1911 Pistols

This year we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 1911 being adopted for use by the United States Army. Today the pistol is just as popular as it has ever been with many manufacturers releasing anniversary editions. The 1911 is known for its accuracy, reliability, and simple operation. The history of the 1911 is very impressive.


In 1906 the Army had begun seeking a replacement for the .38 caliber revolvers currently being issued to its troops. They sought a reliable automatic pistol with more stopping power than the .38. It was decided by the Army that the .45 caliber round would suit its needs. At the time John Browning had been designing an automatic pistol in .38 Super for Colt. He modified the design for the .45 cartridge. The design was submitted with others from companies such as Smith and Wesson and Savage for testing.

Out of about a half a dozen different designs the Colt, designed by John Browning, and a pistol manufactured by Savage were selected for a final test. Thousands of rounds were fired through the pistols after being put through tests such as being buried in sand or dunked in acid. The Colt proved to be the most reliable and was adopted by the Army in March of 1911.

Over the years the 1911 has been carried by many Armies around the world. Colt and other manufacturers have released many modifications for the gun, but the basic parts and operation have remained the same. Today dozens of manufacturers construct 1911 pistols for sale to the public. Unfortunately (at least in the author's opinion) the 1911 was replaced by the Beretta M9 for use by the United States Military. The pistol has however made a come back and is currently in use by some special operations units.

Let's celebrate this famous pistol this year by taking your favorite 1911 to the range and firing a few hundred rounds.