How many 1911 carriers out there?

[rchance]

I was wandering how many of you carry a 5" 1911. The price of the alum. rail 1911 isn't bad so I thought about purchasing one to carry. Any issues with the alum. rail?

 

[SPC]

I carry a Gvt. Rock Island (actually, the frame and slide are RIA, everything else is Wilson Combat.) It makes carrying a little more of a thought out process, but it's not a huge problem. I usually carry strong side in a belt slide holster and a decent rayon Hawaiian print shirt is good enough. (silk will print BAD)

 

[GatorFarmer]

I like the old Safety Speed tab/paddle holster for a full size 1911. It does a nice job with my Colt Series 70.

 

[Trooper224]

Count me in. I've been carrying a full-size 1911 routinely for the last 15+ years. No experience with one with an aluminum rail.

 

[USAF385]

I only occasionally carry my 1911.. and only in jacket weather with a shoulder holster. I just can't comfortably carry anything concealed bigger than my 642 unless it's in a shoulder holster.

 

[LuddhaBuddha]

I carry my 1911SC commander everyday, I have also tried carrying my dads RIA govt. model and its not too bad, you really need a good belt and holster to carry a big gun.

 

[Vanilla Gorilla]

There's a 1911 in there somewhere. That's my daily carry stuff, except for a different knife, now.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

At last count I have 18 of the 1911-type pistols in my little collection, starting with a civilian-model Colt 1911 (1914 production), Colt 1911 U.S. Army (1918), Colt 1911 U.S. Navy, Springfield Armory 1911 (1918), military 1911A1's from 1936 to 1945 by Colt, Remington Rand, Ithaca, and Union Switch & Signal, a 1938 production .38 Super, 1968 Government Model, Series 70 Government Model and Combat Commander, and a Colt Service Model Ace .22 LR.

I would not feel unarmed with any of those old timers. My prefered carry guns in recent years have been from Kimber (TLE, Pro Carry, and CDP models) when weather permits a cover garment.

None have rails, I have never seen any advantage to this feature for a concealed carry weapon (maybe for tactical applications, which I don't have to worry about anymore). The Kimbers all have night sights.

My usual carry rig is my Model 1-SL OWB holster on a 1.5" belt made of 10-oz. cowhide and a single mag pouch on the off-side.

My old S&W Model 37 Airweight will never be far from me, and I also like the Kahr P40 a lot. Both are very lightweight, just perfect for summertime when I don't want to wear a cover garment.

Tough to beat a good 1911 pistol, but there are certainly a number of fine alternatives.

 

[GM4spd]

Just this one!!! Life insurance policy written in 1918 Pete

 

[Dan Cash]

Working out in the bush I usually have a big six shooter. When I go to town, it is with a 1911 in a Milt Sparks IWB and a 642 in the off side pocket. That big flat chunck of iron comforts me.

 

[BSkerj]

I carry a 1911 for several hours daily. I use a IWB Kholster. Great holster that really distributes the weight well. Also very adjustable, and you can tuck in your shirt and not print. Kholster.com has them.

 

[cmort666]

I regularly carry a 5" Norinco M1911. I use a Don Hume 715M IWB.

I haven't been carrying it lately due to the very hot and humid weather. The 715M really requires a t-shirt to prevent the gun chafing my side, and until the past few days, it's been too hot for a t-shirt AND a polo shirt. I eventually plan to supplement my various 715Ms with "tuckable" IWBs that protect my skin from the gun and vice versa.

 

[dennis40x]

 

[michael thornton]

i carry a colt combat elite, the thing about a 1911 is they are flat and fairly easy to hide

 

[Steave]

I don't carry a full size, steel frame 1911 too often, a LW commander in either .45 or .38 Super is another story; Milt Sparks IWB.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

For what it may be worth, my customers are ordering holsters for 1911-style pistols at a rate approximating 15% of my total production. I don't thing the 1911's are going away any time soon!

 

[Poohgyrr]

A 5" non-railed steel 1911 rests in a Kramer IWB#2 with the belt & mag pouch from Mernickle. As comfortable as it can be.

It may not hold lots of rounds, but they go where I need them to go.

 

[epj]

One of my regular carry guns is a Kimber 4" with alloy frame. Carry it OWB in a pancake style holster. Have to be a little careful about what shirt I wear with this rig.

