1911 Forward slide serrations - Why do we have them and what are they for?
- Thread starter evolture
- Start date
i have 1911s with rear slide serrations only and ones with both. i dont find having front serrations extremely helpful, but they do provide another place to manipulate your firearm with a firm grasp. sometimes, especially when clearing malfunctions anywhere you can get a good grip on your pistol will be your friend
Sounds more West End than Burnaby to me
Forward slide abortions, er serrations, started on guns with full length guide rods (the dreaded FLGR) you can't pinch check a gun with an FLGR.
Does "pinch check" mean putting your finger up in front of the slide and pulling it back a little? If so I really don't want to put my finger that close to a muzzle with a chambered round. Not that I'm going to pull the trigger. But the hammer hook may crumble or the powder spontaniously combust. If so I want my appendages back behind the muzzle.
... It's also an alternative, if you have a "Thumb Guard' installed. ( For those that "ride the safety" when shooting ) ..... Also, can offer the alternative, when racking the slide,really fast and hard, to the potential of gouging one's hand on the rear sight. .... David K
This is the correct explanation of where they came from. Personally, I detest front slide serrations for a number of reasons:
-They are unnecessary for a properly executed press check. Wrap your thumb around the tang of the frame with your index finger against the rear sight and squeeze. This will even allow you to use your pinky to check the chamber in the dark.
-People want them without understanding why; they just think it's cool because they saw it in a magazine or something. The same could probably be said for for full-length guide rods.
-They eat leather holsters.
-They ruin the clean lines of the 1911. Sure, one shouldn't get hung up on form at the expense of function, but if personal taste isn't going to be brought into the equation, why even bother with the 1911?
In closing, I would like to point out the absence of forward serrations on the Springfield Armory Professional. They are one of the premier "hard use" 1911s, as used by FBI SWAT/HRT.
Forward slide serrations on a 1911...
Personally, I don't like 'em.
I can rack the slide fine without them.
I can do a 'pinch check' to ensure there is a chambered round without them.
That said, I do have a Colt series 70 slide that I acquired long ago that someone unknown put forward slide serrations on. I can live with this abomination as it happens to fit tight on the frame I currently have it on & shoots like a champ....
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NAA.
Personally, I don't like 'em.
I can rack the slide fine without them.
I can do a 'pinch check' to ensure there is a chambered round without them.
That said, I do have a Colt series 70 slide that I acquired long ago that someone unknown put forward slide serrations on. I can live with this abomination as it happens to fit tight on the frame I currently have it on & shoots like a champ....
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NAA.
Police don't use them because in order for them to become familiar with and
used properly,
involves more frequent trips to the range, than once or twice a year.
They make racking the slide easier for clearing jams and such.
My girlfriend has a hard time racking it the 'normal' way, so they help some people out. For some people they do serve a useful function. *gasp* - not ladies! Maybe they should 'man up'?
One of these thing that if you don't use them, you're going to believe it's all looks.
Not everyone will find them particularly useful. I don't understand why anyone in canada has a 'tactical light', but to each his own, I'm sure they serve a purpose to someone.
My girlfriend has a hard time racking it the 'normal' way, so they help some people out. For some people they do serve a useful function. *gasp* - not ladies! Maybe they should 'man up'?
One of these thing that if you don't use them, you're going to believe it's all looks.
Not everyone will find them particularly useful. I don't understand why anyone in canada has a 'tactical light', but to each his own, I'm sure they serve a purpose to someone.
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Police don't use them because in order for them to become familiar with and
used properly,
involves more frequent trips to the range, than once or twice a year.
That's not quite accurate. The 1911 platform is without a doubt one of the easiest to learn to shoot proficiently with. What 1911s require is more frequent trips to the Armorer. And that is not practical for most large departments or agencies.
It is an amazing platform capable of amazing things. But it requires a bit of regular care and attention to be kept in top shape. Definitely more-so than modern polymer platforms like the Glock and the S&W M&P...
As for the front serrations, I can take 'em of leave 'em, but given the choice, if two guns were identical except for one having front serrations and one without, I will always choose the gun without.
