GeneS--Good thread. Prompts me to do a little research, rather than my chores. Thank you.
This was not the last time John Browning and the prime purchaser of his product differed on the manner of employment. I believe he intended his service pistols to be carried fully loaded and cocked without a manual safety. MUCH later on, in JMB's prototype of the High Power pistol, there was not even a grip safety. (Ca 1929--He died before the P-35 was a standardized pistol.)
The first model 1907 .45 automatic pistol submitted for U.S. Army testing did not have an "automatic safety." The board tested this and other pistols , 15--26 January and 19-- 28 March 1907.
A contract with Colt's dated 18 May 1907 for 200 pistols with certain modifications, including an automatic safety, to be delivered by 18 December 1907. The book illustrates one of these, grip safety, no thumb safety. This was still a "Two-link" pistol.
The Model 1909 was very similar, but of single link design, still without manual safety. One single pistol of this model, serial number 14, had an experimental thumb safety. There is no way to know if this was done in the serial sequence, or if this just happens to be a pistol produced at some previous date, and handy to be recalled for this special modification. I imagine the latter but who's to say? Apparently at least some of the field testing with the 1907 and 1909 pistols was done with chamber loaded, hammer back, and some with chamber loaded, hammer down, for thumb cocking. There is reference to at least one horse, ridden by a Pvt. Tyree, dying in a mishap thereby. (Anyone else recall Trooper Tyree in a couple of the John Wayne Cavalry movies?)
The 1910 test model continued this trend. Serial number 6 was modified to use a thumb safety about identical to that of the later 1911.
The Cavalry criticism was well founded, and called for corrective measures if Colt's expected the Board to change its mind. A device was needed that would permit the pistol to be carried with a cartridge in the chamber, without fear of an accidental discharge. If this could be accomplished, the horseman would simply turn off the safety and cock the hammer , without having to manipulate the slide. Such a safety would undoubtedly fulfill the requirements of the Infantry Board as well.
A careful reading of Bady's book indicates to me that the Artillery really liked the auto pistol as originally tested, the Infantry didn't care, and the Cavalry wanted something more than the grip safety. The late mods on the 1910 and, of course, the 1911, satisfied everyone. There is nothing in these reports to indicate that the Navy or Marines provided the slightest input.
Most of above information is from COLT AUTOMATIC PISTOLS, by Donald Bady, 1973. Publisher's information and page numbers on request.
One other reference--From the original War Department Field Manual 23-35, AUTOMATIC PISTOL, CALIBER .45 M1911 AND M1911A1, Prepared under direction of the Chief of Cavalry, Washington, 1940.
Page 11, sect. 12, "Method of operation— . . . b. If it is desired to make the pistol ready for instant use and for firing the maximum number of shots with the least possible delay, draw back the slide, insert a cartridge by hand into the chamber of the barrel, allow the slide to close, the lock the slide and the cocked hammer by pressing the safety lock upward and insert a loaded magazine. The slide and hammer being thus positively locked, the pistol may be carried safely at full cock and it is only necessary to press down the safety lock . . . then raising the pistol to the firing position."
Page 25: "c. . . . Keep the hammer fully down when the pistol is not loaded."
Yeah, I know--current wisdom is to NOT let slide slam on a loaded chamber, for fear of damaging the extractor.
Regardless of what some unit commanders ordered about empty chambers, etc, my research indicates that the military originally wanted the pistols carried loaded and cocked, maybe with manual safety applied, maybe not.
Best regards--
RR
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---The Second Amendment ensures the rest of the Bill of Rights---
[This message has been edited by Rocky Road (edited August 06, 2000).]
