How to become an M1911 junkie.

One of the cool things about the M1911 pistol and its variants is that they have collected quite a lot of history over the last 95 years. There have been many variations of the theme, and in order to tell their story, it is incumbent upon the armchair historian to accrue a comprehensive collection of examples of this fine firearm. This thoroughness is in deference to historic accuracy, of course.

To that end, we must establish a list of variants that we must posess to establish that historic verity.

Historic accuracy requires a minimum of at least one of each of these variants chambered in .45 ACP:

• 5-inch “Government” Model
• 4-inch “Commander” Model
• 3-inch “Officer’s” Model
• 6-inch “Long Slide” Model
• A high-end custom model
• A low-end, modern WWII replica, such as the Rock Island 1911, the High Standard 1911, or the Springfield Armory “GI” in stock condition
• Another of the same that you have highly customized
• A WWII era, actual Government Issue M1911A1
• A pre-1926 M1911 with a flat mainspring housing and no finger cutouts behind the trigger
• A model with an integral light-rail
• A model with a bushing-less bull barrell
• A “bobtail” model
• A Kimber model
• A Springfield Armory model
• An actual Colt
• A “Parkerized” model
• A Stainless model
• A blued model
• A model in an odd colored finish such as green or brown
• A model that was built in a communist country

Also, you must have a model chambered in each of the “odd” M1911 calibres:

• .22 LR
• .38 Super
• 9 MM Luger
• 10 MM Auto
• .40 S&W
• .400 Corbon
• .455 Webley Automatic (Probably very rare)
• .50 GI

I’m not sure, but it would also be intersting to own a specimen manufactured on each of the six inhabited continents. I don’t know if the M1911 was ever manufactured in Australlia or Africa. I’ll have to do a little more digging on that. If they were, then I think that it is required to own at least one manufactured on each continent.

Here is a partial list:

Continent	Manufacturer
North America	Colt, Kimber, Remington UMC, etc
South America	(Modern) Springfield Armory, Taurus, Ballester-Molina, etc
Europe	Star, Llama
Asia	Norinco

More exploded diagrams!

I’ve had a request for more exploded diagrams. Here is one of a Colt M1911-A1, courtesy of Midway USA. This model is slightly different from my Kimber Pro Carry II HD. Enjoy. And buy something from Midway.

Kimber Problem

Or rather a problem that I caused the Kimber to have by feeding it one of these recoil springs. The problem is detailed in this post.

Even though the description for that recoil spring says it is for 4″ Kimbers, the spring is too long when fully compressed. This causes frame battering, many stoppages (especially with 8 round magazines), and it damaged the recoil spring plug. I think the recoil spring plug in my Pro Carry II HD is aluminum, so it isn’t too surprising that it might need replacing some time.

1400 rounds since March 2006.

Common sense school protection?

This article really hits home, since my wife is a teacher.

It covers a lot of the things I’ve been thinking about during the last few weeks of repeated incursions of armed lunatics into schools.

Namely:

1. Why do people choose schools as targets?

Answer: They’re full of innocent people who are almost certainly unarmed. They are an easy target, and by mounting an assault on a school, you are sure to make the news.

2. Do we really want armed teachers in the classrooms?

Answer: Possibly. Like airliner pilots, teachers are responsible (there’s that word again) for the safety and well-being of others. I’d like to see a requirement for some sort of training, and it would be great if the schools supported teachers doing so. I doubt that will happen. It is unfortunate that Alabama doesn’t have a training requirement for their concealed-carry licenses. You’re required to have training to operate a boat, but not to carry a loaded firearm. In either of those cases, accidents are likely to be rather fatal.  Perhaps “training” is too strong a word, but proving that you’re qualified might make some sense.  At a minimum, you should be able to recite and follow the four rules, operate your sidearm safely, and hit the target some minimum number of times.

The bottom line here, is that if you’re a teacher, you live in a state where carrying in the classroom is allowed, and you wish to do so, then I think you should feel free to carry. You probably aren’t going to be supported by parents, other teachers, or your administration. Some of those people would come completely unhinged if they knew or even suspected you. So, if it is legal, and you decide to go forward, do it with the understanding that if you blow your cover, you’re probably going to be looking for a new job.

3. The “copycat” effect is frightening.

4. Students aren’t always the culprits. In two of the most recent three cases, the attackers were not students at the schools they assaulted.

5. Teachers and administrators need better training on taking quick, decisive action early-on during an assault, the least of which should include a focus on getting students to beat-feat away from the place. This could turn out to be a problem during an assault, because many people become quite literally frozen with fear and are physically unable to run.

6. Situational awareness could well save your life, and the lives of your students. It doesn’t take much to develop an increased sense of situational awareness and keep it honed.

One of the things that I didn’t see in the article was the need for dramatically increased perimeter security. Most of the schools that I’ve seen around here are wide-open on many sides, making it extremely difficult to control ingress and egress in any serious fashion.

The point is not to start looking at life through gun sites, but instead to realize that we who only want to live peaceful lives are all potential prey to the few and dangerous jackals that seek destruction.

Noteable news…

Several interesting developments lately…

1. In mid-November, I’ll be changing jobs. Working in the same building, for the same company, just in a different capacity.
2. Saturday, Amy and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary.
3. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale on draft in Alabama!
4. Fuller’s ESB reappears in TN… Albeit in smaller 11.2 oz (330 ml) bottles. 330’s are popular in Europe, but they make me mad. Still, I’m glad to have been able to lay in a small supply. There are no hops but fuggles. And Fuller’s ESB is their prophet.

This is one of the most irresponsible things I’ve ever seen.

Blogger’s alleged “Help” for what to do if your mom discovers your blog.

I’ve been on the web since 1994. Before that, I used BBSs. In the period before about 1997, the on-line world was much like the small-town-USA of the 1950’s. Everyone knew everyone for the most part, and for the most part, nobody locked their doors. Today, it is a different story. There are too many people about, and a shocking number of them have ill intentions.

I can’t even begin to inventory the reasons that Bolgger’s advice is bad. I would have thought many of them were common-sense, but here we are. Children have been hiding things from their parents since there have been children and parents. By helping to make that easier for kids online, Blogger is opening the door to all sorts of potential dangers. Identity theft. Giving away too much personal information to sexual predators. Possible indications of drug abuse or impending violent behavior.

I am not a parent. However, I understand that until children become adults, their parents are responsible for their safety and well-being. Privacy and trust are crucial, but they are subordinate to children’s safety and well-being. If for instance, a teacher, congressman, or known sex criminal molests your child, your respect for that child’s privacy is meaningless.

Responsibility means more than simply bearing the consequences of one’s actions after-the-fact. It means doing everything in your power to prevent catastrophe in the first place.

By providing this information to children, Blogger is intentionally and recklessly endangering the safety and well-being of minors. Blogger in general and Biz Stone specifically should be ashamed of having written published this article. I encourage the author and publisher alike to consider the consequences of their advice and remove the article.