There's a little controversy over whether it's safe to carry a 1911 style pistol "Cocked and Locked".
First of all, what is "Cocked and Locked"? Well, it's how the 1911 was designed to be carried - A round in the chamber, hammer at full cock, and the thumb safety engaged - Ready to fire at the drop of the thumb safety.
However, a lot of folks RIGHTLY believe that this is unsafe. It is totally unsafe 99% of the time. Why? Because it assumes a PROPERLY FITTED thumb safety, hammer, and sear. A properly fitted thumb safety prevents even the slightest motion of the hammer and sear. And it is fitted so that it engages properly, not at a single point (how MOST are found to be fitted on inspection). The thumb safety must disengage without jarring the hammer and sear. The hammer and sear engagement must be correct, so that wear does not produce an unsafe condition. Only then is "Cocked and Locked" safe!
A properly fitted 1911 is 100% reliable and safe in the hands of a trained operator. It will function properly with parts missing and parts replaced with pieces of wire, wood, whatever... But PROPERLY FITTED is the necessary starting point.
Be safe!
Here's a great pic showing the thumb safety engagement (not my pic):
First of all, what is "Cocked and Locked"? Well, it's how the 1911 was designed to be carried - A round in the chamber, hammer at full cock, and the thumb safety engaged - Ready to fire at the drop of the thumb safety.
However, a lot of folks RIGHTLY believe that this is unsafe. It is totally unsafe 99% of the time. Why? Because it assumes a PROPERLY FITTED thumb safety, hammer, and sear. A properly fitted thumb safety prevents even the slightest motion of the hammer and sear. And it is fitted so that it engages properly, not at a single point (how MOST are found to be fitted on inspection). The thumb safety must disengage without jarring the hammer and sear. The hammer and sear engagement must be correct, so that wear does not produce an unsafe condition. Only then is "Cocked and Locked" safe!
A properly fitted 1911 is 100% reliable and safe in the hands of a trained operator. It will function properly with parts missing and parts replaced with pieces of wire, wood, whatever... But PROPERLY FITTED is the necessary starting point.
Be safe!
Here's a great pic showing the thumb safety engagement (not my pic):