The 1911 Semiautomatic Pistol: Why America's Enemies Still Fear This 100-Year-Old Gun

The Natural Interest ^ | 28 Jan, 2017 | Kyle Mizokami

[camle]

can someone explain why so many 1911 owners seem to carry in the cocked position?

[Senator_Blutarski]

Most handgun triggers hang from the top with allot of travel in the pull.

Lots of handgun triggers are awful (recent S&W designs in particular) because they were designed by lawyers.

[MNnice]

Carried it as top side watch and shore patrol. Couldn’t hit a damn thing with it.

[Vinnie]

Glock triggers, especially with a drop-in 3.5 lb trigger connector, are far crisper than most stock (and affordable) 1911s.

Yes, and just primed for an AD. No thanks.

[D Rider]

Nearly all experts prefer the 9mm. But when posed the question, "if you are in a room, and a bunch of guys burst in that want to cut your head off, what do you want a 9mm of a .45?".....A: the .45. Enough said on the subject.

I also love the 1911.

[Farmer Dean]

Do you still have the HK91?That’s a weapon with real short range stopping power.I have complete confidence in mine.

[98ZJ USMC]

1911 is a good gun. Many well-made modern design semis is better are as good.

FIFY.

[D Rider]

"1911. Like a Glock, but for men.”

wish I said that. Best quote of the day.

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I'd rather have the crisp, 3.5 lb pull of a Glock trigger (again, with the drop-in, no tuning required aftermarket connector) than a 2 lb trigger on a 1911 hidden under the multiple-layer safety net built into 1911s by default.

Although for the record, I don't carry either.

[MileHi]

Not safe to carry hammer down on a loaded chamber. So you carry hammer down on an empty chamber (and have to rack the slide to deploy it) or cocked and locked (thumb safety engaged) with a loaded chamber. To deploy it you draw, griping the grip safety and disengage the thumb safety as you come on the target.

Hope that makes sense.

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I’ve never carried a firearm with either a beast of a trigger or any external safeties, and I’ve never had an AD.

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Modern technology has made better guns. I know there’s a lot of nostalgia and whatnot attached to the 1911 but it simply isn’t the best anymore.

[Blue Collar Christian]

Speaking of ergonomics of 1911 pistols, I fired a Sig 1911 the other day with palm swell grip panels and now I think I need to procure some for one of my 1911s.

[Carriage Hill]

Right out of their boxes, 5-6yrs ago, these 2 Kimbers were flawless. And after 1,500+ rnds thru each, now fitted w/ laser grips, still flawless.

[Bratch]

[Garth Tater]

It's not a multi-layer safety system when used. The grip safety is automatically taken off as you grip the weapon. Even removing the thumb safety is just a part of acquiring the grip on your weapon. No thought or skill required.

Do the sellers really recommend carrying a Glock with a 3.5 lb trigger pull? I'm willing to bet the sellers of that drop-in device have some wordage in their sales contract telling the purchaser that concealed carrying is strongly disadvised.

Care to discuss the travel distance required on a Glock trigger vs a 1911?

[fini]

"I'd be willing to bet that the Lugar would be the hands down winner, time after time. "

I have to agree with you that the Lugar has the best natural feel of all of the pistols I have shot. But it isn't a good combat pistol. It doesn't handle dirt or mud well, because many of the operational parts are exposed.

Repairing a Lugar requires an expert gunsmith that knows Lugars, because many of the parts have to be hand fitted. And each part depends upon another part. For instance, a lot of them have horrible trigger pulls (not bad- horrible). Guess what, to correct a horrible trigger pull many parts have to be refitted or replaced.

Like a high-end Swiss watch, it is a masterpiece of gun art. But I would rather carry a generic revolver, if my life depended upon it.

[gettinolder]

Maybe so.

Still, a lot of LE and special forces still prefer the 1911.

Here’s an article on the MEU SOC 1911 in use in Iraq:
http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/history/meusoc.htm

According to Mas Ayoob Albuquerque SWAT use 1911’s:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m.../ai_n26876430/

LAPD SWAT issues them:
http://www.shootingtimes.com/handgun.../st_0212_lapd/

FBI SWAT and HRT use them:
http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/history/fbi_1911.htm

Tacoma, WA police uses them:
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-107542889.html

[Blue Collar Christian]

Someone had to turn this article from being about the 1911 to being about how Glocks are better. Might as well be you.

One of my buddies has a beautiful Kimber .45Auto in Commander size and a Glock 20 10mm. He says to me he says, “To impress, you show your Kimber to your friends, you show your Glock to your enemies.”

So for me, my next project build gun is going to be a 1911 in 10mm.

[Big Red Badger]

Does to Me

I love that carry.