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AFP22811
Starting Member
10 Posts |
 Posted - 07/16/2012 : 20:30:00
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| who here carries a 1911 and why? im not saying its a bad idea, im just looking for info. i have a sig sauer p228 and i would like to get another gun soon that is more ideal for concealed carry. i have always loved the feel of a 1911 but i have some reservations. i've heard guys have been shot because they forgot to get their safety off, is that true or just a rumor? .45 is a lot of money, and i dont like how i can only carry 7 or 8 rounds. also, all the 1911's i've looked at seem to be real heavy. |
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Q-Ship
Junior Member
319 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2012 : 21:06:15
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| Get a good gun belt, a better holster and practice practice practice. You have to develop the muscle memory to make the safety sweep an integral part of drawing and presenting a 1911. |
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity- Robert Anson Heinlein (USNA 29) |
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badphydeaux
Average Member
USA
542 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2012 : 22:49:43
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Okay, to address the weights and measures first. Wikipedia lists your P228 as being 825g (29.1oz) dry. My Springfield 1911 EMP in 9mm is 708g (24oz) dry and 880g (31.0oz) loaded 9+1. Yep, not the capacity of your 13+1, but the EMP is 6.5"x5"x1.15" wide (I have skinny grips and a narrowed safety) versus the P228 of 7.1"x5.4"x1.5". If you purchase an all steel 1911 you've have a hefty weight on your hands (2.5-3lbs), however many of them are aluminum alloy or some other light weight metal. As to size, what makes a 1911 easy to conceal is the thinner and shorter grip of the frame.
So, to the more esoteric bits, why? Because they have the best trigger of any pistol I've ever held. A crisp 4.5# single action trigger is a joy to shoot. The same pull every time did wonders for my accuracy. I'd match my 3" EMP barrel against any 5" barrel even out to 50 yards (and have!). While some complain about the higher bore axis, I find 1911s very stable, easily gripped and better natural pointers than any other gun I've tried. 9mm in a 1911 is almost a peashooter and in .45 ACP is a "push" rather than the sharp crack of a .40. Yes, the safety is a bear at first. But so was your decocker on the Sig and you worked past that, eh? I've shot with my little EMP so much that I try to sweep of the safety on striker-fired pistols that don't even have them. It's second nature to me now. Yes, you could get shot not sweeping the safety, but that could happen with a Beretta M9 as well. Practice and you'll get past it.
It's like any weapons system, you learn and adapt. |
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moonie
Junior Member
USA
247 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 06:03:40
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| I carry 2 1911's, a full size and an officers. Full size is more for open carry, the officers was purchased specifically for concealed carry although I have done both with each, the officers is just a bit more concealable. |
We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.
Thomas Jefferson |
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nmuskier01
Senior Member
USA
1845 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 06:21:29
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I sometimes carry a gov. size 1911 on a sturdy belt in a belt slide holster. I'd call my style of carry OC or lazy CC. I wear an outer garment, but don't obsess about being covered 100% of the time.
I carry it because of the perfect fit, excellent trigger, accuracy, and, well, 230gr. .45ACP |
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yogiboobooranger
Starting Member
3 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 07:21:03
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| Yep I am a 1911 fan..I carry one quite often. I have no fear of the safety dropping by itself as it is made not to. If it ever did,no matter, as I know not to touch the bang switch until the gun is pointed at whatever I intend to destroy. And most importantly, if I ever find the safety off, and I did not take it off myself, I know to take that gun out of rotation, determine why it came off on its own, and fix it before using/carrying it again. Also, I use holsters that completely cover the trigger, and the gun cannot fire w/o the trigger being pulled. So there you go.. a completely safe carry package that shoots a very heavy potent bullet, is thin and easy to conceal and a pleasure to shoot. Just my two cents, but with the current inflation, ain't worth that!! |
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kingcrabbercurrry
Junior Member
USA
445 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 17:10:46
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quote:
Originally posted by AFP22811
.45 is a lot of money, and i dont like how i can only carry 7 or 8 rounds. also, all the 1911's i've looked at seem to be real heavy.
If decreased capacity, more expensive ammo and a pistol that weighs a good bit more than other full-sized service pistols gives you pause, then I suggest you not entertain the notion of 1911 ownership any further.
It's not a gun for everyone. It's an enthusiast's gun. It is very concealable, easy to shoot well and has good ergonomics but the initial outlay of money for a decent model, the relatively low capacity for a gun of its size and weight and the need for maintenance and upkeep at the end-user level is a turn-off for many.
When I started carrying a 1911 in 2009, I did so because I wanted a gun that was capable of placing rapid, accurate hits on targets up to 25 yards away, had over 4K of once-fired .45 ACP brass, a Hornady progressive loader set up for .45 ACP and received 200 rounds of .45 ACP defensive ammo a year free of charge.
