TGO David

Disagree with Dave that the M&P 45 is that much fatter than a 1911 grip that it makes it unsuitable as a "carry gun". The M&P 45 grip is only a hair thicker than the M&P 9mm or .40SW variants and the slide is likewise only a hair thicker. The difference is so negligible that the vast majority of holsters made for the 9/40 fit the 45 perfectly. I know you're talking about the 45C but I'd skip that and go straight for the shorter (4-inch) full size instead. The M&P 45 4-inch version is the perfect carry .45ACP in my opinion. Here is a very good photographic comparison between the M&P 45 4-inch and a 1911 Commander size. These are not my photos but they save me the trouble of having to break out the camera and do the same thing.

I dunno... I wear pants that fit correctly, a good sturdy gun belt all the time, and am just used to it I guess.

Thanks, I shot him an email as well.

I couldn't tell you. It's been at least 5 years since I did it and I have no idea what it cost and don't have my email from back then.

I had a Kimber once in the past that had the KimPro stainless satin finish. The frame itself may indeed be stainless steel but that is most certainly a top-coat. Rub it down with some acetone and you'll likely see the cloth come away silver. Actually don't do that... I'm just making a point. Seriously, you will not be disappointed with Robar's NP3 finish. It may take them a few weeks to get your stuff back to you but it will be worth it in spades.

I replied to the email last week. Check your spam filter.

Before you send it back to Kimber, I'd consider just having the firearm coated with Robar's NP3 or NP3 Plus [link] and ask them about having their smiths fill in the scratches before they do the coating process. I had an XD-9mm that I had treated with NP3 and that was one bad-ass finish. You won't find a paint-on finish anywhere that does with NP3 does, or holds up like NP3 holds up, IMO.

Yeah I really dig that. Do you have his contact info? I didn't see it readily available on the Smith & Wesson forum and really don't want to sign up for yet another forum if I don't have to. I already get about 300 emails on my birthday when all of the forums I'm a member of bombard me.

I've got a Comp-Tac MTAC coming for it so that my wife can try it as an IWB carry. I'm searching for a holster similar to the RCS Phantom to order for them as well but so far RCS doesn't make one and I've not really covered too many other bases yet.

Welcome back, congrats on the gun and you're right -- it doesn't matter where you work you're always going to have to put up with politics and BS to tolerate.

Regarding my grandfather's 1911in the first post, after some more research [link] it appears that this 1911 is not a Gold Cup but rather one of the original National Match run produced between 1932 and 1940 per the serial number on the slide. Amazing.

These two mean more to me than anything else I own. I inherited the Smith & Wesson Model 19 Combat Magnum from my dad when he passed away two weeks ago. He inherited it from my grandfather. My grandfather was a career law enforcement / Federal security officer. The Combat Magnum may very well have ridden on his hip and ensured that he made it home to his family every night. Sadly neither he or my dad are around any more to ask. The Colt 1911 National Match was my grandfather's and he competed with it successfully for a number of years while working as the head of security for one of the Department of Energy's nuclear facilities. The National Match was in absolutely horrible shape when it was handed off to me after my dad died. It was in pieces and the barrel and barrel bushing were completely rusted together, and the firearm was just generally neglected. I soaked the pieces in a gallon freezer bag full of CLP for two weeks and then gently scrubbed on them with a brass brush and some 0000 steel wool until the rust was gone. After careful cleaning and reassembly of the remaining pieces, it now cycles and appears to function properly although I may have it gone through by a competent 1911 smith sometime soon just for safety's sake. After that, it will once again return to rust-prevention bag and be left in the safe. After some more research [link] it appears that this 1911 is not a Gold Cup but rather one of the original National Match run produced between 1932 and 1940 per the serial number on the slide. Amazing. Both of these are family heirlooms and represent two generations of my forefathers. One day my son might own these and I hope when the day comes his son might as well, and so forth. To say that they are invaluable to me would be an understatement. What do you have that's been in your family for a while?

I wouldn't worry a bit about someone else's design and using it for your own purposes. Even still if their design isn't patented, and most aren't unless they have some unique feature or quirk, then it's fair game if you wanted to sell them.

I wear 5.11 pants and shorts all the time and the pockets are designed to accommodate small firearms like this. It's all in how you dress.

A lot thinner. It's literally about the same size as the Kahr PM9 albeit a hair taller in the grip.

$579 pus tax and TICS. I've been seeing them for about $20 more than that locally.

Check with David (DLM37015) here on the forum. He is a TGO Vendor and may have some 45ACP on hand or may be able to lay his hands on it for you. Also check with Outpost Armory locally as I saw they had a mountain of 45ACP in 1,000rd cases just the other day.

I like that pattern a lot. Does he have them in the FDE plastic as well?

Robert, I concur completely. I honestly can't tell you what draws me to the 1911 other than nostalgia and just the feel of one in my hand. My brain tells me there are far better choices for a defensive handgun, and therefore every day I carry one of those far better choices instead of a 1911. However my heart tells me that the 1911 has history... a pedigree... and is as American as baseball and apple pie, so I constantly lust for others to add to my collection. It's not like I'd carry another even if I buy it, but something draws me back to them time and time again. Heavy, short on capacity, and not necessarily the most tolerant of neglect. A more elegant weapon for a more civilized age, perhaps. Love me some 1911's.

I own several MGW sight tools including one for the M&P. The next time you're going to beat on an M&P with a hammer, maybe ping me here and see if we can meet up at the range or something. It'll save you a lot of grief, and your gun a few kisses from a brass punch.

This followed me home today from a visit to Nashville Armory to test shoot my M&P 9. The bad thing is, my wife wants another one for herself. Well maybe that's not such a bad thing after all... We did test rent one first and loved it. Very controllable and a lot less perceived recoil or muzzle flip than a S&W J-Frame revolver shooting 38spl +P rounds. This has officially replaced my Kahr PM9 as my pocket carry, so much so in fact that I will be selling my PM9 here in the next few days. Watch for it if you're interested in a smoking deal on a PM9. My PJ's Holsters pocket holster for the XD-S should be arriving any day now.

So I installed the Apex RAM yesterday. I ended up putting the RAM in my M&P 40 because I was having difficulty with the sear block in the 9. Turns out it wasn't the sear block but the damn plug that S&W puts in the frame to close off the integral locking system hole if you don't have the ILS on your gun. Damn thing kept getting in the way of the sear block with the RAM installed. Same thing happened on the M&P 40 which is how I figured out it wasn't a problem with the sear in the 9 but something else, and found the ILS plug. A few hits with a file and stone on the edge of the block gave me just the right amount of clearance to get it past the ILS plug. Lesson learned after a bit of cursing and scratching my head. Anyway, the M&P 40's reset was already the best I've had on any of my M&P handguns but this definitely made it even more pronounced. Not quite as firm and loud of a reset as on my Glock 19, but pretty damn close. I'd recommend it as a worthwhile upgrade. I figure I will end up ordering the FSS / Trigger kit for my M&P 9 sometime in the next 30-60 days as it incorporates the positive tactile reset of the RAM with the benefits of the DCAEK and the revised trigger system. If it's as good as they say it is, another one may end up in my M&P 45 also. Stay tuned.

I'd do it unless someone told me to stop. That being said, I've had range officials try to tell me I couldn't reclaim my own brass before. I told them to engage in Biblical relations with themselves too, and never shot there again.

Probably a Chupacabra. I'd arm up if I were the OP.

Or a Chupacabra.