Navy Guard carry

[stevekozak]

I read the below post, by Tom, in a very old thread here:

I cannot speak firsthand of our fighting soldiers and sailors of the past, but I can tell you that as POOW and Security Rover on my ship, I carried a 1911 in what I affectionately refer to as "Condition 4" - pistol in hip holster, unloaded, hammer down, three partially-filled magazines, total of 15 rounds, in pouches off the web belt on the opposite side. In times of "security alert" drills, the 1911 would be drawn and held up in the right hand, one magazine held up in the left.

A formidable threat, I know.

The thread was a closed one so I was unable to reply and ask my question. What was the point/intent of only having 5 rounds in each magazine? Why 5? Why not 7?

Thank you in advance! (My goodness, I have not logged in since 2011! Craziness!!)

[Doran]

The military does strange things for strange reasons.

I carried an Ithaca 1911A1, the slide at least, and was never issued ammunition for it beyond fam fire. Normal Guard Mount was two M-16 20 round magazines with three rounds each. Copper wire and lead seal supposedly preventing inserting the magazine until necessary.

If I would hazard a guess, I'd say 5 rounds is one row in the standard 50 round boxes. Easier to count at turn in.