If all those factors were not in place (and in hindsight, after spending a significant amount of money to get my 1911 set up to my specifications, having my gun go down 3 times with a broken extractor hook, a plunger tube that came unstaked and an ejector that sheared off in the frame), I should have gone with a Glock 19.
After 3 years and 18,684 rounds of .45 ACP sent downrange (and the elbow tendonitis to prove it) I wish I had. I'll admit that I got caught up in the hype and let my desire to emulate the "professional gunslingers" (very few of which, BTW, still carry 1911s) cloud my judgement as to what I really needed and wanted in a handgun. The fact of the matter is that I simply have too much time and money invested in the platform and associated holsters, magazines and support equipment to switch at this point.
If you have a good amount of trigger time on your P228 and a significant stash of 9mm training and carry ammo, I think a SIG 239 might be a good gun for you to look into if you want a more CCW-friendly piece.
Contrary to what some may tell you, not owning or carrying a 1911 will not make your testicles shrink, will not make you less of an American and will not cause your friends and associates to shun you.
It's a tool. Pick the best tool for your circumstances, learn to employ it rapidly and accurately at all practical engagement distances and forgot about chasing the mythical "perfect handgun". It does not exist. |
"When you signed on to carry that blaster, your world changed. This is about mindset, and regardless what certain groups may think, not every one should have a gun. Or a car. Or children. Or oxygen. It is not a part time thing. It is a commitment to a lifestyle and to a culture." - Pat Rogers |
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samuelrp
Senior Member
USA
1884 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 17:36:11
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| I carry one 40 % of the time from September through April-May. Nothing feels better on my belt, or in my hand. |
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twosocks
Starting Member
USA
10 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 18:22:34
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| I carry one everyday either a Kimber Pro CDP II or a Kimber Super Carry Ultra HD |
Bill |
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Nemesis76
Junior Member
USA
127 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 18:45:15
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| I carry a full size 1911, and I love it. It can get a bit heavy on long days but the firearm itself is a very comfortable fit for me so I am willing to take the bad that comes with a heavy lower capacity piece. I used to carry a 9mm Sig P6 and I do plan on finding another slightly smaller gun to carry in place of the 1911 if i know it's size might be an issue for the day. As for the safety thing, I am left handed so I carry condition zero (Locked cocked and thumb safety off) but I also have full confidence that it will not fire unless I want it to because of the grip safety. Just my 2 cents. |
Lord let me be fast and accurate. Let my aim be true, and my hand faster than those who would seek to destroy me. Grant me victory over my foes and those that wish to do harm to me and mine. Let not my last thought be 'if only I had a gun'. And Lord if today truly is the day you call me home, let me die in a pile of empty brass |
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Nathan
Big Sky Guy
USA
21543 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 18:47:17
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the crab-man covered it pretty dang well. there are many many good reasons to carry a 1911, but its not for everyone and there are so many advantages to a high capacity light weight plastic wonder-gun that it proves the superior choice for the overwhelming majority. when i carry big dan (upper right hand corner of your browser right now if you are using internet explorer) its more out of a sense of loyalty to the platform than anything else, and i seldom carry big dan (bought two dan wessons in the same week. the .45 is big dan and the 9mm is little dan) anymore unless im open carrying at a formal event.
...oh yeah, and when teaching a handgun course. you gotta carry a 1911 or you arent taken seriously as an instructor.  |
Nathan In Montana, carrying a Gen4 Glock 19 loaded with Federal 147 grain +P JHPs carried in a Galco King Tuk thats worn on a Wilderness Instructor's belt.
NRA Certified Instructor, Rifle, Shotgun and Pistol
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modernswords
Junior Member
USA
428 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 19:26:03
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I would love to contribute to this thread, but I cannot add anything that wasn't covered by KC and Nathan.
I just love the way a good 1911 fits and points like an extension of my body. I only carry 45 ACP in this platform. I feel if your gonna have only 8, then they need to be big-uns. That slim, clean, single-stack just carries well-- even a 5". I prefer a commander 4.25" for carry and have a Colt CC and a LB Concept VII I carry when I "want to be taken seriously" as Nathan put it.
And did anybody mention how a good 1911 with that awesome trigger seem to automatically take out the center of a target? |
 
"...he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one."
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”- Amendment II, U.S. Constitution |
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modernswords
Junior Member
USA
428 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 19:31:22
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quote:
Originally posted by kingcrabbercurrry
quote:
Originally posted by AFP22811
.45 is a lot of money, and i dont like how i can only carry 7 or 8 rounds. also, all the 1911's i've looked at seem to be real heavy.
It's a tool.
Nathan, your slacking! You allowed KC to call a 1911 a tool. You chastised me for that some time ago when I said I carried a 1911 in Kydex occasionally and it was just a tool! |
"...he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one."
