What is the purpose of front cocking serations found on many new autoloaders (especially 1911's)? Firearms brochures and ads for firearms with them will often mention/brag about their presense, but I just can't see any practical purpose or necessity for them. I have had not trouble whatsoever with firearms that lacked them. Worst of all, sometime's they make guns ugly.
What is the purpose of front cocking serations?
- Thread starter RHarris
- Start date
Mike Irwin
Staff
Well, actually, they DO have a purpose for some shooters...
If you have a low mount optical sight on the gun, but haven't added an auxiliary cocking handle, the front serations allow you to cock the gun more easily without having to grab the sight.
Personally? Those front serrations make the gun UGLY.
If you have a low mount optical sight on the gun, but haven't added an auxiliary cocking handle, the front serations allow you to cock the gun more easily without having to grab the sight.
Personally? Those front serrations make the gun UGLY.
As far as I'm concerned, they're UGLY, and add absolutely nothing necessary to a gun.
They are almost a standard feature on recent-production 1911s now.
Doing a press check properly doesn't require them at all.
If I were in the market for a new 1911, I'd specifically AVOID getting front slide serrations.
They are almost a standard feature on recent-production 1911s now.
Doing a press check properly doesn't require them at all.
If I were in the market for a new 1911, I'd specifically AVOID getting front slide serrations.
Never thought I would get to where I could start a comment with "back in the old days" but here I am, doing it.
Back in the old days we were taught to "pinch" the slide to assertain if a 1911 was loaded (round in the chamber). This was done by inserting the thumb of your weak hand in the front of the trigger guard and then pinching the lower half of the slide with your index finger. You only had to move it a quarter of an inch or so to see if there was a round in the chamber.
About the time parts makers started marketing full length recoil spring guide rods (which prevent you from performing the above described pinch technique) it was decided by some one (maybe gunwriters) that pinching the slide of a 1911 was dangerous. Then someone (maybe a custom gunsmith?) came up with the idea of putting serrations on the front of the slide that matched the ones on the back. This facilitated the now politically correct "press check" which had replaced the "dangerous" pinch the slide technique. Naturally they got to charge more for these front serrations.
As it became more common it became more and more of a fad. Evenutally it became the only acceptable way to check the guns condition. Personally, I never once touched the trigger with my thumb in "pinching" the slide of a 1911 and I carried one or another for 26 years. A couple years ago I had a IPSC shooter of some note threaten to have me thrown out of an IDPA match for "safety" when I pinched the slide of a 1911. And so it goes.
Back in the old days we were taught to "pinch" the slide to assertain if a 1911 was loaded (round in the chamber). This was done by inserting the thumb of your weak hand in the front of the trigger guard and then pinching the lower half of the slide with your index finger. You only had to move it a quarter of an inch or so to see if there was a round in the chamber.
About the time parts makers started marketing full length recoil spring guide rods (which prevent you from performing the above described pinch technique) it was decided by some one (maybe gunwriters) that pinching the slide of a 1911 was dangerous. Then someone (maybe a custom gunsmith?) came up with the idea of putting serrations on the front of the slide that matched the ones on the back. This facilitated the now politically correct "press check" which had replaced the "dangerous" pinch the slide technique. Naturally they got to charge more for these front serrations.
As it became more common it became more and more of a fad. Evenutally it became the only acceptable way to check the guns condition. Personally, I never once touched the trigger with my thumb in "pinching" the slide of a 1911 and I carried one or another for 26 years. A couple years ago I had a IPSC shooter of some note threaten to have me thrown out of an IDPA match for "safety" when I pinched the slide of a 1911. And so it goes.
Their purpose is to help perform a press check when your hands or the slide are slippery, with gloves on, etc. For those who shoot a lot under adverse conditions, it can help. I've noticed that some afficianados of living room guns protest their looks, but that is their only down side.
ljlc
ljlc
Mike Irwin
Staff
"Some afficionados of living room guns..."
Just about ALL of my guns are living room guns, including ones that look a lot worse than a 1911 with forward serrations...
And you know, I still can't figure out how a press check would be any easier with forward serrations if my hands are cold & wet.
Just about ALL of my guns are living room guns, including ones that look a lot worse than a 1911 with forward serrations...
And you know, I still can't figure out how a press check would be any easier with forward serrations if my hands are cold & wet.
You have ALL missed the point (I think). My wife has a Browing HP .40 cal. She is also 4'11' and maybe 85 lbs. When we got the gun she could not rack the slide, so I taught her how to do it by giving her different guns with progressively stronger springs. We started with the CZ-83, went to the P7, then 1911 with 16, then 17, then 18 then 20 lb springs. As she worked her way up, she learned what we all know - it's all about technique, not strength. Problem is, her hands are so small she just can't seem to get enough leverage to rack the slide on guns with stiffer springs by gripping from the rear - she NEEDS front serrations to rack it properly.
I don't disagree with the above comments (looks, upcharging, press-checking) but in our case, front serrations are an absolutely VITAL aspect of her manual of arms.
Tom
I don't disagree with the above comments (looks, upcharging, press-checking) but in our case, front serrations are an absolutely VITAL aspect of her manual of arms.
Tom
".... I still can't figure out how a press check would be any easier with forward serrations if my hands are cold & wet."
Gun pointing in appropriate direction for situation. Weak hand thumb and forefinger under dustcover, pinching front of slide without touching frame. Trigger finger on slide. Push frame forward with strong hand while pressing on slide and pushing back with weak hand. Trigger finger slides over weak hand fingers. Observe chamber for live round.
When hands are slippery from rain, sweat, mud, etc. or weak from fatigue, numb from cold, etc., the serrations afford a more secure grip. The reasoning is the same as that used when putting various types of friction tape on stairs, running boards, etc., or checkering on various parts of a firearm. Improved grip.
Many people don't do press checks in the above fashion (or at all) and may not see the need. Others do. I had them put on a Glock 30 with NP3 finish (very slippery) but don't feel they are so necessary on my 1911's.
ljlc
Gun pointing in appropriate direction for situation. Weak hand thumb and forefinger under dustcover, pinching front of slide without touching frame. Trigger finger on slide. Push frame forward with strong hand while pressing on slide and pushing back with weak hand. Trigger finger slides over weak hand fingers. Observe chamber for live round.
When hands are slippery from rain, sweat, mud, etc. or weak from fatigue, numb from cold, etc., the serrations afford a more secure grip. The reasoning is the same as that used when putting various types of friction tape on stairs, running boards, etc., or checkering on various parts of a firearm. Improved grip.
Many people don't do press checks in the above fashion (or at all) and may not see the need. Others do. I had them put on a Glock 30 with NP3 finish (very slippery) but don't feel they are so necessary on my 1911's.
ljlc