Full size 1911, practical CCW?

[American1776]

In my opinion, the Government 1911 .45 is the most concealable full sized pistol out there. You won't find a thinner profile. Length is not a problem.

I carry in a Galco V-hawk IWB. It's a 100+ dollar holster, but it's worth it. I can carry a 5 inch 1911 at 4 o'clock with nothing but a polo shirt, and it's undetectable. All the other full sized autos are too fat.

If I only could have 1 gun for home defense and concealed carry, it would probably be a full sized 1911.

 

[one eye joe]

It amazes me how well they sit on the waistband.

I CARRIED ONE LIKE THAT IN MY JUNGLE FATIGUE PANTS EVERYDAY, DURING MY TOUR IN VIETNAM. I CARRIED COCKED 'N LOCKED---NEVER DROPPED THE GUN, NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE.....

I BOUGHT MY FIRST ONE FOR $40. FROM AN AIRBORNE SOLDIER, WHO WAS GOING HOME. IT WAS PRETTY WAR WEARY, BUT STILL RELIABLE.....

LATER ON, I TRADED UP TO A NICER ONE, FOR $60. BOTH OF THEM HANDLED THE GI ISSUE, 230GR FMJ AMMO, WITHOUT A HITCH, AND BOTH OF THEM RATTLED LIKE SPRAY CANS OF PAINT......

I PASSED MINE OFF TO A NEWBIE, ON MY WAY OUT THE DOOR---JUST GETTING MY MONEY BACK......

THAT EXPERIENCE BEGAN MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE FULL SIZE 1911, FOR EDC IN CIVILIAN LIFE......

 

[American1776]

Mine is a series 80 Colt, full size. It rattles in the slide to frame fit; something I prefer.

 

[Smokey613]

I still have my Colt Delta Elite SS that I carried on duty from 1989 until late 1999. I then went into a plain clothes assignment and decided I needed something lighter so I started carrying my wife's old duty sidearm, a S&W Model 39-2. I retired from LE in 2005 and went into another line of work. I returned to LE in 2015 and was issued a Glock 22. Over the past 2 1/2 years I have carried several guns. I recently got permission to carry my old DE for the remainder of the year. Two years ago I replaced all the springs in it and the magazines. It still shoots reliably and true. I am thinking of selling my G19.5 and my G20SF and getting a Colt LW Commander for my retirement/post LE life which will begin January 1, 2019. Yes, it has to be a Colt, it's just what it is.... I like Colts.

 

[M29since14]

I think Colt is making better Commanders than ever. I particularly like the Wiley Clapp Model - mainly for its checkered front strap. I could do without the rather thin stocks, but they don’t bother me enough to change them. As soon as I get time, I do plan to install a different trigger, but other than a shorter trigger, mine will be staying box-stock. (I guess if you’re a night-sight fanatic you’ll have to buy your own night-sights for this model.)

Now if I could get a similar Commander in .38 Super...

 

[one eye joe]

I use my 1911 for a paperweight on my desk and pocket carry a S&W Bodyguard 380. I don't have to pull my pants up all day or smell like a gas station with oil all over my clothes either!

HEY Retired Cop, USING YOUR POLICE TRAINED SKILL OF OBSERVATION YOU WILL EVENTUALLY NOTE THAT YOUR OPINION IS IN A TINY MINORITY, ON THIS THREAD. IF YOU NEVER ROSE TO THE RANK OF DETECTIVE, THAT FACT MIGHT ESCAPE YOU. DO NOT FRET, YOU ARE STILL ENTITLED TO YOUR OPINION, NO MATTER HOW ABSURD......

THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO MIGHT SMELL LIKE GAS STATIONS, ARE THOSE AMONG US WHO HAVE RIDDEN OUR VINTAGE HARLEY DAVIDSONS, ON THAT PARTICULAR DAY. MIXED WITH THE SMELL OF LEATHER AND BEER, THAT AROMA IS INTOXICATING......

I HAVE NO CLUE, WHO--IF ANYONE--EVER TAUGHT YOU PROPER MAINTENANCE OF A 1911 PISTOL. IT DOES NOT REQUIRE A BATH IN OIL TO KEEP IT RUNNING ! ! !

DO YOU HAVE A PUDDLE OF OIL, BENEATH THAT PAPERWEIGHT ON YOUR DESK ? ? ? IF YOU DO, I SUGGEST THAT YOU VISIT YOUTUBE, TO VIEW ONE OF THE MANY 1911 TUTORIALS.....

 

[Donn]

When I first got my CPL, thought I'd carry my Series 70 1911, either 45 or 38 Super. The 1911 was my issue sidearm in the Army, my preference in civilian life, plus, I was and still am very good with it. That said, I found out very early on it wasn't a good choice, at least for me. Too heavy to carry all day and got my sciatica going in about 10 minutes. All of the above is just me talking. If you can carry a full size, steel gun all day, more power to ya.

 

[chief38]

Back in the very early 1980's I bought a Colt Gov't Model Series 80 1911 and carried it (and a spare Magazine) for about two weeks - that was it!

I love the .45 acp caliber for S/D but the full sized 1911 was just too large, heavy and bulky for me to practically carry given my daily dress did not include a suit or sports jacket.

 

[ladder13]

DESPITE YOUR OPINION, Retired Cop, the 1911 IS FAR FROM JUNK ! ! !

IT HAS BEEN TAKING CARE OF UNCLE SAM'S BUSINESS, IN COMBAT THEATERS ALL OVER THE WORLD, SINCE BEFORE YOU WERE BORN. IT IS STILL THE PREFERRED WEAPON FOR SOME ELITE MILITARY UNITS. IT IS A CLASSIC......

