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Ok, starting with the pistol unloaded, magazine empty and hammer down - as it would be in the box, new. If the chamber were empty but the magazine loaded, the pistol would be said to be in condition 3.

Pick it up - obviously pointing in a safe direction with your finger outside the trigger guard - you know about safe gun handling so I'll lay off more of that - press the magazine release and extract the magazine. Pull back the slide and check the chamber - lock it back with the slide release lever on the left side of the pistol.

Note that if the magazine really is empty, you can leave it in and just pull back the slide, letting the mag follower activate the slide stop. The reason they say not to do this is that if there is a round in the mag and you let the slide go forward, you've just cocked the hammer, chambered a round and made the pistol ready to fire.

Anyway, now the mag is out and the slide is locked back. If it is a brand new pistol you might want to field strip and clean it at this point. If not, and what you want to do is load it, just load the magazine, insert it - make it seat by slapping it with your palm, "like in the movies" and release the slide to chamber a round. This will leave the hammer cocked. The safety is off, the pistol is said to be in condition zero. Move the safety up - it clicks - the pistol is in condition 1 as most people who carry the 1911 carry it, holstered. To fire, move the safety down (to condition 0) and actuate the trigger.

There are two schools of thought on how to "drop the slide" - i.e. release it from being locked back, to chamber a round. One says to use the slide stop lever - move it down to let the slide go forward. The other is to "slingshot" the slide - leave the lever alone, there are rounds in the magazine holding the follower down, so the slide will not be held back - once it is pulled back a little the slide release will drop down out of the way. Someone with a strong opinion will be here soon to voice it. I slingshot.

People will tell you never to let the slide zip forward on an empty chamber, but to lower it slowly. I subscribe to this but it is not really necessary - it came about when very light trigger jobs were popular; the momentum of the slide slamming home can jar the trigger off the sear, allowing the hammer to follow the slide down.

If you wish to unload the pistol, remove the magazine and rack the slide to extract the chambered round. Inspect the chamber visually and with your finger to make sure it is empty, and ease the slide forward into battery. Then you can either dry-fire or pinch the hammer between thumb and forefinger of your off hand, actuate the trigger, and lower the hammer slowly. The only time you want to do this is to put the pistol away unloaded. If it is lying on the table, leave the slide locked back so it is obviously "safe". If you loaded it, either shoot it or holster it in condition 1. Condition 2 is chamber loaded, hammer down. You need to thumb cock to fire. Most people will tell you to avoid condition 2.

Someone who knows more will be along in a while. Have fun!

Regards,
Andrew

Ok, TAM posted while I was typing. Listen to him - I'm only posting this because I put some time and effort into typing it.