Yes. Condition 1 is the ONLY way to carry a 1911, unless one intends to come in second place in a gun fight. It is quite safe, including if one slips on ice and falls with it in the holster(done that), but ready to go when one draws and thumbs down the safety (which should be an automatic operation).
Model 1911 Carry
- Thread starter jimmyj
- Start date
Thin Man
Member
Absolutely, yes. Ruger Lightweight Commander in 9mm... until I transitioned to my Steyr C9-A2 MF for work carry. Ammunition capacity wins again. 
It's getting weird out there and rats run in packs. The world we live in, I suppose.
It's getting weird out there and rats run in packs. The world we live in, I suppose.
OP
Yep. For years. Kind of stupid not to.
What holster is that ?
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
Yes, but only for the past 53 years or so.
In my experience that's NOT how the US Army taught its personnel to carry the 1911 so I'm not so sure it was literally "meant" to be carried that way. Remember the book "Unsafe At Any Speed"? You do if you're old enough. That ruined the Chevrolet Corvair. I have always felt that way about a 1911 in Condition 1. It's not safe and I don't care what anyone says about it. YMMV and obviously does in so many cases. Everyone has choices donchano!!! 
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JimmyJ it looks like Eric300's holster is a Galco Combat Master
Yes, for over 30 years now. If someone is not comfortable carrying a 1911 in condition 1 they should choose another type of gun, IMO.
MetalMan
Member
Condition one is not how the Army taught me back in 1966. However lots of folks do it and are comfortable with it. A 1911 in condition one seems to me to be a lot safer than a loaded Glock.
I am personally not comfortable with it. So I don't carry a 1911, I carry a 645.
At my age I have decided that the extra time it takes to get into action is probably a good thing for my decision making process.
How long does it take to cock a 1911?
But, as I said at the top, lots of smart people do it safely. If you have to ask questions about it, maybe you should not.
I am personally not comfortable with it. So I don't carry a 1911, I carry a 645.
At my age I have decided that the extra time it takes to get into action is probably a good thing for my decision making process.
How long does it take to cock a 1911?
But, as I said at the top, lots of smart people do it safely. If you have to ask questions about it, maybe you should not.
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AJ
US Veteran
In my experience that's NOT how the US Army taught its personnel to carry the 1911 so I'm not so sure it was literally "meant" to be carried that way. Remember the book "Unsafe At Any Speed"? You do if you're old enough. That ruined the Chevrolet Corvair. I have always felt that way about a 1911 in Condition 1. It's not safe and I don't care what anyone says about it. YMMV and obviously does in so many cases. Everyone has choices donchano!!!
When I joined the Corps we were not trained to carry the M1911A1 in Condition 1. When I was assigned to the Marine Corps Security Battalion, we were trained to do so. A sailor with a gun is like a Corvair. To most sailors a weapons system is a ship.
SuperMan
Member
In my experience that's NOT how the US Army taught its personnel to carry the 1911 so I'm not so sure it was literally "meant" to be carried that way. Remember the book "Unsafe At Any Speed"? You do if you're old enough. That ruined the Chevrolet Corvair. I have always felt that way about a 1911 in Condition 1. It's not safe and I don't care what anyone says about it. YMMV and obviously does in so many cases. Everyone has choices donchano!!!
...since the AR15/M16 is carried "Cocked and Locked"...what is the difference between them and a 1911...nothing other than you can't see the hammer...
Have carried a 1911 daily since 1975, up until 2007 IWB with no holster.
More people have had unintentional discharges with striker fired "Safe Action" guns than properly handled 1911s...
Bob
keith44spl
Member
I was taught condition one and would feel unsafe if I went against my training. I was also told but not trained that condition one was safest, condition three the slowest and condition two stupid. I respected the training officer and competitive shooter that told me that. This information only dates from the early 80's.
BUT I see you have a strap between the frame and hammer. The strap between the hammer and frame takes the safety factor up several levels.
When I younger I carried my Colt with the barrel loaded and the hammer down and cocked it on the draw like on a SA revolver. My hand won't do that now so I went to a P220 Sig. Larry
Not taking a side, but consider:
JMB added the thumb safety (needed for Condition One) only in the final version when the Army asked for it. And they wanted it for use *after* firing.
OTOH, he incorporated the inertial firing pin (needed for Condition Two) and the half-cock notch (no name) from the start.
Any automatic will do Condition Three.
I think what the 1911 "was designed for" is kinda up in the air.
JMB added the thumb safety (needed for Condition One) only in the final version when the Army asked for it. And they wanted it for use *after* firing.
OTOH, he incorporated the inertial firing pin (needed for Condition Two) and the half-cock notch (no name) from the start.
Any automatic will do Condition Three.
I think what the 1911 "was designed for" is kinda up in the air.
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Marshal Tom
Member
I carried a 1911 for decades, on and off duty in condition 1 which is the only way to carry one. Those who don't lack proper training on that platform and would be far better off with another type of weapon. I currently own three striker fired guns without safety's and in my opinion, the 1911 in condition 1 is safer than all of them.
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