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”- Amendment II, U.S. Constitution |
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Nathan
Big Sky Guy
USA
21543 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 19:41:19
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quote:
Originally posted by modernswords
Nathan, your slacking! You allowed KC to call a 1911 a tool. You chastised me for that some time ago when I said I carried a 1911 in Kydex occasionally and it was just a tool!
i wasnt finished, i just got called to supper. 
...that and to be honest, i simply missed it the first time through.
the 1911 is far more than a tool, else it would not have survived over 100 years, being more popular today than ever before. quite honestly, i just dont have another lecture in me tonight, but will get on a roll in a few days when i no longer need pain meds. |
Nathan In Montana, carrying a Gen4 Glock 19 loaded with Federal 147 grain +P JHPs carried in a Galco King Tuk thats worn on a Wilderness Instructor's belt.
NRA Certified Instructor, Rifle, Shotgun and Pistol
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modernswords
Junior Member
USA
428 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 19:44:38
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quote:
Originally posted by Nathan
quote:
Originally posted by modernswords
Nathan, your slacking! You allowed KC to call a 1911 a tool. You chastised me for that some time ago when I said I carried a 1911 in Kydex occasionally and it was just a tool!
i wasnt finished, i just got called to supper.
...that and to be honest, i simply missed it the first time through.
the 1911 is far more than a tool, else it would not have survived over 100 years, being more popular today than ever before. quite honestly, i just dont have another lecture in me tonight, but will get on a roll in a few days when i no longer need pain meds.
Thats better. I can go to bed and sleep fitfully now. |
"...he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one."
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”- Amendment II, U.S. Constitution |
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modernswords
Junior Member
USA
428 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 19:46:23
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quote:
Originally posted by Nathan
quote:
Originally posted by modernswords
Nathan, your slacking! You allowed KC to call a 1911 a tool. You chastised me for that some time ago when I said I carried a 1911 in Kydex occasionally and it was just a tool!
i wasnt finished, i just got called to supper.
...that and to be honest, i simply missed it the first time through.
the 1911 is far more than a tool, else it would not have survived over 100 years, being more popular today than ever before. quite honestly, i just dont have another lecture in me tonight, but will get on a roll in a few days when i no longer need pain meds.
Whoa... Pain meds? Hope everything is ok. |
"...he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one."
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”- Amendment II, U.S. Constitution |
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Nathan
Big Sky Guy
USA
21543 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 19:53:39
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| yeah im healing up. took a nose-dive off a roof last monday. 15 feet to a concrete pad below, landed on my shoulder and my glock. struggle through during the day (gotta make a living) and get some relief at night. |
Nathan In Montana, carrying a Gen4 Glock 19 loaded with Federal 147 grain +P JHPs carried in a Galco King Tuk thats worn on a Wilderness Instructor's belt.
NRA Certified Instructor, Rifle, Shotgun and Pistol
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deadguy
I see dead people
7297 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 20:21:46
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| I carry a 1911 in 10mm and I AM taken seriously. Hmmmphhhh |
People are getting fatter everyday. 10mm isn't just for bears anymore. |
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kingcrabbercurrry
Junior Member
USA
445 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 20:47:37
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It is a tool. Any gun is a tool.
It's an inanimate, amoral piece of metal that allows me to perform acts beyond my the capacity of my strength and physical ability. I was making target stands yesterday and, try as I might, I could not twist a 4" decking screw through a 2x4 with my fingertips so I used a cordless drill. Similarly, I cannot generate enough force to throw a 230 gr piece of lead 15" into someone's torso, so I use a gun.
And I carry it in kydex every day.
And it has plenty of finish wear, scratches, dings and the front sight is painted hot pink.
So put that on your altar to JMB and send it up as a burnt offering  |
"When you signed on to carry that blaster, your world changed. This is about mindset, and regardless what certain groups may think, not every one should have a gun. Or a car. Or children. Or oxygen. It is not a part time thing. It is a commitment to a lifestyle and to a culture." - Pat Rogers |
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Nathan
Big Sky Guy
USA
21543 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 20:59:39
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quote:
Originally posted by kingcrabbercurrry
It is a tool. Any gun is a tool.
...just further proof that not everybody gets it. the heritage of the 1911 makes it too large of a part of american history to dismiss it as just a tool.
if a 1911 is "just a tool", then....
thomas jefferson was just a guy from the 1700s
bill gates is just a computer guy
michael jordon was just some basketball player
zerO is just some kenyan
sex with a beautiful woman is just something to do
bethoven was just a musician
divinci was just some dude
john browning was just good with tools
...i could go on but it would be redundant. not everybody gets the 1911 and thats OK. i certainly agree that its not the best choice for most people. in fact, i agree with most of your entire post. i only disagree with the dismissal of the heritage of the 1911 elevating it beyond the level of "just a tool".
