is Condition 1 'loaded/cocked and locked'.
The thumb safety locks the sear and slide, and the grip safety blocks the trigger.

The second worst way to carry any 1911 is hammer down with one up the spout.

I don't consider a holster with a thumb strap to be mandatory, but when snapped, the gun and holster are not going to easily part company.

If you want to carry a 1911, you'd do yourself a favor to get one of Simply Rugged's holsters sans strap and carry it cocked and locked. Those holsters hold it tight until you purposefully draw it out. Your hand automatically grips the pistol, releasing the grip safety, your thumb automatically sweeps the safety down and then your finger moves to the trigger - all smooth and safe if properly rehearsed (trained).

If for psychological reasons you feel a need for a strap, there are holsters that allow you to place a strap in front of the cocked and locked hammer. One more layer of safety on this very safe platform. When I say "for psychological reasons" it's not a jab. When you've been around guns as long as we have there are things that we insist on to prevent some potential problem.

Carrying a 1911 with the hammer down on a loaded chamber is NOT a good idea. Carrying it for self protection with the hammer down on an unloaded chamber isn't either. The design allows you to safely carry it with a loaded chamber and the hammer cocked as long as you also engage the thumb safety. BUT to carry a 1911 you really need to spend a lot of time training with it. That's why I no longer have a 1911 up north, no time/$$$ to train during our brief sojourns up there. The sixgun gets the nod as it's the platform I train on.

In extreme situations we default to our training. Carrying a 1911 safely means you need to spend plenty of time retraining for this platform.

I've carried a 1911 for a long time, and have never felt unsafe carrying cocked and locked, or felt the need for a safety strap. I've carried them in leather and kydex, but always fully loaded, hammer back, safety on. Anyone who tells you you'll have time to rack the slide and put one in the chamber, under stress, is a fool.

There is a learning curve to them, so I do recommend spending a good deal of time getting used to the operation of one before carrying it. If you can swing it, a trip to Gunsite, either the ranch itself or hitting up one of the traveling classes, would serve you well. Rob Leahy at Simply Rugged can set you up with good carry and training gear.

My only other piece of advice is on magazines. Don't skimp on them! Wilson Combat or Chip McCormick are the best. Get at least 6 of them, along with some dummy rounds to practice loading, unloading and malfunction drills.

I've been using/shooting/carrying 1911's since my dad bought be a brand new Commercial Government Model in 1964. Until a couple years ago I carried them chamber loaded, cocked and locked. My motor skills aren't what they used to be, and I'm not the way I used to be so nowadays I carry either a SIG 228 or 226, both West German w/o rails, in 9mm.

If the second worse way to carry a 1911 is hammer down with one in the chamber, then the WORST way is hammer on half-cock with a chambered road (a result of reading too many detective/tough guy paperbacks as a teenager), which is what I did before I learned about "false half-cock". That was the day when I was taken the gun out of my front pocket, the hammer snagged and a 210 lead SWC over 7.8 grains Unique (Jeff Cooper's hellacious load) struck the ground between my feet.

I recall reading in "One Ranger Returns", Joaquin Jackson's 2nd book about an impromptu shooting match he had with some FBI agents. He "drew his Commander, snicked off the safety, racked the slide" in one smooth movement and outshot the FBI guys. I don't have the book anymore, and would someone with a copy please verify I read that correctly?
Thanks

Norm

I've seen holsters with a bad habit of disengaging the safety.

Since you are a lefty, like myself, and have installed an ambi safety, now cut the left side off and shape it down like the original Colt safety. that big lever sticking out is what catches and disengages the safety while carrying.
Ive been carrying a 1911 for 15 years and is was always coming off safe until I cut it down.
The right side(for a lefthander) I left extended and it is up against leather so it is fine being oversized.

Both a Simply Rugged Cuda and (though it doesn't meet Rob's approval) sometimes in a Blackhawk! IWB Leather holster. Both work exceptionally well for the intended purpose.