hes@ccvr1.cc.ncsu.edu (Henry E. Schaffer) (03/20/91)
Index Number: 14063 I've posted a series of book reviews of books on pistolsmithing in rec.guns, and I also posted this item which came from one of the books. I thought it was an upbeat presentation of a topic which is seldom covered. One of my net.friends suggested that this groups might be interested. (The book reviews are available from me, or for a ftp site covered in a recent posting in rec.guns.) From: Pistolsmithing by Nonte Chapter 30, Handguns for the Handicapped This is a short, 4 page, chapter with a very positive outlook. To give you an example, I've extracted the section on semi-auto pistol modification for a one-handed shooter. ------------- People generally feel handguns take two hands for operation, even if firing is done with one hand. Thus, loss of a hand or arm can interfere seriously. Years ago, I ran across a Colt .45 Auto modified for use by a one-armed shooter. A broad steel lug had been silver-soldered to the left side of the slide, and its front face serrated. Grasping the gun in his only hand, the owner could retract the slide by placing the lug against any handy surface, and shoving the gun forward -- he could even jam the lug against his leg or boot heel and get the job done. The served for jacking a round into the chamber, for locking the slide open on an empty magazine, clearing a misfire, or any of the other purposes for which a slide is retracted. Loading required no gun alterations. With the slide locked back, he merely shoved the gun into the front of his waistband, then extracted a loaded magazine from his hip pocket, shoved it into the butt, withdrew the gun, then depressed the slide stop to chamber the first round-- all with his one good hand. This could be done with any auto, thus adapting it to one-handed operation. Additionally, funneling the magazine well might simplify loading, and extending the slide stop rearward would simplify dropping the slide. As for loading magazines, almost anyone can learn to thumb cartridges into place with one hand when the magazine butt is rested on a solid surface. In regard to removing an empty magazine, the one-hander will have no trouble with the Colt-style button release behind the trigger. Butt catches are an impossibility, though, unless the gun is jammed in the waistband, then it's no problem to work the catch one-handed. Another solution to butt-catch operation would be an extension welded on and shaped so it could be operated by pressure against one's leg, hip, or another object. --------------------- --henry schaffer n c state univ