Condition 0

[littlelefty]

So I was out scouting a hunting location last weekend and was in and out of car and truck, and walked several miles. I had my 1911 with me in its OWB holster/Wilderness Tactical belt combo. Always carry in condition 1. When I got home and went to remove the pistol from holster it was in condition 0

Now my holster covers the pistol up to and including the trigger, and grip safety and trigger require simultaneous squeezing to fire.

My pistol is a Springer Loaded with ambi safety for me, a lefty. So maybe with all of the in and out movement and "double" sided safety, something snagged and flicked it off.

But still, wow! That was freaky.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Even without the thumb safety in play, you still had your grip safety, but this is overridden when you grasp the gun. Also, the hammer would not have fallen out of engagement with the sear and would be stopped by the half cock or safety stop even if it did, assuming the gun is in proper working order. Adherence to Rule Three prevented any problems on your end.

 

[Calhoun321]

Well, you still had one more safety than a Glock

 

[Wilson2]

For right handed people carrying IWB or OWB on or near their right hip, I have known of an ambi-safety getting clicked off by the seat belt in vehicles. A friend of mine had this happen a lot with his Kimber CDP Ultra until he finally figured out the culprit..

Some manufacturers' safeties are easier to click off than others. How is your safety?

 

[hexidismal]

I've had this happen on occasion. I carry a springer loaded OWB on my right hip, and somehow Ive knocked the safety off in course of my day more than once. ( That seatbelt tip Wilson2 mentioned above may have been the culprit for all I know. )

It would still take a grip safety press and a trigger pull ( covered in holster ) , so I really can't say I felt all that concerned by it.

 

[NMGonzo]

That is the advantage of holsters.

Keeps foreign objects off the trigger.

 

[X-Rap]

I had a Bianchi Pistol Pocket that did the same thing. Its a little unnerving to have things not as you left them when packing.

 

[rcmodel]

Another good reason NOT to have paddle lever type Ambi-Safety's on a 1911!

They are for game guns.

The safety design old John put on the 1911 is not prone to snag on anything, and is big enough to be easily operated with the thumb.

If I had an ambi-safety on any of my 1911's, which I don't, they would be shaped just like the old GI safety.

rc

 

[Steve H]

For right handed people carrying IWB or OWB on or near their right hip, I have known of an ambi-safety getting clicked off by the seat belt in vehicles. A friend of mine had this happen a lot with his Kimber CDP Ultra until he finally figured out the culprit..

same thing with me and my Kimber Ultra CDPII As soon as I figured it out I changed the safety to a strong side. Problem gone.

 

[Frank Ettin]

It's usually possible to adjust the safety for a more positive on-safe engagement. Often simply stretching or replacing the plunger spring will do the trick. Sometimes you might need to re-contour slightly or put a small detent in the safety cam.

 

[highorder]

put a small detent in the safety cam.

yes, increasing the depth of the safety detent will help, as will replacing the plunger spring.

But, as RC said, thats the reason I don't have an ambi safety on my 1911.

 

[X-Rap]

My problem with the Pistol Pocket was with an older Kimber Ultra that had a strong side onlt safety.

 

[littlelefty]

The safety on my 1911 is in good working order; fairly stiff. And the rest of the pistol is in good working order, so the sear would have done its job. The holster also having the trigger guard to keep stuff out of the trigger helps my mind. And yes, rule #3 helped too.

I was unaware of ambi safeties with the GI type "paddle" as RCmodel eluded to. I might have to look into that - it sounds good. (I replaced the useless FLGR with the GI type - different subject, but similar thought)

Thanks folks.

 

[1911Tuner]

Unnerving on the face of it, but not a major deal in reflection. Unless the grip safety is depressed and the trigger pulled, the gun won't fire.

The original pistols that browning submitted didn't even have thumb safeties. They had grip safeties only. The thumb safety was added at the US Cavalry's request so that a mounted trooper could place the gun on safe and reholster should a horse become unruly.

I suspect that the biggest reason for that was because...in the heat of the moment...the trooper would possibly forget to take his finger off the trigger before shoving it in the holster...resulting in a shot leg or a shot horse...something that Gaston Glock apparently failed to consider.

 

[Eric F]

the trooper would possibly forget to take his finger off the trigger before shoving it in the holster...resulting in a shot leg or a shot horse...something that Gaston Glock apparently failed to consider.

I dont think Gaston had mounted cavelry in mind when he designed his gun....lol!

 

[1911Tuner]

I dont think Gaston had mounted cavelry in mind when he designed his gun....lol!

No...but the last time I checked...holsters were still being used when his pistols came on the scene.

lol

 

[kmrcstintn]

not sure what to tell ya...I just bought a 1911 (first one in 5-6 years) and your post makes me more conscientious about cocked-n-locked vs none in the pipe; one of the 'propsed' uses of my 1911 would be open carry while working/chores/prep at the hunting camp...might just stick with a DA .357 mag revolver instead

 

[s4s4u]

might just stick with a DA .357 mag revolver instead

I don't see where that would be any "safer"....

A person could snag the trigger on a DA on something while working and discharge the weapon. A 1911 has to be "grasped" to fire.

 

[1911Tuner]

one of the 'propsed' uses of my 1911 would be open carry while working/chores/prep at the hunting camp...

That's the ideal setting for packin' a SA revolver.

mmmm...Just somethin' about a SA around the old deer camp makes me go all mushy inside.

 

[littlelefty]

Tuner said - "Unnerving on the face of it, but not a major deal in reflection. Unless the grip safety is depressed and the trigger pulled, the gun won't fire."

EXACTLY! That's what I was thinking, but couldn't quite put it in those words. THANKS!

Bothered me when I got home and saw it, but as I thought about it, all was still perfectly safe and multiple failures away from an event.

 

[1911Tuner]

Yep, lefty.

Go unload a 1911 and cock it. Leave the safety in the off position, and carry it around in a holster for a week. At the end of the week...it'll still be cocked unless you remove it and pull the trigger.

 

[X-Rap]

That tuner is the truth, different guns may all have their drawback but that is certainly a big plus for the 1911.