eerw re: what allows the hammer to come back down after each DAO shot?
Look closely at the third .jpg
I think it's the metal horn -showing light wear from slide travel- that extends to the rear of the sear block, on the right hand side of this block. This horn acts like a fulcrum that when pressed by the slide, lifts the sear away from the returning hammer hook. When the slide is closed, the fulcrum is released upward to permit sear function during trigger pull.