The 1911 and I

PW9108LI find it interesting that having worked for a holster company for 10 months, I don’t have a decent EDC holster for my 1911.  Sure I have a leg rig.  And an Army Field rig… but I’m not one that I can carry concealed with.  That’s most strange to me.  Because I’ve been working on my 1911 a bit here and there all day long.   Just holding it, gives me some comfort and satisfaction in the beauty of the thing.
Mine is not a fancy 1911.  It’s not shiny and it’s not gleaming with black tactical pretense.  It is, just what it is.  And that’s why I love it so much.  It’s very honest about what it is.  Springfield Armory may have discontinued it… the “GI” model, but I think it was a mistake… because for some reason, I think it was the best 1911 Springfield Armory has ever made.
The finish is worn.  In places, down the bare metal.  The wood grips are scratched and scared.  It’s heavy, being made of solid steel.  The sights are the old style, rudimentary and hard to see.  The hammer spur is long, and with GI grip safety – it can bite you.  It’s not the most pleasant gun to look at or fire for any amount of time.  But it has something else….
Reliability.  I’ve not had a failure with this pistol… Not a single jam or misfire… and the accuracy has been above par.  I trust this gun.  It’s one of the few guns I keep loaded at all times.  (Which reminds me… it’s time to rotate the magazines)  It has never let me down when I put it to the test and it has done everything I’ve ever asked of it.

It reminds me of myself.  I’m not old, but I feel a lot older than I should for a man of my age.  It’s not the years, it’s the miles, they say.  My finish is worn and so are my parts.  I’m not pleasing to look at, and I’m a bit too heavy, and I can bite when not handled properly.  But I am reliable, and I hit hard, and I hit true.

Getting back into the job market… looking for employment.  I’m suddenly no longer optimistic.  I’m not as young as I used to be, and my family is larger and their necessities are more expensive… Feeding them is a challenge.  If an Employer is like a Gun Buyer… Why would they pick an old ugly GI 1911 when for less money they could buy one of these younger M&P’s or Glocks?

Such thoughts have depressed me greatly.  Regardless of that, I’ll be packing my 1911 from now until…  Well… I need to find a good EDC holster for this thing.  I think perhaps, I shall make one.

This 1911 is special to me.  It is an almost identical clone to one issued to me when I was in uniform and found myself in a kinetic altercation. The result was both my adversary and myself laying on the ground fifty yards apart.  I credit my armor for saving my life from his hit on me.  I credit the 1911 with denying him a second shot.    This is something that no Glock or M&P has done for me.  And well, this 1911 didn’t either, but it is a mirror image of the one that did.  That one was a Colt and had to be returned to the armory.  This clone was made by Springfield Armory.  I consider it to be close enough for a memento.   The fact that it’s served so well ever since I acquired it is only a happy bonus.

13 thoughts on “The 1911 and I”

  1. George, there are some people who like the heft and solidity that the 1911 offers and will pass over the new stuff when they are shopping.
    Oh, they may have an M&P in rotation, but that 1911 is… comforting.
    The first pistol I carried was a 1911, and tho I have owned M&P and Glock… Old Slabsides is still what I grab.
    Yes, it is a heavy beast with the capacity of a pocket pistol… but I don’t care.
    I have confidence it will serve me well, and I trust it above all others.
    Being a 1911 in a modern world isn’t all bad, there is always room for a good one.

    Jim

    1. Luke Adams is always my first thought when it comes to leather… And I do think this Warhorse should be in leather.

  2. I had a Springfield GI model briefly myself, the stainless model. I swapped out the curved locking mainspring housing for a straight one from Wilson, but otherwise left it alone. I gave it to my nephew, he wears it EDC.

  3. I had the same 1911, but traded it up for my Sig GSR. Can’t complain about that move, but the reality is that my GI ran perfectly and was surprisingly accurate. Two things:

    1. What would you recommend as a combat 1911 holster?

    2. He never gives us more than we can handle. He will often SHUT doors to us. As difficult as things may seem to our human minds, He knows what is best for us and graces those who believe.

    Good luck brother…..

    1. Thank you. As far as a good holster goes. All depends on the mission. I’ve said G-Code is my first choice for Kydex. That remains true, regardless of my departure from the company.
      However, we’re talking about a 1911 here, and not a Glock or M&P. These are not guns for regular shooter. The 1911 gun is for the Aficionado and the Connoisseur… The Astute Shooter. (Just like a Browning Hi-Power) These guns should ride in scabbards of Leather. They just should. Even SIG 1911’s. Unless you are talking about an STI Double Stack or some other pure tricked out race gun that’s as much 1911 as a NASCAR Stock Car is to a Car in a Dealer Show Room… Leather. The 1911 is over a hundred years old… It has earned a higher level of respect.
      For Custom Leather – I have a personal Favorite. ADAMS HOLSTERS. Luke Adams makes the best leather holsters I’ve ever used or seen – and I’ve seen and used a whole mess of holsters. I do not say this lightly. I’ve seen some holsters from some others outfits that have large following and I’ve examined them closely. Even used them to try them out. And to be honest I’m left wondering how they became popular. If they were a car, they would be early Kias. Adams Holsters are more the BMW’s. Solid and well built with designs that look and feel “Just Right”. Adams Holsters are solid, well built, and are just right.
      I said that I was going to just make a new EDC rig. Guess what’s already on the way? An Adams Holster. Why? Because given the choice, I like the best option possible.

  4. Kill two birds with one stone . If you cant find a holster you like and are planning on DIY turn it into a custom business , what could it hurt. There are lots of people looking for custom work but don’t have the time or expertise to do it on their own. Good luck and keep the faith.

  5. Colt 1911 on my hip as I type.
    Rests in my night stand when I sleep. Right next to the flashlight.
    One of my earliest memories is Dad on Saturday Parade with a .45 on his hip.
    Have photos of assorted uncles in WWII with their .45s.
    Don’t know what Grandpa carried in WWI.
    My nephew strayed from The Faith by buying a Beretta … but it was a Cougar in .45acp. Ah, youthful indulgences.

  6. You just keep coming back to 1911s. There is something very reassuring about a heavy pistol. When given my druthers between my M&P and my Sig, I inevitably pick up the Sig. Hard to explain why.

  7. Some may question your decision to carry the 1911. I am not one of them. Good luck with your job search. Stay positive and conduct yourself as you would advise your sons to do and things will turn out well. Everything happens for a reason.

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