Many "professional" and other users, both back-when and now, object to the cut away trigger guard. They have a right to their opinions of course, but at the same time I have found it interesting that a number of very capable, informed and experienced individuals endorsed it.
They included, but were not limited to the previously mentioned Col. Charles Askins, William E. Fairbairn of Fairbairn and Sykes fame, Col. Rex Applegate, who carried one while part of a special Military Police detail that was assigned to help protect president Franklin Roosevelt for a short period after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and Paul B. Weston who for may years was in charge of handgun training at New York City’s Police Academy. I could name others, but enough is enough.
None of them lacked experience, or were armchair theorists. All of them understood that the likely outcome of a shooting would depend on which of the protagonists landed the first hit that would so disable the other(s) that they couldn’t continue to be a threat. Sometimes only a few milliseconds made the difference, and because of usual rules-of-engagement imposed on the good guys the bad ones would get to start the festivities. Therefore the wise ones were willing to try anything that might increase the odds in their favor, and in their experienced opinion the cut-back trigger guard was one such feature, especially when the revolver was likely to be pocket carried.
Jeff Cooper once made the point that everyone has a right to have an opinion about anything – but that the value of it was directly proportional to they’re experience and knowledge of the issue or subject.
Colt’s John H. Fitz-Gerald (spelling taken from his business card) designed his Fitz Specials for a small and select group of people. Colt never cataloged it, but made it on special order, most of which were submitted through Fitz-Gerald himself. Neither the designer nor the Colt Company intended it to be something for anybody and everybody. It should be noted that far more were made outside the factory then within. That said, most of those that owned the genuine article had the experience and knowledge Cooper was referring to, and even today what they believed and advocated is still meaningful.
