But I have to say. . . an ND caused by attempting to decock a chambered 1911 deserves extra credit of some kind. That's less negligence than actively malicious stupidity.
Not to blind side you too badly, but too bad you can't tell that to John Browning. His reply would be interesting.
This is text from the 1910 patent, John Browning's safety position is the half cock, and that was how he designed the pistol, that was to become the 1911, to be carried. Round in the chamber, hammer down on the half cock.
Patent 984,519 J. M. Browning, Firearm,
application filed Feb 17 1910. Patented Feb 14 1911.
Page 7
Heretofore in the pistols of this class, when the hammer was cocked ready for firing, and it became necessary to lower the hammer to the safety position without allowing it to touch the firing pin, it required both hands of the user to accomplish this act, because the trigger had to be pulled with the first finger of the right-hand to release the hammer and the grip-lever had simultaneously to be pressed into the grip to release the trigger for operation, to the keeping of the thumb of the right hand in a horizontal position on the side of the grip. Therefore it was impracticable to also extend the thumb of the right hand, while this hand pressed in the grip-lever and pulled the trigger, upward so as to rest upon the thumb-piece of the hammer and, thus controlling the hammer, to gently lower the same and restrain it from falling and from striking the firing pin, because any attempt to do this would result in loosening the necessary hold upon the grip-lever. Consequently the lowering the hammer had to be performed by the other hand, this is a serious drawback in a military arm, as a soldier and especially a mounted soldier does not in action have both hands free for such use. To overcome this difficulty, I have provided the grip-lever w with projecting nose w2 in rear of its pivot, which stands closely in rear of and below the hammer when cocked, and the hammer is so fitted that it may be drawn rearward somewhat father than to its cocked position. When the hammer is drawn fully back it strikes the nose w2 and, by pressing the same downward, it caused the grip-lever to turn on its pivot forcing the lower portion into the grip, thereby releasing the trigger. By this arrangement the thumb of the hand grasping the grip needs not to be kept at the side of the grip need not to be kept at the side of the grip for pressing in the grip-lever, but the thumb may be applied to the hammer and through the same operate the grip lever to release the trigger, then the trigger may be operated with the first finger of the same hand to release the hammer and finally the thumb, still applied to the hammer, may allow the same to slowly descend to the safety position, without requiring the aid of the other hand. The rearward projecting nose w2 of the grip-lever w below the hammer q and in rear of the pivot pin w1, serves to perform another important function in addition to that of providing the point of contact between the grip lever and the hammer, by means of which the grip lever may be operated to release the trigger by drawing the hammer fully rearward, as hereinbefore described.
Links and pictures from Sam Laker’s
ColtAutos.com
This is an exceedingly rare pistol, Sam has pictures of serial number 2, and it is not retrofitted for the thumb safety, and this one, serial number 5, is in the original 1910 troop trails configuration.
this is serial number six
John Browning designed this so his primary customer, the horse cavalry, could make the pistol safe with one hand by lowering the hammer to the half cock. The Army must not have trusted the half cock as a safety, and the Army's pre WW1 practice was to carry the thing, in the flap holster, round in the chamber, hammer down. The Cavalry would never have accepted the 1910 over their beloved revolvers unless John Browning came up with a better way to make the pistol "safe" with one hand, and that is how the thumb safety came about. Still, the thumb safety was only a temporary measure, until the horseman got things calmed down, and was able to lower the hammer all the way down, and put the pistol back in the flap holster.
While Cult Cocked and Locked has extensively modified 1911's so they can play quick draw games, the Cavalry carried the 1911 inside a flap holster, on the bottom of their ammunition belt. A military unit of 1000 horsemen is not going to be surprised easily, so quick draw games were not a consideration. It is evident the Army was more worried about weapon retention and the weather, than drawing a pistol faster than a rattlesnake.
