1911 'Condition One' and other 1911 lore...

[AJMD429]

.
This was interesting - 12 minutes in he discusses the transition from revolver to 1911 and the various methods of carry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQHht0Y8lDo

[jeepnik]

Another youngster repeating what the "old" guys said generations ago.
While folks say that condition zero is unsafe, I knew a couple of fellows who carried that way. Their mind set was, that's what the grip safety is for. I must admit neither of them ever had a problem. On the other extreme, I had an officer that insisted every weapon on his bird be carried with an empty chamber, condition three. I should note that particular thought process did change rather rapidly.

I am far from an expert pistolero, but I have been using the 1911 since 1971 so I figure I have picked up a few tidbits. I carry condition one, you do you, I will do me.

[stretch]

The BIG advantage of the 1911 and the HiPower is that they can be
brought into action very quickly with one hand.

Carrying one of them with the hammer down and the chamber empty negates this
advantage.

If 2 hands are not available, might as well carry a brick.

My opinion - YMMV.

-Stretch

[Griff]

Carried a 1911 for many hours on watch on board a Destroyer. Condition 3 only. I can only remember one incident where I had to lock & load. Drunk sailor thought karate would prevail over k-gun! In VN, on patrol it was condition 2. When I carried my Combat Commander (working in personnel as a background investigator) or my abbreviated stint under cover, it was condition 1. Now, it's only condition 1.

[AJMD429]

The BIG advantage of the 1911 and the HiPower is that they can be
brought into action very quickly with one hand.

Carrying one of them with the hammer down and the chamber empty negates this
advantage.

If 2 hands are not available, might as well carry a brick.

Yep.

I think 'condition one' is FINE, although I prefer a holster set up particularly for that, with (and I know it isn't really needed) a leather strap under the cocked hammer. I don't like holsters without 'straps' or some form of retention anyway, other than if actually at the range and practicing.

The other option I use is carrying a 'double-action-on-first-shot' gun that has the ability to be carried hammer-down but brought into action WITH ONE HAND, as Stretch says. Even with those I have a strap on the holster - just over the hammer instead of under.

Otherwise I guess the third option would be to carry a couple bricks...

[stretch]

The other option I use is carrying a 'double-action-on-first-shot' gun that has the ability to be carried hammer-down but brought into action WITH ONE HAND, as Stretch says.

I sometimes carry a Beretta 92 that way, but I'm always worried that the safety will get bumped
to the 'OFF' position. Taurus made a version that can be carried with the hammer cocked and the
safety on. I should find one of them, maybe.

DA revolvers don't have the issue, of course. SA wheel guns can be manipulated with one hand, but it's slower
and more cumbersome. I've seen video of a guy shooting an SA revolver with 2 hands, and he was darn
quick! Reloads are a mite slow, though. Best to solve the problem with the first shot or two in that case!
In any case, come to think of it...........

I personally don't like straps on carry holsters. I like carrying concealed most of the time, so it's not really an issue.
Awful hard to go for someone's gun if you don't know it's there. Open carry requires one to be MUCH more
vigilant, I think. A lot depends on the holster, too. And the activity level. If you're bouncing around on a horse or
ATV all day, then some sort of strap is maybe a GOOD idea, eh?

-Stretch

[Paladin]

I got my first 1911 from an uncle for $80 (his Marine-issue regiment pistol) in 1970. I don't know how many I have owned since then, but I currently have several in a few calibers. I carried them in the State Police Undercover, and in Combat in the Army, ALWAYS Condition ONE.

[OldWin]

I've carried a 1911 decades. Back in the day, my dad and many others thought it was "dangerous". Only revolvers were safe. The more I learned about the workings of a 1911, the more I came to see how inherently safe this pistol really is. It's a wonderful design, and at this stage of my life, I doubt I will switch to something else as my favorite carry pistol.

Opinion warning.
If you aren't going to carry a 1911 in condition one, you'd be better armed with a revolver.