 

[38-44HD45]

I've carried full-size 1911s a lot. Still do, sometimes, but it's usually a Delta Elite or a full-size Aegis, converted to 9x23, when I do. I don't want a rail on a holster gun, but if the holster is made right, it shouldn't be a problem. The keys to 1911 carryability are a good belt, combined with a good holster, and a TIGHT fit of belt to holster.

 

[MR. IHC]

1911

i carry an original colt 1911 from time to time. she's an oldey but goody. made in 1918, serial #502xxx

 

[Sportsterguy]

Carried a modified to my specs SA Standard 1911 for 17 years, mostly in a HBE Leatherworks IWB. Great combo and the pistol ran with any ammo!!!

Swapped over to a H&K P7 as it's lighter, more accurate than any semi I've ever shot and ammo is cheaper. The Springer is now my house pistol and still see's a monthly range session to keep me up on it's controls.

Stick with the full size 1911 platform. I'll NEVER own another chopped 1911 after my SA Champ made 5 trips to SA and still didn't run!!! Have seen buttloads of chopped ones suffer from feeding/ejection problems and just don't trust em. JMO

 

[flop-shank]

Good advice on a full size gun Sportsterguy. My understanding is that most .45 ACP ammo is developed around a full length barrel anyway.

 

[torrejon224]

I own 14 1911s so count me in! 8 full size, 4 Commanders and 2 CCOs

 

[deralte]

Count me in with a S&W 1911, SS, rail model. I must admit after using the old .45s in the military many years ago, I was pleasantly surprized at the accuracy. Had it for a year and it has never failed to go bang with any ammo that I have used.

 

[ackf]

I have a few different types of guns but I only carry a 1911. My favorite carry is a commander size frame, ported ofc. slide and barrel. I built it in my hobby shop and trust it daily. 19 other 1911's in the stable.

 

[LuddhaBuddha]

I don't think commanders have any more problems than govt. models atleast it doesn't seem that way when comparing complaints on gun boards, officer and defender size guns seem to have problems a lot though.

 

[RABULL]

I own a number of 1911's from a Colt 1911A1 Government .45 (1941) to a Les Baer Thunder Ranch Special 1911 .45 ACP. I carry a 1911 both on and off duty every day. On Duty, I carry a Les Baer Thunder Ranch 1911 or a Kimber Super Match II 1911 .45 ACP that was worked over by Novak Custom (the Les Baer has become my favorite full size 1911) . For off duty I have a Colt Lightweight Commander XSE .45 for IWB carry or a Kimber Ultra CDP II .45 (3 inch barrel) that I carry in an Ankle Holster or IWB.

I agree that the full size 1911's seem to run best but my Kimber Ultra CDP II (3") has been accurate and has run without any problems at all. My 1911's are:

Les Baer Thunder Ranch Special 1911 .45 Blued
Kimber Super Match II 1911 .45 Stainless Frame/Blue Slide
Colt 1911 Gold Cup National Match .45 E-Nickel
2 Colt 1911 Government XSE .45 ACP Blued
Colt 1911 Lightweight Commander XSE .45 ACP Stainless Novak Custom
Colt 1911 Lightweight Commander .45 ACP Armend Swenson Custom Hard Chrome Finish
Colt 1911A1 Military Government Model .45 ACP Parkerized Finish
Kimber Ultra CDP II 1911 .45 ACP Black Frame/Stainless Slide
Sig Sauer GSR Revolution 1911 .45 ACP 5" Nitron Finish

My next 1911 will probably be a railed 1911 and I am looking closely at the Les Bauer Thunder Ranch Special Home Defense Model which has a light rail on it.

 

[ENH]

Here's my Ed Brown KC and one of Lobo Gunleather holsters I use to carry it. I find myself caring the 1911 more these days, but always have one of my much loved S&W's in my pocket.

 

[bubbajoe45]

I have five .45 Autos - 3 of them 1911s. All have alloy frames (one poly XD). Prefer Commander size. Love my Sig 220, but the 1911 is just slimmer, sleeker, and handles better. I almost always carry IWB in a Milt Sparks or Bulman TSAC. I have a few other belt rigs (good ones), but IWB seems to me to provide much better concealment. A .45 Auto is always my first choice for carry in an urban environment - .44 revolvers for the sticks.

 

[OLDFED]

Kimbers...

Heavy jacket time: Shoulder rig with Compact alloy and mags.
Light jacket/sweater time: Stainless 5" with Grip Clip
Summer shorts: Either the above 5", a J frame or a KEL-TEC P3AT