1st 1911

[Mikey]

JJ:  I'll go with buck on his last statement regarding the safety of a cocked and locked 1911.  However you mentioned a 'toddler' in the house.  That term usually refers to someone on the very young side who probably does not have the hand and arm strength or coordination to (a) pick up a loaded 1911 or (b) deal with the safeties/hammer.  I would not be so concerned about your 'toddler' mis-handling your nightstand pistol but I'm not dumb enough to think something untoward might not or could not happen.  It might happen more easily with a dao semi that has a round chambered. 

Does your 'Death by Daschund' sleep more soundly than you and your wife?  Does it snore louder than you do and tend not to wake at night?  If so, then put him at the top of the stairs so anyone who comes in can trip over him, which would cause enough of a ruckus to wake the dead, or the loudly snoring and give you the chance to ready yourself. 

If your child sleeps soundly in a separate room and does not 'travel' at night then either your dao or a sa auto is safe enough from prying young hands.  You can always use velcro to hang a holster somewhere so the piece is 'out of sight' of your toddler, or others - say on the side of your nightstand or somewhere within easy reach on the side of your headboard.  You want the thing to be instantly available to you but not to anyone else.  A friend of mine keeps his 'holstered' in a 'sheath' from a old fanny pack - he velcro-ed the 'sheath' down between the mattress and the headboard - it is instantly accessable to either he or his wife but is not visible to anyone else.  It works for him. 

Something else - nursing homes use pressure pads that set off loud alarms when a patient gets out of bed at night.  These pads are avaialbe in a number of different shapes and can be used in many different locations, and the noise is loud enough to wake you.  Hope all of this helps. 

[JJ79]

A friend of mine keeps his 'holstered' in a 'sheath' from a old fanny pack - he velcro-ed the 'sheath' down between the mattress and the headboard

now THAT is a good idea...  I'd never thought of that.  I'll have to give it a try...

although I'm spending most of my spare time this week trying to remind myself that, "the 1911 is a SA pistol...you have to cock the hammer" 

[Savage]

although I'm spending most of my spare time this week trying to remind myself that, "the 1911 is a SA pistol...you have to cock the hammer" 


Think I'll shoot a Glock in the match this weekend. Don't wanna worry with that pesky safety and dangerous SA trigger.

My bedside holster is attached to the back of my bedside table. The wife doesn't care for pistol dings on the furniture. I know I should have run her off, but the holster trick was cheaper. My pistol is only at bedside when I'm in bed. Otherwise it's in the safe. My bedside pistol is rarely my carry gun.
Savage

[luvs2hunt62]

++++  for the ROCK ISLAND ARMORY. I have 9 of them, as well as 2 high end Colts (one a Special Combat Government) a Springfield Lew Horton "Night 45" and I've owned wilson, Les Baer, Kimbers, Taurus, and ST!. By FAR the best customer service has been the RIA>( Armscor) every one of the other than RIA needed extensive break in periods, some tweaking, and in the case of 2 taurus'es, return to the factory for lengthly, totally unsatisfactory fixes. the COlt SCG and The Colt CCO are the only colts that were reliable, others went the way of trades, sales, and I actually threw one away!. My three Kimbers were too unreliable to be trusted. The STI was nice. It was the Spartan, made by---you got it---RIA.If any of you skeptics wants to actually handle one of my RIA's, and perhaps match your super gun against my "cheapos", let's do it. I'm in pinellas county.

[Savage]

Yep, you'd think everyone would get a clue and quit buying all this junk from the likes of Baer/Brown/Wilson/Kimber/Colt/Nighthawk Custom, and the like.  The high quality Armscor stuff is the way to go!    By the way, the only problematic 1911 I have in my safe is a RIA Tactical. Also have a Charles Daly in there that's a pretty good shooter, along with some of the others you named that cost a bit more. Guess I could sell them off and buy a couple dozen RIAs---------naw! 
Savage

[williamlayton]

Yes the Cast frames and slides for the STI Spartan are RIA or from the folks that supply RIA---the rest of that gun is pure STI.
Don't compare apples too oranges.
If a gun is unreliable---would it not be more cost effective to have a smith make it reliable??---Well, that is if you like the weapon.
Blessings

[luvs2hunt62]

Savage, you need to lighten up. This thread is from a guy with a question of what would be a good "1st 1911". No one disputes that wilson combat, Les Baer, and others build super quality guns that work well and will last many years. But I doubt that he will want to drop 2+ grand on a gun to find out that 1911's are not for him. As for your RIA "tactical", why not send it to Arnel at RIA and let him do his magic on it and make it right. I sent 2 Taurus' back, one Colt 3 times, and one of my RIA"s back once. The Ria made it back in 2 1/2 weeks, the best Taurus took 9 weeks, the other took 6 months. My one Wilson Combat---a beautiful, exquisite work of art and function, sat in my safe and I sold it 4 years after i bought it at a profit of about 700 bucks.

My offer still stands--my rock or Armscor will be as reliable as your high end guns at 1/4 the price. And chances are if you blindfold most shooters, they won't know the difference.

[Savage]

Lighten up huh? Not trying to sell anything. I'm not saying anyone's $300 pistol is not reliable. If that's good enough for you, or anyone else, it's great by me. If you can appreciate the fit, finish, and function of a pistol that is the sum total of the quality parts, then you might appreciate something a bit better. Individual choice, just like cars, a Kia will get you there just like a Mercedes. The difference is the enjoyment of the trip.  I took the RIA on trade, I have less than $300 in it. I'll fix it and sell it to someone who'll be proud to own it. Your professed bad experiences with the quality pistols you named is certainly not typical. The custom gun and high end factory market would cease to exist if that were the case.
Savage

[1911crazy]

My new Auto-Ordnance Army WW2 copy has performed awesome so far for well over 500rds+ flawlessly right out of the box, no break in time needed.  Thats how a good 1911 should operate right out of the box reliabile.  For just $389 at the time its hard to beat at any price.