Posted on 08/27/2008 4:05:36 AM PDT by sig226
It was adopted in 1911 and is probably the longest serving military weapon ever devised. Although the English Webley revolver lasted a few more years of continous service, the Colt 1911A1 was shelved, then returned to service.
Some folks just like the caliber, others love the pistol. It was adopted because.38 caliber revolvers failed to stop the Mauro Tribesmen in the Phillippine Insurrection. .30 caliber Krag - Jorgenson rifles also failed to stop the Mauros, most likely because they ate opium, but the United States decided to standardize a larger caliber.
They first took up the Colt Model 1911 designed by John Browning. They changed it to the 1911A1 in 1924, after reviewing complaints from soldiers in World War I. This photo shows the differences.
The trigger was one of the best found on a military sidearm due to the single action fire control. It was used in Bullseye matches and a small industry evolved to modify the pistol to make it more accurate. Over the years, plenty of gunsmiths earned a comfortable living doing just this.
Of course, it evolved into the highly modified 'race guns' used in IPSC matches; pistols that have almost no practical utility at all, but are a hoot to fire on a timed course.
After the United States switched to the Beretta M9 9mm pistol, plenty of gun people thought the 1911 was destined to die an ignominious death at the hands of the 'wonder nine.' But along came Bill Clinton, who took away the high capacity magazine and thus eliminated the advantage of the 16 shot 9mm over the 8 shot .45. If you have to carry a thin gun anyway, it might as well make a big hole . . .
You can get a new 1911 for around $500.00 for a Springfield 1911 GI (the plain Jane model) all the way up to $4,000.00 if you want the top of the line from makers like Nighthawk. Or you can get your Brownell's Catalog and make your own.
Ah, if they only made bigger magazines, 250-rounders, say. Bangbangbangitybang.
An unusual trigger!
Don’t like fish or birds, I see. Okay, fine by me, Sir.
sounds like you had a great time, but your test took over 1/2 hour. i'm fairly sure in 11 minutes it would cook you good.
1000 rounds in 11 minutes: maybe mechanically from a machine rest, but, if you touched it, it would burn you clean to the bone...
Actually it was a top 45 shooter that was wearing gloves. It was called a hot gun match.
You can get 100 round magazines for about 40% as much fun as a 250 round.
Thanks for the pointer.
I’ll give it another shot. SA does things slightly differently, but I should be able to figure it out. The safety is ambidextrous, so I’m not sure how to remove that like the one in the video that comes out the side. It has to come apart somehow thou.
Or like you suggest I can buy parts to get back to the original 1911 design, that sounds like a good project.
thx... that i believe. sounds like a real challenge too.
No criticism here! The most important thing is that it go *bang* everything, along with shot placement of course. :-)
I work / range shoot with Nessun Dorma playing ......Paul Potts version is liked best or in a pinch Pavarotti’s version.......
Not Smart enuough to post pics-have a full sized Para single stack that I love
Also another John Browning Classic-a 1903 Pocket Hammerless in .32
Here’s a neat concept-building that design into a .45. Check the price at the end .
http://www.cylinder-slide.com/1908.htm
No flames from this direection, I always carry a S&W Model 36.
They also switched to the arched mainspring housing so that it filled the palm. Although most shooters perfer the flat one, like the original 1911, I like the arched one. I think they also extended the magazine release a little bit, but I could be wrong about that.
Oh, I wouldn't say I don't LIKE them. It's just that pigs are so much more useful.
My dad's Series 70.
He always wanted to get a nickel-plated .45, but circumstances prevented it. One year, I gave him this for his birthday. He made the fancy walnut grips, which looked nice, but he started making hints about ivory. These are faux ivory, but still quite nice.
Beautiful gun and I love the Haken grips, I need to order some for the Kimber I’m having bobtailed.
The 1911 industry awaits a belt fed version. Maybe you can interest Mike Dillon in the project. :)
I too got bit by the 45LC bug, and picked up a Ruger New Vaquero 4 5/8” with a Kirkpatrick leather rig. I fretted a little over the rudimentary, nonadjustable sights, until I realized that shooting a SA involves mental sights; you have to look into the cold, poker eyes of your adversary and will your hand to place the lead accordingly. Problem solved. It does take practice, at around $27 a box.
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