I'm starting a new thread to carry on a conversation with Jim Keenan that started in a Kimber thread and kind of wandered off topic.
I agree that a lot of "current wisdom" on the 1911 IS bs of the purest sort.
While I don't have the approx. 50 years you have, I do have a very sound 20 years, (Hey, I'm only 39, gimme time!) and in that time I've been very fortunate to work with some of the best in the field.
I found several instances in my Marine Corps time where we literally had to "re-invent the wheel" by discovering a problem and having to find a "new" fix for it only to find that this was something that had been "discovered" and dealt with 50 or 60 years previously.
One example that comes to mind was that we were experiancing a great many barrels failing due to a half moon shaped crack developing in the chamber at the 6 o'clock position.
Examination determined that this was, of course due to improperly fitted barrel links, causeing the link lug to literally begin to rip itself out of the bottom of the barrel.
Why hadn't we seen this before?
Because for many decades, Colt had used several different sizes of links and fit the correct lenth link in each pistol.
The military had decided that this was unnecessary and had chosen to stock only one "mid length" link that was supposed to fit ALL pistols.
Since we couldn't convince the US Military to not only stock all the lengths of link necessary to proper fit AND train the Armorers in how to fit them, we found a "mod" that the Marine Corps would accept.
(It didn't cost them any more money.)
I am in TOTAL agreement with you on how seldom a "smith" or a shooter truly understands what happens when you pull the trigger on a 1911, however, I believe that the way to insure BEST reliablity in a 1911 is to replicate the conditions of firing as closely as possible every single time you manipulate the slide.
For example,
The design of the 1911 is such that it is "for all practical purposes" impossible to fire the 1911 and take your finger off the trigger before the cycle of operation is finished.
Maybe Ed McGivern, Sgt. Joe Walsh, or maybe Bob Munden could put the lie to this, but I know I certainly can't and neither can any other "normal" human.
The reason this is significant is because while the trigger is depressed, the disconnector is activated, thereby taking the vital link out of the firing system and preventing the hammer and sear from bouncing together.
So, when I load the pistol, I (pointing the pistol in a SAFE direction!) I lock the slide to the rear, insert a loaded magazine, depress the trigger, and activate the slide lock, allowing spring pressure to take the slide home.
I then remove my finger from the trigger and "safe" the pistol.
Yes, to the untrained this CAN be a dangerous operation. All it takes is to unthinkingly release and reapply pressure to the trigger after it is loaded and you have an AD. (Accidental Discharge)
In Bullseye competition this is a VERY advantageous means of loading, as in the event of a poor hammer/sear engagement due to an overly light or improperly lightened trigger, it will prevent a "bounce out" AD.
As you mentioned in the other thread, the hammer is slammed about mercilessly during the cycle of operation. The reason this is not a problem is because of the disconnector.
Replicating firing conditions also extends as far as always loading from the magazine rather than dropping a loose round in the chamber and letting the slide slam home on it, causing the extractor to have to "jump" over the rim of the case.
As you touched on in the other thread, the 1911 is an EXTREMELY robust design and can withstand massive abuse and continue to function reliably, but just because it CAN doesn't mean that we should unnecessarilly do so.
Baby it in peace so that it will serve you well in "war."
Yes/no?
(sorry for the lengthy post, I can talk 1911 for days!)
------------------
Your mind is your primary weapon.
USE IT!
I agree that a lot of "current wisdom" on the 1911 IS bs of the purest sort.
While I don't have the approx. 50 years you have, I do have a very sound 20 years, (Hey, I'm only 39, gimme time!) and in that time I've been very fortunate to work with some of the best in the field.
I found several instances in my Marine Corps time where we literally had to "re-invent the wheel" by discovering a problem and having to find a "new" fix for it only to find that this was something that had been "discovered" and dealt with 50 or 60 years previously.
One example that comes to mind was that we were experiancing a great many barrels failing due to a half moon shaped crack developing in the chamber at the 6 o'clock position.
Examination determined that this was, of course due to improperly fitted barrel links, causeing the link lug to literally begin to rip itself out of the bottom of the barrel.
Why hadn't we seen this before?
Because for many decades, Colt had used several different sizes of links and fit the correct lenth link in each pistol.
The military had decided that this was unnecessary and had chosen to stock only one "mid length" link that was supposed to fit ALL pistols.
Since we couldn't convince the US Military to not only stock all the lengths of link necessary to proper fit AND train the Armorers in how to fit them, we found a "mod" that the Marine Corps would accept.
(It didn't cost them any more money.)
I am in TOTAL agreement with you on how seldom a "smith" or a shooter truly understands what happens when you pull the trigger on a 1911, however, I believe that the way to insure BEST reliablity in a 1911 is to replicate the conditions of firing as closely as possible every single time you manipulate the slide.
For example,
The design of the 1911 is such that it is "for all practical purposes" impossible to fire the 1911 and take your finger off the trigger before the cycle of operation is finished.
Maybe Ed McGivern, Sgt. Joe Walsh, or maybe Bob Munden could put the lie to this, but I know I certainly can't and neither can any other "normal" human.
The reason this is significant is because while the trigger is depressed, the disconnector is activated, thereby taking the vital link out of the firing system and preventing the hammer and sear from bouncing together.
So, when I load the pistol, I (pointing the pistol in a SAFE direction!) I lock the slide to the rear, insert a loaded magazine, depress the trigger, and activate the slide lock, allowing spring pressure to take the slide home.
I then remove my finger from the trigger and "safe" the pistol.
Yes, to the untrained this CAN be a dangerous operation. All it takes is to unthinkingly release and reapply pressure to the trigger after it is loaded and you have an AD. (Accidental Discharge)
In Bullseye competition this is a VERY advantageous means of loading, as in the event of a poor hammer/sear engagement due to an overly light or improperly lightened trigger, it will prevent a "bounce out" AD.
As you mentioned in the other thread, the hammer is slammed about mercilessly during the cycle of operation. The reason this is not a problem is because of the disconnector.
Replicating firing conditions also extends as far as always loading from the magazine rather than dropping a loose round in the chamber and letting the slide slam home on it, causing the extractor to have to "jump" over the rim of the case.
As you touched on in the other thread, the 1911 is an EXTREMELY robust design and can withstand massive abuse and continue to function reliably, but just because it CAN doesn't mean that we should unnecessarilly do so.
Baby it in peace so that it will serve you well in "war."
Yes/no?
(sorry for the lengthy post, I can talk 1911 for days!)
------------------
Your mind is your primary weapon.
USE IT!