1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
Mike...That's the beauty of the 1911 design. Browning and the rest of the committee gave us a choice on our preferred carry mode. Even half-cocked is a safety position, stated clearly in the patents. To wit:
"When the hammer is in the firing position, (cocked) should it become necessary to lower it to the safety position without touching the firing pin..." (half-cocked) and he goes on to describe the method for lowering the hammer with one hand.
Given the army's mandate to maintain the pistol in Condition Three unless "Action is iminent" I might even venture to guess that half-cock was unofficially authorized as a safe carry mode on or near the front lines...but probably not for garrisoned troops.
I've had a few heated discussions over half-cock being a safety. Assuming the original captive half-cock notch, my point standard point has been "When on half cock...the sear and hammer are locked together. Neither one can move, and the gun can't be fired by pulling the trigger. If that doesn't meet the requirements for a safety, I'd like to know what does."
Anyway...Pretty good discussion.
Cheers all
"When the hammer is in the firing position, (cocked) should it become necessary to lower it to the safety position without touching the firing pin..." (half-cocked) and he goes on to describe the method for lowering the hammer with one hand.
Given the army's mandate to maintain the pistol in Condition Three unless "Action is iminent" I might even venture to guess that half-cock was unofficially authorized as a safe carry mode on or near the front lines...but probably not for garrisoned troops.
I've had a few heated discussions over half-cock being a safety. Assuming the original captive half-cock notch, my point standard point has been "When on half cock...the sear and hammer are locked together. Neither one can move, and the gun can't be fired by pulling the trigger. If that doesn't meet the requirements for a safety, I'd like to know what does."
Anyway...Pretty good discussion.
Cheers all