Don Barnett
Regular Member
Here is a question:
I bought a Kimber Pro-Carry II, which I really like: light weight, accurate and dependable.
I realize that Condition I ("locked and cocked" with a round in the chamber, thumb safety engaged) is the preferred method of carry.
Being a Marine Officer, retired, I was taught to carry in Condition III (no round in the chamber; full magazine)...for safety; thus, I hesitate to carry in Condition I for fear of accidental discharge: to go to and from Condition I, there are two times that the hammer is back, with a round in the chamber and the safety off. Also, I sometimes carry in a Galco Shoulder Holster and the muzzle is pointed to whatever, or whomever, is behind me.
I also bought a Galco Fletch, with a thumb retention strap, as I carry on a motorcycle and I like a positive retention. The strap does fit in front of the cocked hammer, but when the pistol is drawn, the configuration of the leather causes the thumb safety to disengage. I figure the sight of a open carried handgun is a deterrant, and by using "situational awareness" I could ready the gun in enough time, should I really need it.
I was showing the pistol and the various holsters to my neighbor, who is an "agent" for Homeland Security. He is also an armor and firearms instructor for that agency. As he was "chastising" me for carrying in Condition III (he favors Condition I), he noticed the way the thumb safety disengaged when drawing from the Fletch, and so he said: "Why don't you carry in Condition II?" (round in the chamber, hammer down). This would require only that the hammer be cocked to make the firearm ready.
He claims that with the modern 1911s, having the hammer rest on a live round should pose no safety problem. Theoretically that is a bad idea, but have there ever been any accidental discharges when a 1911 is carried in that condition??
Any thoughts or ideas??
I bought a Kimber Pro-Carry II, which I really like: light weight, accurate and dependable.
I realize that Condition I ("locked and cocked" with a round in the chamber, thumb safety engaged) is the preferred method of carry.
Being a Marine Officer, retired, I was taught to carry in Condition III (no round in the chamber; full magazine)...for safety; thus, I hesitate to carry in Condition I for fear of accidental discharge: to go to and from Condition I, there are two times that the hammer is back, with a round in the chamber and the safety off. Also, I sometimes carry in a Galco Shoulder Holster and the muzzle is pointed to whatever, or whomever, is behind me.
I also bought a Galco Fletch, with a thumb retention strap, as I carry on a motorcycle and I like a positive retention. The strap does fit in front of the cocked hammer, but when the pistol is drawn, the configuration of the leather causes the thumb safety to disengage. I figure the sight of a open carried handgun is a deterrant, and by using "situational awareness" I could ready the gun in enough time, should I really need it.
I was showing the pistol and the various holsters to my neighbor, who is an "agent" for Homeland Security. He is also an armor and firearms instructor for that agency. As he was "chastising" me for carrying in Condition III (he favors Condition I), he noticed the way the thumb safety disengaged when drawing from the Fletch, and so he said: "Why don't you carry in Condition II?" (round in the chamber, hammer down). This would require only that the hammer be cocked to make the firearm ready.
He claims that with the modern 1911s, having the hammer rest on a live round should pose no safety problem. Theoretically that is a bad idea, but have there ever been any accidental discharges when a 1911 is carried in that condition??
Any thoughts or ideas??