Why The 1911 Will Never Die

GunDigest ^ | 2/5/2025 | Richard A. Mann

[T.B. Yoits]

Here we discuss why the legendary 1911 pistol is still going strong over 100 years later with no sign of slowing down.

“To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, John M. Browning, a citizen of the United States, residing in Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firearms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.” Those are the first words on a patent application submitted on February 17, 1910. Patent #985,519 was subsequently issued on February 14, 1911, for what would become known as the 1911 pistol. That was 114 years ago, and manufacturers are still making, and shooters are still buying, pistols based on that patent.

A Brief History Of The 1911

Browning designed the 1911 for military consideration, complying with the stipulation that it fire a bullet of not less than 0.45-caliber and that it must utilize the semi-automatic mode of operation. Based partly on a 6,000-round failure free test, in March of 1911 the Army adopted it as the “Model of 1911,” and it saw service in World War I. The Army, however, requested some changes they incorporated in 1924. This updated version was known as the 1911A1, and it served the Army throughout World War II and beyond.

[wardaddy]

It and models on similar frames like SW 39 or Star and Llama and FN fit my grip better than any semi auto

That just me

The HK P7 is also great grip and point for me

[NorthMountain]

I just had an S&W M&P 2.0 9mm CarryComp follow me home yesterday.

It's always kinda cute how they do that ... like little lost puppies. 😄

The SA-35 isn't high on my priority list ... I'd like to get a report from someone I know IRL. Just don't know anyone who has one.

[Myrddin]

I will probably put a 3 MOA green dot on the CarryComp ahead of a range trip. The slide is cut and optics ready. The iron sights include a green tritium dot in the front sight. I miss the days when I could afford 300 to 600 rounds per week. Sunday nights turning out 1200 rds of 38SPL while listening to Matt Drudge on the radio.