M1911 Week: Continues...

M1911 Week: Shooting Part 1

You may have noticed I fell a little behind this month... and again last week. So I'm getting this series out to you anyway.

Gear Pr0n: Vintage M1911

These are pictures of a WWI-era M1911 that was carried into combat by the owner's great-grandfather.

The owner refurbished the pistol and gave it a new finish to protect it.

This isn't a personal defense weapon, it is an historical artifact to be treated with respect.

The Colt manufacturer's mark.

Here's the full pistol. One way to tell the M1911 from the later M1911A1 is the straight backstrap on the butt of the pistol. M1911A1's have a rounded profile to fit the hand better.

M1911 Week: How to Field Strip

Given that some people think tomorrow might bring forth some kind of Apocalypse, perhaps we should spend a few minutes going over the maintenance of our favorite .45 pistol.

M1911 Week: OSS Point Shooting

Part of a classic training film from WWII showing the inimitable Col. Rex Applegate training US spies, saboteurs, and commandos in how to use the M1911. Applegate taught the still controversial Point Shooting technique, which uses the theory that at short ranges, the shooter will naturally point toward the threat.

Gear Pr0n: Nickle Plated M1911 with companion book

M1911 Week: Point Shooting

Vintage World War II training film on Point Shooting technique with the M1911A1

Gear Pr0n: M1911 Week!

Sam Browning's .45 automatic pistol, adopted by the U.S. Army as the Model 1911, and later M1911A1 is a classic. Long considered the consummate gunfighter's pistol, the design turns 100 years old. It has seen service with the U.S. Military in every conflict in which the nation has been engaged in those 100 years.

Here we see a Taurus clone with sexy Punisher aftermarket grips.

Zombie Survival Kit Week: Gucci Gear

This guy seems to be sponsored by Oakley. Now, Oakley makes some good stuff, including some awesome boots I should review some day, and the assault gloves featured in this video (approved by both Batman and Delta Force). And I should note, you get what you pay for in terms of quality. But Oakley stuff is expensive, and most of it isn't designed for combat. His vest and his leg pouch are for adventure seekers. They aren't designed or constructed for hauling military gear or taking the abuse that's associated with combat.

His leg pouch can carry magazines, but they're just tossed into the top pouch. He's going to be fumbling around looking for one when his back is against the wall and zombies are closing in. A dedicated pistol mag pouch will hold the magazines sure and true and he'll be able to lay his hands on one quickly and reliably.

And it looks like he's soaked all his money into the Oakley gear and cheated himself on the giant bowie knife. His SOG tomahawk is a good choice, but that bowie looks like a flea market special. Maybe if he'd spent less money on his video collection, he could've purchased a San Mai steel Kukri from Cold Steel. That's a worthwhile investment.