Finally got around to renting Gran Torino w/C. Eastwood. It was good to see the M-1 Garand and a 1911 in action. However, I noticed (I re-ran twice to be sure) while in the vehicle, he takes his 1911 from Condition 3, racks the slide w/o flipping the safety stuffs it into his belt. Yeah, it's movie but did anyone else catch that? Anyway, I enjoyed the movie...

No, I did not catch that, but I also enjoyed the movie nonetheless. Saw it in the theater and bought it on DVD as soon as it came out. An underappreciated (and non-politically correct) classic. They don't make movies like this anymore.

Gees, what's the big deal?
I know lots of old timers that do the same thing.

When out making service of a warrant, if I get that feelin'...
I might do the same.

Su Amigo,
Dave

Been there, done that!

It seems silly to me to have it, and not learn to use it properly and then use it all the time. Carrying the gun in multiple modes depending on the exact circumstance is unnecessarily complicating things, and may lead to hesitancy when you need to shoot right now; "Is the safety on or off?"

Snapping the thumb safety off on a 1911 takes less time than does raising the pistol from a ready to eye level. You do both at the same time, so the faster action does not make the slower action take any longer.

If one is going to carry a 1911, the thumb safety is one of the best things about it, mostly for the "proprietary to the user" feature.

I am no athlete. My dexterity, coordination and muscle memory are all probably sub-par, but it didn't take long for the "gun up, safety down/off"-"gun down, safety up/on" to become automatic.

The habit is so ingrained that I have noticed my thumb "sweeping the safety on/off" on guns that don't have them!

I think some actions, like the use of the single action thumb safety or the use or non-use of the DA/SA safety/decocking lever as a safety, should be learned one way and then done that way always. It gives your brain one (or more) less decision(s) to make when the conscious thought capability might be more usefully employed for the analysis of other factors, like, the target's background, etc.

The only time I have actually had to shoot "for serious" is pretty well indelibly recorded in my brain. I can recall making the decision to "shoot him right there" when one of the other guys begn to raise his gun, but I have no memory of when I unsnapped my holster, drew my 1911, deactivated the safety or even raised the gun to my eyes. My brain went, "Shoot him right there!" and my eyes picked out a spot on his shirt, my focus shifted and the front sight came into clear view superimposed right on that spot. I remember mentally urging the gun to hurry and drop the hammer, but the sequence took no specific mental-to-physical commands once I made the decision to shoot. It's good, as my conscious capacity had other things to think about and decide.

But then, that's just me... and the folks that taught me. No slight intended to anyone, we all make our choices based on a lot of unique factors.

Man, am I wordy...

Words are the pathway to the soul.


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PC, censorship
with a smile.

I didn't notice how he handled the gun but I liked how he handled those kids.

I carry cocked & locked for the record.

I noticed it and wrote a letter to Clint...he wrote back to me and said he was sorry and would try better next time...now that's a movie star!

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

When you write him again, can you persuade him to do a Josie Wales sequel? I can be available, after Thanksgiving, for a cameo. I would play a morbidly obese curmudgeon, with bad teeth and questionable social skills, but with a good heart.

I am a commited character actor.

Just the other day, someone said I should be commited.


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PC, censorship
with a smile.

Maybe he snicked it on in one swift move. I knew an old man who carried a 1911 his entire life. He could rack the slide and snick on the safety in one fluid motion.

Years ago when I was a youngster, I saw a segment on the old "You Asked For It" TV show with Art Baker as the moderator. They featured an Army sergeant who carried his 1911 in the holster, full mag but hammer down on an empty chamber. He could draw, load and level on a target in literally a split second. The Army holster for the 1911 had an internal block. You could raise the gun in the holster, twist it, and shove it down to rack the slide. Withdrawing it, it would be cocked and ready to fire with a round in the chamber. The sergeant had all this down pat, and they had to use a slow motion camera to catch what he did with blinding speed. Army regs called for 1911s to be holstered with no round in the chamber; this was the GI solution to that problem. It was amazing to watch.

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -