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From: boyd@mailer.cc.fsu.edu (Mickey Boyd)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: Big bore carry guns (and Sig Sauer)
Message-ID: <35154@mimsy.umd.edu>
Date: 3 Jun 91 00:33:41 GMT
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Organization: Florida State University Computer Science Department
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Approved: gun-control@cs.umd.edu

In article <35140@mimsy.umd.edu>, jalden@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Joshua M. Alden) writes:
#
#    I would like it to have the following characteristics:
#
#    semi-auto
#    big-bore (10mm, .45, .40)
#    as concealable as possible (very important)
#    utterly reliable
#    non-reflective (stainless steel is out)
#    body sweat won't corrode it
#    no magazine-drop safety
#    slide release, safety, magazine release all reachable without
#      shifting grip to a non-shooting position.
#
#    I've been looking around, and I haven't found a firearm which meets
#all these criteria.  I thought I'd found it in the Colt Officer's .45,
#but that's got a magazine-drop safety.  Anyone know of a firearm which
#fits all or most of my criteria, or am I dreaming?

The Officer's model is exactly similar in operation to a standard 1911A1, 
and thus does NOT have a hammer-dropping dongle or a magazine safety.  Perhaps
you are thinking of the chopped Double Eagle (which may also be referred to as
an "officer's" model for all I know).  Anyway, I would recommend an Officer's 
model in stainless (beadblasted if the shinyness bothers you).  It wins in 
the concealable category, and if you carry it condition 3 (loaded magazine,
empty chamber) and practice racking the slide on draw (usually much faster 
that trying to thumb cock, by the way) you should have all you want.  Also, 
if you feel the shit about to hit the fan, you can rack the slide and engage 
the thumb safety for a cocked-and-locked carry (undoubtedly the best 
compromise between speed and accuracy, but perhaps not so safe for regular 
carrying).     

Incidentally, the beadblasting idea is a neat one (I just got introduced to 
it myself).  Any polished stainless steel surface ends up getting really 
fine scratches on just from casual handling/wiping.  Beadblasting is cheap,
gives a good looking finish, holds more lubricant, does not reflect light,
and can be done regularly to present a nice appearance.  It is not so much a 
finish as a texture, so if it "wears" shiny in places you don't have to redo
the entire gun (although it would probably not cost any more money). 

As per the mag release being "reachable", I am sold on the Kim Aherns grips 
with the cutout next to the mag release (I have short thumbs).  I used to 
immediately hang extended everything on my guns (due to the above short 
thumbs), but I have stopped on the slide releases (it is easier to release with 
the thumb of the supporting hand during reload, and the extended ones are 
easier to bump accidentally while shooting, thus locking back the slide).  I 
find that the stock safety on 1911A1's work for me, but most of my other 
auto's wear extended ones.  Due to the enourmous popularity of the 1911A1 
design in competition, there are many many choices when it comes to customizing
one.  The nice thing about this is that you can pick and choose the controls 
you like on the gun.  In terms of selection of custom parts, the next auto 
in the list would probably be a Browning Hi-Power. 
-- 
             Mickey R. Boyd          |  "God is a comedian playing to an 
          FSU Computer Science       |      audience too afraid to laugh."
        Technical Support Group      |
      email:  boyd@fsucs.cs.fsu.edu  |                  - Voltaire