At the range today.....................

[vigilant2]

getting in some trigger time with my 2 glock 19's , the gentleman in
the lane next me leaned over to compliment me on my groups. We started
talking and I noticed he had a brand spanking new 1911 (looked to me like 3.5in barrel) with redwood grips, said he just got it and was breaking it in, offered me to shoot a few rounds and I accepted.
I was suprised to find the weapon had no sights! Just a ribbed groove
like on a shotgun. I fired a couple of rounds ,first one about 5o'clock six
inches from bullseye, second shot about 1/2in below bullseye.
He said its called a trench sight, I told him I've never seen that on a handgun before.

My question, has anyone shot with sights like this on a handgun before?
Whats the purpose of such a sight? I can't see any advantage to this
type of sight. Particularly on a 3.5 inch 1911 thats obvious to me to be for
concealed carry. Can anyone enlighten me?

[David Thomas]

S&W has been using a similar concept on its fixed sight guns for a while, most notably the classic j frames. However, with a front sight.

a 1911 without sights does not sound like a good idea. Then again, a 3.5" 1911 does not seem like a good idea, either.

[MarshallDodge]

Less of a chance for something to snag on. I assume that the theory is that most self defense encounters are so close that if you learn to point shoot then worrying about the sights will slow you down.

I have a Colt 1911 slide without sights. I have shot it at 25 feet and keep a sub 3" group when rapid firing. The top of the slide is rounded on the 1911 so I just put the apex of the slide on the round bullseye and squeeze. It is surprisingly fast.

[woody d]

there was maybe a couple new compact 1911 models offered a few years back with that setup, but the name of the models and the maker is escaping me. they didnt sell well, and i had a fella practically trying to give me one a year ago for a NIB Glock i had. i passed despite his best attempt.........im lazy and not gonna look it up tonight, but im sure you guys know the model

[Boomer10]

Kimber made one in '03 called the Ultra RCP II.

From Kimber (http://www.kimberamerica.com/products/specialrun/specialrun.php)...

"ULTRA RCP II (2003): Began production 2003. “Refined Carry Pistol”. Black anodized aluminum frame, meltdown treatment with bobbed heel, 3 line ball milled front strap and bobbed grip safety. KimPro finished, melted 3” trench cut slide (no sights), carbon steel barrel, bobbed spur hammer. Black micarta ball milled slim grips, bobbed magazine catch. 25 oz. MSR: $1228"

[markm]

S
a 1911 without sights does not sound like a good idea. Then again, a 3.5" 1911 does not seem like a good idea, either.

I agree with this completely. :)

Any 3.5" 45 is robbing the cartridge of so much velocity, It's silly.

[SOT364]

I was going to say it was a Kimber, but already beaten to that.

Though, not the exact same the ASP pistols featured a version of this called the "guttersnipe" sights. http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg147-e.htm (quick google search).

STI also built a gun with a similar set up. The gun is called the "Tiki."

They are of limited use, even at close range. There is a reason they never really caught on.......

[Erik 1]

Sounds like the Colt New Agent (http://www.m1911.org/ezine/ColtNA.htm).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/sv1cec/reviews/ColtNA/na1.jpg

[vigilant2]

Bingo!! Thats it!
Just about everything he shot with it was _LOW_. Significantly LOW.
As were my 2 shots.

[Moose-Knuckle]

That's when CQ point shooting comes into play...

[BMcDonald7]

It could also be an STI Rogue. I loved everything about the gun except the sights....so I went with a Springfield EMP.