What should I do?

[Wes Janson]

So now I've got my WWI Replica, #1941WMK, and I really like it. It's accurate, beautiful, and in near perfect condition. It's my intent to likely pursue a career in the military, possibly law enforcement as well. I've been thinking, and I'd like for a pistol to be "mine", to bring with me wherever I go, and use as a personal sidearm. Part of me thinks the Replica is too beautiful to be touched, but another part of me wants it to be "mine", and while keeping it in good condition, to use and enjoy it. It's not like I'm going to wear out the barrel or other parts shooting competitively; so far it's had no more than about 60-70 rounds through it in about a month. But I can see the first small signs of wear; on the barrel and the trigger. I know if I continue to use it there will be more wear, and that bothers me. I suppose ideally a second Replica would be nice, but that's not an option. I intend to keep all of the packaging and keep it well kept so it will be valuable, but I have ZERO INTENTION of ever selling it for any reason. So...should I take this pistol and fire it, keep it, in a few years carry it with me on the job? I'm fairly certain it's up to it, I don't question its reliability or design. But I'm just hesitant to do anything to marr that beautiful firearm. What do you think?

[SMMAssociates]

Wes:

IMHO, once a gun has been fired, it's "used", and ceases to be a pure collectable, when you're talking about replicas and others that were put on the market to be collectables. 30 years from now, though, who knows....

(This, obviously, doesn't count "proof" firings and the various other things - like targets, shell casings, etc. - that the manufacturers may provide. Matter of fact, those just add to the value.)

So, unless you really just want to put it on the wall, you might as well enjoy it. 30 years from now, somebody might care, but for now it's as much a shooter as a display piece.

A friend of mine keeps a 4" S&W M19 "Combat Magnum" locked up someplace. He will never part with it. It seems that some BG decided that shooting the first Police Officer that came through the door was a good idea, and had the hammer back. My friend had his M19 "in hand".

Unfortunately, the BG survived, and the lawsuits continued for the next ten years or so, but that's another story. When his PD went to a S&W .45 - "4506"? - he went with it, but the M19 is never going away. It's just a shooter, and I'm not sure if it was even new when he was issued it.

The BG survived because he was hit squarely center-of-mass. However, his wrist happened to be right there, too, and some bones (some of which ended up in his chest) deflected the shot (probably good old 158 grain "Special" loads) into his sternum. Put him on the ground, but not "down."

I don't have the budget for wall pieces, so if I have it, or buy it, it's a shooter, assuming it goes along with the idea. I have one that's going to a friend of mine if I ever decide to sell it, but the rest will go to my daughter if she want's them.

Guess the bottom line is _ENJOY_.... :D

[Wes Janson]

Moral of the story: make sure to aim to avoid obstacles, or it'll cost more money in the long run ;)

Yes, I think I've decided I'm going to keep it as a shooter. A very, very carefully kept shooter ;)

[Bruce Foreman]

So...should I take this pistol and fire it, keep it, in a few years carry it with me on the job? I'm fairly certain it's up to it, I don't question its reliability or design. But I'm just hesitant to do anything to marr that beautiful firearm. What do you think?

I just bought what seems to be a "one-of-a-kind" Colt's Lightweight Commander; black anodized aluminum alloy enhanced frame with "Combat Commander Model" stainless slide.

photo to drool on...

http://img14.exs.cx/img14/1786/CLW-2Tone.jpg

I plan on shooting it a lot, and enjoying doing so. I guess it will be my "dress" carry gun (I have a beat up lightweight Commander I've carried for a few years for daily use) and I may shed a few tears when the inevitable scratch happens on the polished stainless, but I'll deal with that and continue to shoot it.

I think you'll do the same. It just isn't quite right not to shoot and enjoy something like what you have.

Bruce Foreman

[care-less]

Wes, you should continue shooting your pistol. Yes, you will get some "character" lines on it; so what? You will find that there will be wear marks at the front of the chamber as seen through the ejection port; you will also find some shiny spots on the sides of the trigger; and toward the bottom on the sides of the grip safety. All of these are perfectly normal. As far as Uncle Sam goes; you will not be allowed to carry your own personal side arm should you go into the military; and few police forces allow cocked and locked sidearms except for their swat teams, etc. And in reality; the 1911 is a pistol for killing enemies; not for holding a suspect at gunpoint. There are better tools for that job; a hair trigger single action, unless handled by a very cool pro; just isn't good in that role. Shoot it, and shoot it a lot more than you have been!

[Wes Janson]

Doesn't exactly seem like a hair trigger to me ;) I'm used to paintball guns with a trigger pull measured in ounces, not pounds.

What is "normal" in terms of wear on the slide and barrel locking lugs? What should "normal" wear look like?

[SMMAssociates]

Wes:

A 1911's trigger pull ought to be around five pounds.... The "New York" trigger (Glocks) is around 8#. (Anybody have the exact numbers?)

The problem with any SA is that all you have, once you wipe the safety, is your ability to avoid pressing the trigger, and the trigger, while not necessary super-light, is going to have a very short travel, and a very light response.

The hazard is primarily the "startle" - wipe the safety and tighten up on the trigger at the same time, and then get a little carried away. The heavier New York trigger isn't supposed to make this as easy.

IMHO, this is a training issue. Some PD's will allow them, some won't. My preferred heavy carry is a Para Tac-Four LDA, which is really a compromise. It's the same 5# trigger, but with a long trigger pull. It just doesn't look like Condition One :eek: , and may be a better transition choice for the guy who's used to a revolver or DA/SA (or DAO) semi-auto.

That said, my alternate heavy carry is a Commander.... You really have to carry it Condition One.... Very carefully.... Mostly, though, there's just no safe way (IMHO) to take the safety off "before" you move into "action", even if it's just answering the front door. The Para and other DA/SA and DAO weapons make that a bit safer.

(I've got two good DA/SA semi's and a couple of carryable revolvers. Downside of the DA/SA's, as well as double-action revolvers, is that you need to practice that first DA shot or it's going to be way off where the gun goes in SA mode. You really should practice DA/SA and DA revolvers as DA at all times unless you've got a LOT of time to place a shot.)

Just rambling tonight....