations suit such a weapon.
