tranders - it's a liability thing and the absolute wrongest thing to advocate. If you carry your 1911 with an empty chamber the bad guy is gonna get it, period. The 1911 was made to be carried cocked. You can apply the slide safety if you want, but the grip safety is just that, a safety, and it is only for liability purposes that manufacturers and training schools do not advertise the fact that the 1911 can be carried loaded, and chambered without the slide safety on. When you carry the 1911 chambered, cocked and locked, you actually have two safeties on at the same time.
Most schools teach getting a good grip on the pistol first, before you move to operate the slide safety. But don't be misled into thinking that the grip safety will always deactivate when you grip the gun - you have to grip it properly to deactivate that grip safety. With those two design safeties, you have to be assured that you have a proper grip on the piece to deactivate that grip safety before you deactivate the slide safety or the pistol will not fire.
During the war it was not uncommon for many to carry their 1911s chambered with the slide safety on and the grip safety taped down. I saw that quite a bit and never heard of anyone shooting themselves or someone the didn't want to.
Just please try to remember that all the warning labels are there only for the liability of the manufacturer. Most have little practical relationship to the need for the use of the piece. Just my 2 cents worth. Mikey.
