Carried a full size 1911 for the first time in a long time today. WOW!

[ejjendras]

Warm weather carry is a S & W Shield in .45 ACP . I still carry a S & W 1911 SC in cooler months . 28.8 ounces is not that bad for a Commander sized weapon .

 

[ejjendras]

Bobtail Commanders are my favorite . That is very nice , stag grips look great !

 

[SAFireman]

Nothing wrong with old school either.....c1919 Commercial

Or a little less raucous.....

 

[Scharfschuetzer]

for years I carried some sort of 1911 only while a PO. I had full size, commander size and even officer sizes at some point. For the last several years I have been carrying a Glock 19, a Shield or my M&P 340 as well as some other striker fired, mid sized guns. I strapped on my full size custom 1911 while walking up on the Grand Mesa today and really noticed how heavy that old beast was. Still love the platform though.

Grand Mesa? Sounds like you were on the GJPD or the MCSO. I was on the GJPD in the 70s before taking a higher paying LE job in another state. Back then we were issued the S&W Model 15 or we could carry a personal revolver as long as it could fire the 38 Special. I carried a 4" Model 19. I still get back there once a year for hunting or to see family or the in-laws.

By the way, the old shooting range on Hwy 141/32 Road used to have a great bunch of 45 shooters... even before IPSC became popular. I'm still shootin' the old war horses in all sizes too.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I like 1911's. The real ones with steel frames and 5'' barrels, I have three. They shoot real well but that's a lot o' steel to be packing every day.

I just bought a sub compact 9 mm HK P-30 SK. Light weight and big enough to shoot well. LEM with a hammer so no controls like a Glock but not a striker.

The HK45 has basically replaced the 1911. Well, not totally because there will always be retro shootist, but the real utility is polymer now.

I own a bunch of 1911's and S&W revolvers and I love those things for what they are. The first handgun I owned was a revolver in 1965 and I've had at least one ever since. I still carry one from time to time, but the real packin pistol is light weight and polymer something or other.

 

[Bob L]

I have most of the 1911 sizes but generally carry a Combat Commander when I carry one. I have always liked the 1911 platform and enjoy shooting it, of course in 45 ACP.

 

[Keith Brown]

Taj, There are 1911s and then there are Swenson 1911s, would love to see any photos you would share of “Ralph”, especially closeups up Armand’s handwork.

 

[VoodooSan]

I carry everywhere outside my home, every day, and have, for going on over 35 years now. 99.99% of the time, it's been a full-size 1911. No other gun I have ever held/fired, in my life, fits my hand better. A Browning HP comes close, but still not quite as good a fit.

I carried a variety of wheelguns as a LEO, before semi-autos were allowed by my department, and I was perfectly comfortable with all of them. Once semi's were allowed, however, I carried a 1911 until the day I was mandated to go to a Glock 22. But when the workday was over, and I was back in civies, the 1911 still went back on me in an IWB.

I don't mind the weight, and I've never had an issue concealing one.

The only place I don't wear one, is on a bicycle. Then it's two J-frames in a twin kydex horizontal shoulder rig.

I simply can't envision a time when a 1911 won't be my first choice. I simply love 'em.

 

[Murdock]

The HK45 has basically replaced the 1911. Well, not totally because there will always be retro shootist, but the real utility is polymer now.

As you can imagine, when I read this I ran to my gun room and opened the safe in a dither. Fearing the worst, I was prepared to exclaim, "Nein! Nein! Was ist loss? Wo sind miene 1911 pistolen?"

Fortunately, they were still there.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Taj, There are 1911s and then there are Swenson 1911s, would love to see any photos you would share of “Ralph”, especially closeups up Armand’s handwork.

So, we have someone who is familiar with and appreciates the work of Armand D. Swenson. Attached photos show a Swenson-Colt Government Model, frame dated to 1968, demonstrating just about all of A.D. Swenson's innovations. Forward and rear barrel positioning, slide top stippled and bordered, S&W revolver sight beautifully fitted into the slide, Swenson's outstanding ambi-safety (now an industry standard), satin hard chrome finish, checkered front strap and front of trigger guard squared & checkered, expanded ejection port.

