Vern Humphrey
Member
I would be interested in any cite to an actual Field Manual that authorizes or suggests Condition 2.There is a continuing erroneous belief the 1911 was designed to be carried only in Condition 1 (C&L). Absolutely not true. It is a mantra repeated, but it is not true. The gun was originally designed by Browning to be carried (as we now label them) condition 3 or condition 2. His final prototype submitted to the army did not have a thumb safety. After evaluating the gun, the Army asked for the thumb safety to be added, Browning and his team added it, and the additional carry option we know as 'Condition 1' was now an option. The original field manuals for the gun describe how to carry it in all conditions - 1, 2, and 3.
Here is a site where you can find a copy of FM 23-25, dated around 1940, which says the normal method of carry in combat is what we call "Condition 3" but if a round is chambered and the gun is to be kept ready for immediate use, then what we call "Condition 1" is to be used. No mention of what we call "Condition 2."
http://www.sightm1911.com/
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