It says you used one, not carried. I will take it that you have in fact carried one a few times at least. Why did you stop? I am suspecting you no longer carry a Fitz type anymore.
The reason I ask is not to challenge you but rather ask what has come about since the Fitz fad that made carrying a Fitz type less than ideal?
Apparently some folks are reading things in my posts that I didn’t intend. When I said, “used,” I presumed that everyone would understand that “used” in context with a revolver that was intended to be pocket carried would indeed be carried that way. If I confused anyone I’m sorry.
My involvement in the Fitz saga started back in the early 1960’s. My interest was mostly academic in nature, because I had no intention of getting into gunfights. Besides, my Daddy had told me such affairs could be especially detrimental to one’s health. I knew what a “Fitz Special” was, and most of the arguments for and against, but I also knew that a lot of interesting and experienced gentlemen (none of whom I had met yet) either used or endorsed them for they’re intended purpose. Also in they’re favor was the fact that none of them were armchair theorists.
So when a somewhat doggy Colt Police Positive (chambered in .38 S&W, not, .38 Special) came my way I decided to sacrifice it, and reached for my trusty and often used hacksaw… It soon had a gender change because the side of the barrel was stamped “Detective Special,” (the old round kind with a half-moon front sight, as they were still easily and cheaply obtained). Otherwise I followed Fitzgerald’s format, except that I eliminated the single-action feature and didn’t checker the top of the hammer.
Not wanting to go to the trouble of installing leather lined pockets in all my pants, I used a home-made pocket holster – which would never be a serious challenge to S.D. Myres, but never the less it worked.
Over a little more then a decade I sometimes carried the little pocket persuader, and somehow never had any of the problems that supposedly made them dangerous to use or carry. On the other hand I discovered that in the tight confines of a pocket I could get a full hold the butt (no need to put my thumb over a hammer spur) with my finger around the trigger. I suppose that touching the trigger will make some people nervous, and I fervently hope that (1) they never do such a thing, and (2) never get into a gunfight.
Eventually someone made me an offer that was too good to turn down, and my homemade Fitz went away. For the record, neither then nor now have I had qualms about carrying one, but in today’s rather hysterical bliss nanny dominated environment where consumer safety (real or doubtful) is of the greatest importance, I decided if I used one in a completely justified shooting I would still come across as being totally irresponsible and have to explain to various disapproving police investigators, district attorneys, lawyers of every description, and maybe through one of them a judge and jury, how it came that I had such an awful and clearly accident prone weapon. If it’s necessary to go to such lengths with members of this board, think what it would be like in the outside world.
If Mr. Fitzgerald were alive today and proposed his idea to the present Colt management I’m sure they’d turn it down cold – even as an off-the-record custom item. In fact not too long ago they made a sample for a proposed Fitz commemorative that had all the features, except for a cut away trigger guard. In this country engineers and real gunfighters seldom design new guns. That’s left to lawyers who insist they be stamped in billboard-sized letters “Don’t touch!!! Read the instruction book first.” Askins, Applegate and the others were fortunate to have lived in a different era.
What started me in this thread was a comment made by another member that Fitzgerald “was foolish” when he incorporated an abbreviated trigger guard in his design. The fact is, he was a highly skilled gunsmith and sales promoter who wore many hats at Colt, including the very important job of being the company’s liaison between them and the law enforcement community. During the dark days of the 1930’s Depression he was largely responsible for keeping Colt out of bankruptcy. His basic thoughts on revolvers and the best way to carry them concealed were perfected over a number of years, and nothing was offered for sale until it had been extensively “field tested,” by a number of carefully chosen individuals besides himself. Clearly, this man was a far cry from being stupid or foolish.
So with all that’s been said, a question remains, will the Old Fuff ever make himself another Fitz Special? I might, it’s an itch that needs to be scratched. It’s really a case of finding the right platform. There can be a problem with Smith & Wesson’s because of the way the cylinder stop spring is nested. Older Colt’s have become expensive, and parts can be a problem. Ruger’s modular design isn’t very compatible for this kind of modification. Taurus on the other hand, has the cylinder stop spring & plunger nested inside the yoke’s lower hub, well out of the way of any work that might be done to the trigger guard. A stainless/aluminum 85 CIS (Carry It Anywhere) with an enclosed hammer might make an interesting Fitz variation of modern origin that didn’t cost an arm and a leg…
Maybe…