AND NO, I DON'T DRIVE A 1911 CAR. I DO DRIVE A 1967 CORVETTE, STINGRAY ROADSTER. ITS A NUMBERS MATCHING CAR, THAT I TREATED TO A BODY-OFF-FRAME RESTORATION. ITS A NATIONAL CORVETTE RESTORERS SOCIETY AWARD WINNER......

YES, ITS A CLASSIC, AS WELL ! ! !

Retired cop has received his reward.

Nice 67 roadster Joe

 

[keith44spl]

Originally Posted by one eye joe

IT HAS BEEN TAKING CARE OF UNCLE SAM'S BUSINESS, IN COMBAT THEATERS ALL OVER THE WORLD, IT IS STILL THE PREFERRED WEAPON FOR SOME.

The Ol War Horse of 1911 has been carried and used for good effect around the world.
From the shores of foreign lands, to the Home of the Brave.

I say, the 1911 is a fightin man's handgun, I've bet my life on it for over a half century.

Take yur pick....I have.

From the pile above,

I'm unashamed & unrepentant'd that....I have carried two a many a time.

.

 

[Rastoff]

Let me first say that I'm sorry you have such draconian laws. You should be able to carry if you want.

My preferred carry gun is a 1911. Why? Because that's the gun that I shoot best. If my life is on the line, I want the tool that I'm most likely to do well with.

Because I teach concealed carry classes, I often have conversations with people about what to carry. Many, many times people have looked at me, assumed that I wasn't carrying, and said, "I have a 1911, but of course no one could conceal one of those so, I'll have to get a different gun." Because I'm almost always in a public setting when this is said, I don't pull up my shirt and show them. Even so, in each case, I was carrying a Commander sized 1911 in a full size holster so, it could just as well have been a full size 1911.

Cool weather clothing: loose jeans or expandable (elastic waist) casual trousers with 1 1/4 - 1 1/2" belt.

Reasonably loose button up shirt or polo shirt, tucked in and short vest.

Warm weather clothing: walk shorts with 1 1/4" belt. Loose polo shirt tucked in and usually a short vest.

I don't wear shorts, but that's just me. I always carry OWB at 9 o'clock (I'm a lefty) and just wear a loose shirt over the top.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Ha! I just noted in a parallel discussion (in re 9mm 1911s) that I long ago moved away from being a 1911 fan. For those of you who can carry one concealed, more power to you. I find them far too large for daily carry. Maybe the most compact models might work for me but why bother when I can carry a compact 9mm with higher capacity? Thus, my answer to the question is a resounding NO.

The 1911 is definitely a gun to go to war with. But not to the office.

 

[fredj338]

BTW, to the oily question. I stopped oiling my 1911 years ago. A small amount of gun grease stays in place for 100s of rds w/o slowing things down. A well made 1911 likes to run wet but oil is not the best product for that imo.

 

[Kiwi cop]

How to identify a troll.

Hummmm point of view???? Can you tell me why the military junked that clunker???? Now that's more than a point of view it is the naked truth and a FACT! The 1911 is Military Scrap! Sorry I didn't mean to hurt your feelings with the truth! The truth is a pesky thing it always comes out. Now on the positive side, you only have to tell it once as it never changes!!!!!! The 1911 is junk! The do make great conversation pieces and small boat anchors though!

Gaston Glock has improved the locked breech gun world by a gigantic leap into the future. Did you know that there are more Glocks in the world than any other brand????? Plastic guns are here to stay and S&W M&P Series are excellent examples of the modern world of today. 1911 stopped in 1912 This my point of view! Sorry if it offends you junk lovers! Do you drive a 1911 car too???

I just noticed that RC has been banned. I alluded to his being a troll in another thread when I mentioned the echoes of cloven hooves on a bridge in his posts as he had:

1. Made more than 100 posts in a month.

2. Made provocative statements designed to insult/offend in multiple posts.

3. Never answered questions put to him about his comments, just repeated his outrageous statements in multiple posts.

Good to,see the moderators on to it and taking appropriate action. I just wonder if he’ll be back again soon in another guise?

 

[Rustyt1953]

Not to belabor the point but in my time here, I have seen some world-class trolls attempt to breech the gap and the forum sentries have thwarted them all in short order.

The best defense is the red triangle.

 

[Rastoff]

I just noticed that RC has been banned.

I just noticed this as well. I also just deleted a long diatribe about my feelings on the subject. Even this is probably too much.

 

[double-dipper]

I'm late to the party. Yes I carry a 1911 in the cooler months when I can wear a jacket or flannel shirt as a cover garment. I have two full size 1911's a S&W and Remington R1S they both have Crimson Trace grips. Both are very accurate out to 50+ yards easy.

 

[shouldazagged]

Hummmm point of view???? Can you tell me why the military junked that clunker???? Now that's more than a point of view it is the naked truth and a FACT! The 1911 is Military Scrap! Sorry I didn't mean to hurt your feelings with the truth! The truth is a pesky thing it always comes out. Now on the positive side, you only have to tell it once as it never changes!!!!!! The 1911 is junk! The do make great conversation pieces and small boat anchors though!

Trollin', trollin', trollin'...

I'm out, this one was going just fine till the bait was thrown out.

 

[Protected One]

Trollin', trollin', trollin'...

I'm out, this one was going just fine till the bait was thrown out.

He's been banned, so feel free to come back in.

 

[one eye joe]

Mine is a series 80 Colt, full size. It rattles in the slide to frame fit; something I prefer.

I AGREE WITH YOU ON THE LOOSE FIT. I THINK THAT IT ADDS TO RELIABILITY---ESP IN COMBAT SITUATIONS, WHEN THE WEAPON MIGHT NOT BE SQUEAKY CLEAN......