Originally Posted by
williejc
When I was 21, I was shooting 1911s but was foolishly letting the slide slam forward on an empty chamber. Also, nobody had taught me the risk involved with using the thumb to lower the hammer on a loaded round. You might assist him in deciding which handling methods have less risk. Cocked and locked scares many people but it may be safer than hammer down on a loaded round even when stored but loaded. When my 1911 is a bedside pistol, I keep it loaded in a leather holster with thumb strap separating hammer and slide. Otherwise, chamber is empty.
Congratulations on the young man.