Hi thanks all for the replies.

lonewolf and Tactical I'm in Toronto. Not really a lot of opportunity to make it out to ranges and socialize just yet, kind of just want to bolster my theory at this point, read up and keep on top of things as best as I can until work permits me to move out to a place where I can find a good range and start affording to buy the guns I want. I agree the hands-on approach is best though!

Strewth in class we were pointing out the basic differences between a single action semi-auto pistol and double action semi-auto pistol, and one of the main visual cues is the trigger and also there are things like the hammer not being exposed on some double-actions i.e. glocks, with the single action sometimes having the more prominent lip below the hammer much like single action revolvers, etc. etc. There were a few, but then I asked him, What is the reason for the trigger shape difference? And he mentioned it was related to the firing pin, then mentioned on a tangent that the way single action semi-auto firing pins work they are easier to go off by accident if you drop them vs. a double action which won't, and that's why most law enforcement carry the double action. I may have misinterpreted his comments though.

The reason I ask is because I really like the 1911 .45 and plan to buy it one day butI felt single action semi-autos were a little unsafe due to what I had heard (again most likely my misinterpretation) so I wanted to confirm things.

Transfer bar - I thought this was there in order to transfer power from the hammer to the cartridge or something, and WITHOUT it the round wouldn't fire (?)
And then there was another safety I forget the name of which actually blocks the hammer from striking the firing pin as one would imagine.

Brother Rockeye sorry man had no idea too late to change it? I would also like the name RackedSemiauto