This one came from the estate of an old Texas lawman, Clifford Louis Causey (and yes, his name is engraved inside the slide as Mr. Swenson did on custom order pistols). Complete with Mr. Causey's Lawrence scabbard holster, floral carved and suede lined.

Family legend is that Mr. Causey served as a Texas Ranger. My inquiries to the Ranger Hall of Fame cannot support this, but it remains possible as his career spanned the 1930's to 1960's during which time records are notoriously incomplete, and many "special ranger" commissions were issued to local law men and others assisting multi-jurisdictional investigations run by the Rangers.

Sold last week and ready for delivery to a Swenson collector.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Some of those old guys built the best guns....... wish I'd taken the risk and gotten a Austin Behlert (sp) custom High-Power back in the 80s.

 

[Keith Brown]

This magazine started it all for me, about a year later I had my first Colt .45 auto, a new Gold Cup, 305 and change out the door, course I had to have my dad actually buy it ! Thanks dad!

 

[Protected One]

for years I carried some sort of 1911 only while a PO. I had full size, commander size and even officer sizes at some point. For the last several years I have been carrying a Glock 19, a Shield or my M&P 340 as well as some other striker fired, mid sized guns. I strapped on my full size custom 1911 while walking up on the Grand Mesa today and really noticed how heavy that old beast was. Still love the platform though.

Most days I carry a Shield 9mm, but every now and then I get the urge to take my officer size 1911 or Browning high power. Though heavier, the satisfaction outweighs the added ounces, and having a "proper gun belt and holster" makes it really no burden at all.

 

[R61414]

1911s

I was out all afternoon with my Kimber Ultra Raptor strapped to my right hip and two extra mags on my left, I never noticed the weight because that is my typical everyday carry.
Our church is having its first service, since the Covid-19 shut down started, tomorrow morning. I am on the Security Team and will be carrying a full-size Colt 1911.

 

[65-2x2]

I have carried a full-size 1911A1 since the early 1990s up until about nine months ago when I bought a Colt Defender. Even though I am older than dirt, (I was in school with Moses) I don't have a problem carrying the old heavy pistol. The key is carrying in the right leather that is comfortable for you.

This Defender is spoiling me a bit, but the truth of the matter is I just don't shoot it near as well as the full size piece, so that if I am hanging around the home place, I carry the pint sized piece and if I am going out I carry the full size A1. I never feel under-armed with 9 rounds of .45 ACP.

The first pistol shooting I did to amount to anything was in boot camp where an old pro taught us how to shoot the .45. It grew on me. It is probably like your first kiss, you will always hold a soft spot in your heart for that gal.

 

[Chief10]

I have found that the combination of a very good belt and a very good leather holster make all the difference when carrying a firearm of any type but especially big iron like the 1911 or the S & W Model 29 with 4" barrel.

 

[Donn]

As mentioned elsewhere, weight was the prime factor in making me part of, as Clint Smith says, the polymer generation. In a perfect world, I'd EDC my 1911 Govt Model in 38 Super. Unfortunately, after 15-20 minutes, Mr. Sciatica says no you won't.

 

[TheHobbyist]

Nothing wrong with old school either.....c1919 Commercial

Or a little less raucous.....

Not trying to get too far off the OP's post, but thank you for posting this one again. I have enjoyed it for years.

 

[Mister X]

A friend of mine(slightly built fellow) carries one everyday. He always has and likely always will as he is set in his ways. His choice.

They just don’t make much sense to me when balancing size/weight/capacity/reliability and considering what else is now available. Plus, I imagine a lot folks stick with then because of familiarity or nostalgia.

I usually carry a wheel gun for my own reasons, but none are sentimental in nature and a lot of the videos I’ve seen popping up on various forums lately have me seriously considering making a switch. If I carried a 1911, I would be doing the same.

 

[ContinentalOp]

I usually carry a wheel gun for my own reasons, but none are sentimental in nature and a lot of the videos I’ve seen popping up on various forums lately have me seriously considering making a switch.