HankR
Member
When reholstering a 1911 in Condition 1 should one use the firm grip used in drawing , or try to gingerly grab the sides w/out depressing the grip safety?
Thanks,
Thanks,
grip safety depressed when holstering 1911?
- Thread starter HankR
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Telekinesis
Member
Use the same grip as you would any other time you're holding the gun - a good firm grip as if you were shooting. If you're reholstering, you should have the manual safety on and all fingers/other things clear of the trigger, so there should be no chance of it inadvertently firing.
Bullseye
Member
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In condition 1 "or cocked and locked".
If you have the thumb safety on ( locked ) the grip safety has no function. You have to have four things to have a chambered 1911 to discharge.
a. Live round in chamber
b. thumb safety down
c. grip safety depressed
d. trigger depressed
Late edit: I thought at first this was a safety issue post about possible accidental discharge while holstering. Sorry
If you have the thumb safety on ( locked ) the grip safety has no function. You have to have four things to have a chambered 1911 to discharge.
a. Live round in chamber
b. thumb safety down
c. grip safety depressed
d. trigger depressed
Late edit: I thought at first this was a safety issue post about possible accidental discharge while holstering. Sorry
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
There is no good reason to depress the grip safety when re-holstering.
You can relax your grip enough to allow the grip safety to engage while still maintaining full control of the pistol.
Nothing 'gingerly' about it.
So that's how I re-holster a 1911.
It's just another layer of insurance.
rc
You can relax your grip enough to allow the grip safety to engage while still maintaining full control of the pistol.
Nothing 'gingerly' about it.
So that's how I re-holster a 1911.
It's just another layer of insurance.
rc
FL-NC
Member
It should go back in exactly how it came out, just moving in the opposite direction. Weapon is on safe, finger outside of trigger paralell to barrel. That thing you mentioned sounds like a dropped pistol waiting to happen.
HankR
Member
Sigsmoker: I thought at first this was a safety issue post about possible accidental discharge while holstering. Sorry
No, you were correct-that was my concern. I wouldn't sweat it if the grip safety wasn't there, but since it is.... It is "locked" and my fingers aren't near the trigger, I don't wear clothing with drawstrings by my holster, etc.
RCModel:You can relax your grip enough to allow the grip safety to engage while still maintaining full control of the pistol.
That's what I was wondering. When I push down into the (new, kydex/hybrid) holster it seems as if I have to try really hard to not touch the grip safety. It also seems as if I should get in the habit of grabing the gun the same way all of the time...
No, you were correct-that was my concern. I wouldn't sweat it if the grip safety wasn't there, but since it is.... It is "locked" and my fingers aren't near the trigger, I don't wear clothing with drawstrings by my holster, etc.
RCModel:You can relax your grip enough to allow the grip safety to engage while still maintaining full control of the pistol.
That's what I was wondering. When I push down into the (new, kydex/hybrid) holster it seems as if I have to try really hard to not touch the grip safety. It also seems as if I should get in the habit of grabing the gun the same way all of the time...
Schwing
Member
I agree with RC. Depressing the grip safety while holstering kind of renders it pointless. This is one reason I am, personally, not fond of Glocks. It is not an uncommon occurrence for Glock owners to have a piece of coat string or other material get caught in the trigger guard and depress the trigger during holstering. The grip safety and the habit of not depressing it unless you are ready to shoot are there for a reason.
FL-NC
Member
The "shooting grip" with a handgun BEGINS to be established immediately upon contacting the handgun while its holstered. This initial grip isn't relinquished until the gun is BACK in the holster after all the "work" has been completed, and just prior to re-securing any manual holster retention devices (thumb breaks and the like).
FL-NC
Member
Schwing- we teach the step of looking at the holster when re-holstering. There's time- putting a gun away after you're finished using it probably means everything is ok, so no reason to be in THAT much of a hurry.
Some people put their thumb on the hammer when reholstering, particularly when carrying IWB or AIWB.
I've long been in the habit of putting upward pressure on the safety of a 1911 when reholstering. The thumb on the hammer is better yet if IWB.
I know one person that shot themselves when reholstering a 45 cal 1911. The interesting part is, they didn't even realize it. They heard the shot, looked, didn't see any issue, packed up, drove home, went to jump in the shower, and,...hey, whats the blood in my shoe, then looked more and realized there was an entry wound in their leg. Bullet traversed most of their leg, came out the bottom of the foot and was in the shoe. It missed most of the really important stuff.
I've long been in the habit of putting upward pressure on the safety of a 1911 when reholstering. The thumb on the hammer is better yet if IWB.
I know one person that shot themselves when reholstering a 45 cal 1911. The interesting part is, they didn't even realize it. They heard the shot, looked, didn't see any issue, packed up, drove home, went to jump in the shower, and,...hey, whats the blood in my shoe, then looked more and realized there was an entry wound in their leg. Bullet traversed most of their leg, came out the bottom of the foot and was in the shoe. It missed most of the really important stuff.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
+1
Thumb over the hammer when re-holstering is an excellent trick to learn.
But this whole discussion got me to thinking how I have been doing it for 50+ years.
So I put a holster on just now and let muscle memory take over.
I found I almost always carry high behind the hip.
I found I can't even see the holster or hit it with the muzzle that far back.
I found what I have been doing all this time is let go of the grip and slide the gun in my hand until my fingers are wrapped around the slide in front of the trigger guard.
Palm is covering the trigger guard and hammer area in the cup.
At that point, all safety's are engaged, and none of my fingers are anywhere near the trigger, or safety's.
Then I point my trigger finger along side the slide and use it to find the holster mouth.
And proceed to put the gun back in it by relaxing my grip and letting it slide back into place.
rc
Thumb over the hammer when re-holstering is an excellent trick to learn.
But this whole discussion got me to thinking how I have been doing it for 50+ years.
So I put a holster on just now and let muscle memory take over.
I found I almost always carry high behind the hip.
I found I can't even see the holster or hit it with the muzzle that far back.
I found what I have been doing all this time is let go of the grip and slide the gun in my hand until my fingers are wrapped around the slide in front of the trigger guard.
Palm is covering the trigger guard and hammer area in the cup.
At that point, all safety's are engaged, and none of my fingers are anywhere near the trigger, or safety's.
Then I point my trigger finger along side the slide and use it to find the holster mouth.
And proceed to put the gun back in it by relaxing my grip and letting it slide back into place.
rc
Last edited:
"Depressing the grip safety while holstering kind of renders it pointless."
In the standard 1911, the grip safety is pretty pointless anyway. All it does is block the trigger bow; it doesn't block the sear or the firing pin or keep the gun from firing if dropped, even though that was why the Army wanted it.
Jim
In the standard 1911, the grip safety is pretty pointless anyway. All it does is block the trigger bow; it doesn't block the sear or the firing pin or keep the gun from firing if dropped, even though that was why the Army wanted it.
Jim
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Pointless or not.
It sure is comforting when you fumble a fast draw and throw one, cocked & unlocked 5 yards down range!
It takes about 5 minutes in slow motion in your mind waiting for it to hit the ground!!
BTDT!
rc
It sure is comforting when you fumble a fast draw and throw one, cocked & unlocked 5 yards down range!
It takes about 5 minutes in slow motion in your mind waiting for it to hit the ground!!
BTDT!
rc
FL-NC
Member
With a properly functioning 1911, if the safety is engaged, the slide is locked. The only time we ever rotated thumb over hammer reholstering was with a decocked Sig 228 (M11) or decocked 92F (M9), because the weapons were carried on FIRE (no safety on the Sig, used on 92F only for decock then rotate back to fire and reholster) The thumb rotation was to prevent the holster from pushing the slide back and reverting the pistol into a cocked and on fire single action, in the event the reholstering was "off". The thumb was rotated over the hammer only after the muzzle had entered the holster. This was considered redundant/pointless for the 1911. One of many reasons we went to the Glock. YMMV.
Not to forget the grip safety was added due to a requirement for Cavalry use when attached with a lanyard. A lot of firearms have no grip safety. In fact, most don't. Including the originally designed firearm submitted for approval.
Just remember there is no such thing as combat speed reholstering and that safety is the first requirement.
Don't over think it. It's just a redundant feature that is basically unneeded unless you are practicing Equestrian Assaults.
Just remember there is no such thing as combat speed reholstering and that safety is the first requirement.
Don't over think it. It's just a redundant feature that is basically unneeded unless you are practicing Equestrian Assaults.
Deanimator
Member
If your finger's off the trigger and the thumb safety engaged, what difference does it make?
It keeps the trigger from "pulling itself" (by inertia) if it is dropped and lands muzzle up, no?
The grip safety was requested by the cavalry over concern that a pistol could be dropped in battle and discharge either from striking the ground or from being kicked by horses' hooves. It was something of a flimflam job by JMB, since it doesn't really keep the gun from firing if dropped. (The grip safety of the Model 1903/1908 pocket pistol is much better.)
Firing from the sear jarring off or the trigger "pulling itself" is prevented by the sear dropping onto the half-cock notch, not by the grip safety.
BTW, the pistol was equipped with a lanyard loop, but I have done some checking and can't find that the cavalry ever actually used a lanyard to retain the pistol; in modern times, at least, the lanyard was used only by the military police to prevent loss of the pistol in a brawl.
Jim
Firing from the sear jarring off or the trigger "pulling itself" is prevented by the sear dropping onto the half-cock notch, not by the grip safety.
BTW, the pistol was equipped with a lanyard loop, but I have done some checking and can't find that the cavalry ever actually used a lanyard to retain the pistol; in modern times, at least, the lanyard was used only by the military police to prevent loss of the pistol in a brawl.
Jim
When I carried a 1911 for several years I just put the thing in the holster.
Didn't pay any attention whatever to where the grip safety was or what it was doing.
My concern & attention were both given to the trigger & keeping my finger away from it.
Denis
Didn't pay any attention whatever to where the grip safety was or what it was doing.
My concern & attention were both given to the trigger & keeping my finger away from it.
Denis
You might be thinking of the thumb safety that was not part of the original design and had to be added before being accepted my the Army.Tirod said:
The Cavalry did request the grip safety, but it was part of the U.S. Army original request
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