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Nathan In Montana, carrying a Gen4 Glock 19 loaded with Federal 147 grain +P JHPs carried in a Galco King Tuk thats worn on a Wilderness Instructor's belt.
NRA Certified Instructor, Rifle, Shotgun and Pistol
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kingcrabbercurrry
Junior Member
USA
445 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 21:06:49
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quote:
Originally posted by Nathan
...oh yeah, and when teaching a handgun course. you gotta carry a 1911 or you arent taken seriously as an instructor.
Damn straight! |
"When you signed on to carry that blaster, your world changed. This is about mindset, and regardless what certain groups may think, not every one should have a gun. Or a car. Or children. Or oxygen. It is not a part time thing. It is a commitment to a lifestyle and to a culture." - Pat Rogers |
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kingcrabbercurrry
Junior Member
USA
445 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 21:10:24
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quote:
Originally posted by Nathan
quote:
Originally posted by kingcrabbercurrry
It is a tool. Any gun is a tool.
...just further proof that not everybody gets it. the heritage of the 1911 makes it too large of a part of american history to dismiss it as just a tool.
if a 1911 is "just a tool", then....
thomas jefferson was just a guy from the 1700s
bill gates is just a computer guy
michael jordon was just some basketball player
zerO is just some kenyan
sex with a beautiful woman is just something to do
bethoven was just a musician
divinci was just some dude
john browning was just good with tools
...i could go on but it would be redundant. not everybody gets the 1911 and thats OK. i certainly agree that its not the best choice for most people. in fact, i agree with most of your entire post. i only disagree with the dismissal of the heritage of the 1911 elevating it beyond the level of "just a tool".
Thomas Jefferson WAS a guy from the 1700s.
Bill Gates IS a computer guy.
Michael Jordan IS a basketball player.
Beethoven WAS a musician.
But they weren't JUST those things.
I never called the 1911 JUST a tool.
But it is A tool. |
"When you signed on to carry that blaster, your world changed. This is about mindset, and regardless what certain groups may think, not every one should have a gun. Or a car. Or children. Or oxygen. It is not a part time thing. It is a commitment to a lifestyle and to a culture." - Pat Rogers |
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Nathan
Big Sky Guy
USA
21543 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 21:22:52
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quote:
Originally posted by kingcrabbercurrry
But it is A tool.
thats what she said. |
Nathan In Montana, carrying a Gen4 Glock 19 loaded with Federal 147 grain +P JHPs carried in a Galco King Tuk thats worn on a Wilderness Instructor's belt.
NRA Certified Instructor, Rifle, Shotgun and Pistol
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modernswords
Junior Member
USA
428 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2012 : 19:05:33
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quote:
Originally posted by Nathan
yeah im healing up. took a nose-dive off a roof last monday. 15 feet to a concrete pad below, landed on my shoulder and my glock. struggle through during the day (gotta make a living) and get some relief at night.
Glad to hear your healing up. Two construction workers fell off a 30' roof here last week. Helo landed within feet of my back deck to air lift them out... I'm very glad you fared better! |
"...he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one."
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”- Amendment II, U.S. Constitution |
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modernswords
Junior Member
USA
428 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2012 : 19:08:14
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quote:
Originally posted by Nathan
quote:
Originally posted by kingcrabbercurrry
It is a tool. Any gun is a tool.
...just further proof that not everybody gets it. the heritage of the 1911 makes it too large of a part of american history to dismiss it as just a tool.
if a 1911 is "just a tool", then....
thomas jefferson was just a guy from the 1700s
bill gates is just a computer guy
michael jordon was just some basketball player
zerO is just some kenyan
sex with a beautiful woman is just something to do
bethoven was just a musician
divinci was just some dude
john browning was just good with tools
Jesus was just a Jew?
"zerO is just some kenyan" that one made me spit drink. |
"...he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one."
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”- Amendment II, U.S. Constitution |
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Jackson5
Junior Member
175 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2012 : 20:38:36
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I have to agree with KCC that the 1911 is a tool... but it is an iconic tool, a game-changer. It is a politician like Thomas Jefferson (the opposite of that Kenyan), a computer OS like Windows (only better executed), a drug like Penicillin...
But it is a tool. Don't take penicillin for a cold, it won't work. Don't take penicillin for a MRSA infection, use a newer antibiotic...
Use the tool that works for your situation. If the 1911 is one solution that will work, then using it with the knowledge of its heritage and contribution can add joy to your life... Like using the wrench your grandfather used instead of that new one made in China.
There is something to the concept of improving the present by honoring ancestors. '...leave behind us footprints on the sands of time.'
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Jackson5
"By perseverance the snail reached the ark."
Charles Haddon Spurgeon |
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Topic |
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who carries a 1911?