IAMAWILDPARTY, get your girl friend to read this web site page on racking the slide. It's totally geared to lighter women wanting to own and operate guns.
http://corneredcat.com/Rack_the_Slide/
In particular have her look at and try the overhand method. It's the stronger for gripping of the two options shown. Even the smallest and weakest woman should be able to easily rack a slide using this method if they are serious about shooting.
As for using front serrations for guns with red dots or the like? Most IPSC style race guns use some sort of T handle or other solution attached to the slide. A fixed mount with a red dot sight makes it nearly impossible to use front serrations on any sort of slide on the guns I've seen.
http://corneredcat.com/Rack_the_Slide/
In particular have her look at and try the overhand method. It's the stronger for gripping of the two options shown. Even the smallest and weakest woman should be able to easily rack a slide using this method if they are serious about shooting.
As for using front serrations for guns with red dots or the like? Most IPSC style race guns use some sort of T handle or other solution attached to the slide. A fixed mount with a red dot sight makes it nearly impossible to use front serrations on any sort of slide on the guns I've seen.
I think you misunderstand what prproulx was asking. The question is why is it that if they are such a functional advantage, that they are rarely found on "duty" guns that aren't 1911s?
Anyhow, the biggest reasons that few law enforcement agencies use 1911s are that they are not cost effective and require a greater level of armourer support and skill compared to more modern designs. 1911s can be very reliable if set up properly, but for the same price you can get at least two or three Glocks or M&Ps that are "good enough" when few users have the ability to take advantage of the best characteristics of the 1911.
A) My girlfriend is not serious about shooting, but likes to come out. I'm not going to give her homework on how to shoot. If something works for someone, I'm not going to tell them otherwise. I'd be fine without them, but I don't mind them being there, especially since I take a lot of new shooters to the range, and want them to be as comfortable as possible.
B) The overhand method on my gun does not make anything easier for anyone, extended ambi safety and tall sights do not encourage that method in my experience. Have to be more careful of catching edges while offering no benefit over using the forward slide serrations.
The front slide serrations are there because some people like to use them to rack the slide. I have no interest in telling someone to do it any way other than what is safest and easiest for them.
Maybe you can show me a link to using the icosceles stance, because it's the 'proper' way to shoot, people who shoot for fun and do what suits them be damned.
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I don't really have strong feelings about them...I do find them handy for some stuff. They do not seem to tear up the inside of kydex holsters very much.
I do sometimes press check and that is the method I use, not for any particular reason, but just because it's easy. It's even easier with forward serrations.
Also if you are clearing a stuck case, the extra grip can be handy. But that is pretty rare. I can think of it happening to me a couple of times...but I had a Lee Pro 1000 back then and consequently experienced ammo stoppages so obscure that they don't even have names yet.
Anyway I wouldn't pay extra for them, or avoid a gun on account of them. They work if you need them. I guess I have a slight preference for them, because if for some reason you need more grip than you have without them...
I do sometimes press check and that is the method I use, not for any particular reason, but just because it's easy. It's even easier with forward serrations.
Also if you are clearing a stuck case, the extra grip can be handy. But that is pretty rare. I can think of it happening to me a couple of times...but I had a Lee Pro 1000 back then and consequently experienced ammo stoppages so obscure that they don't even have names yet.
Anyway I wouldn't pay extra for them, or avoid a gun on account of them. They work if you need them. I guess I have a slight preference for them, because if for some reason you need more grip than you have without them...
good and bad serrations
I can take them or leave them, but given a choice I rather they not be there. I think it's just another 1911 trend.....like the current trend of light rails. in the 70's it was squared trigger guards. disgusting......sorry Armand Svenson
also they chew up the leather and stitching on your expensive custom leather holster
also I think there's good serrations and bad ones. I prefer the original serrations cut at a 45 degree angle so there's something to grab onto....
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this however gets my vote on the most useless serrations ever and are for decorative purposes only
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I can take them or leave them, but given a choice I rather they not be there. I think it's just another 1911 trend.....like the current trend of light rails. in the 70's it was squared trigger guards. disgusting......sorry Armand Svenson
also they chew up the leather and stitching on your expensive custom leather holster
also I think there's good serrations and bad ones. I prefer the original serrations cut at a 45 degree angle so there's something to grab onto....
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this however gets my vote on the most useless serrations ever and are for decorative purposes only
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
