1911 grip safety an advantage compared to USP cocked and locked?

[scotty45]

Disclaimer: I didn’t have much luck Googling this question, and I am afraid of high biases to ask in either the 1911forum or HKPro forums, so here we go. I am not asking which is better – they both have their strengths.

I will agree that 1911 was built for as is safest to carry cocked and locked. The USP (and I think the new HK45) pistols are able to carry cocked and locked as well. However, one big difference is the grip safety. The 1911 has the grip safety included as a factor, not just relying on the manual thumb safety. Does this mean that it may be safer for CCW than the USP?

Sorry, I don’t mean to start a “mine is better” match, just asking a straight safety question. I know training is key and a proper holster could include one that covers the manual safety lever. But all things being equal…could the 1911 have the edge here in a condition one carry situation?

Thanks,
Scott

 

[bl4ckd0g]

No, it's not. Training is the key and I'd rather have a DA/SA pistol with a decocker than the 1911 as a CCW piece.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Most 1911 purists will tell you that the grip safety was never part of JMB's original design and was only added at the insistance of the government. That said.....

I've never had a 1911 that didn't disengage the grip safety the instant I put my hand on it. I've never had a 1911 that disengaged the thumb safety without the assistance of my thumb. So, my opinion is: it's moot.

Of course, I've also never owned an HK, because I suck and they hate me. (Well, that and the fact that JMB didn't design any of their pistols.)

 

[Cosmoline]

I think it's mostly a personal issue. I don't trust myself to remember to click off the safety, and I do better mentally with a revolver or DA/SA firearm. Some might do better with an SA C&L. The grip safety was put on IIRC because of concerns over calvary troops on horseback (?). It's a nice extra edge but I don't think it's essential.

 

[Jackal]

I just plain don't like grip safeties. Just one more thing to go wrong.

 

[CWL]

Does this mean that it may be safer for CCW than the USP?

There is no correct answer to your question. All guns are "safe" until mishandled.

"Safer" purely depends on how responsible or irresponsible the Owner is. Gun accidents are almost always because someone put their finger into trigger well and touched-off a round.

No amount of safeties (or lack-of them) can prevent a determined idiot from causing harm.