The M1911 is a single-action, semiautomatic handgun chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge. It was designed by John M. Browning, and was the standard-issue side arm for the United States armed forces from 1911 to 1985, and is still carried by some U.S. forces. It was widely used in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Its formal designation as of 1940 was Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911 for the original Model of 1911 or Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911A1 for the M1911A1, adopted in 1924. The designation changed to Pistol, Caliber .45, Automatic, M1911A1 in the Vietnam era. In total, the United States procured around 2.7 million M1911 and M1911A1 pistols during its service life. This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... .45 ACP cartridges .45 redirects here. ... In firearms terminology, an action is the system of operation that the firearm employs to seal the breech (in a breech-loading firearm), and to load consecutive rounds. ... Recoil operation is a type of locked-breech firearm actions used in automatic firearms. ... A guns muzzle velocity is the speed at which the projectile leaves the muzzle of the gun. ... Feet per second is a unit of speed; it expressses the number of feet traveled in one second. ... Metre per second (U.S. spelling: meter per second) is an SI derived unit of both speed (scalar) and velocity (vector), defined by distance in metres divided by time in seconds. ... In firearms, the chamber is the part of the barrel in which the cartridge is inserted prior to being fired. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A Semi-automatic (also known as Self-loading) pistol is a type of handheld firearm, a kind of pistol. ... .45 ACP cartridges .45 redirects here. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... John Moses Browning (January 21[1] or January 23,[2] 1855 – November 26, 1926), born in Ogden, Utah, was an American firearms designer who developed myriad varieties of weapons, cartridges, and gun mechanics, many of which are still in use around the world. ... A side arm is a small personal weapon that is typically worn on the body in a holster in such a way to permit immediate access and use. ... The United States Armed Forces are the overall unified military forces of the United States. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Belligerents United Nations: Republic of Korea Australia Belgium Canada Colombia Ethiopia France Greece Luxembourg Netherlands New Zealand Philippines South Africa Thailand Turkey United Kingdom United States Naval Support and Military Servicing/Repairs: Japan Medical staff: Denmark Italy Norway India Sweden DPR Korea PR China Soviet Union Commanders Syngman Rhee Chung... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000...

The M1911 is the most well-known of John Browning's designs to use the short recoil principle in its basic design. Besides the pistol being widely copied itself, this operating system rose to become the pre-eminent type of the 20th century and of nearly all modern centerfire pistols. Recoil operation is a type of locked-breech firearm actions used in automatic firearms. ...

History

Early history and adoption

The M1911 pistol originated in the late 1890s, as a search for a suitable self-loading (or semi-automatic) handgun, to replace the variety of revolvers then in service. The United States of America was adopting new firearms at a phenomenal rate; several new handguns and two all-new service rifles (the M1892/96/98 Krag and M1895 Navy Lee), as well as a series of revolvers by Colt and Smith & Wesson for the Army and Navy were adopted just in that decade. The next decade would see a similar pace, including the adoption of several more revolvers and an intensive search for a self-loading pistol that would culminate in official adoption of the M1911 after the turn of the decade. The Krag-Jørgensen is a repeating bolt action rifle designed by the Norwegians Ole Herman Johannes Krag and Erik Jørgensen in the late 19th century. ... The Lee Model 1895 (also known as the M1895 Lee, Navy Lee, Winchester-Lee 1895, M1895 Winchester-Lee, etc. ... For other uses, see CMC. Colts Manufacturing Company (CMC--formerly Colts Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company) is a United States firearms manufacturer founded in 1847. ... Smith & Wesson NASDAQ: SWHC (S&W) is the largest manufacturer of handguns in the United States. ...

Hiram S. Maxim had designed a self-loading pistol in the 1880s, but was preoccupied with machine guns. Nevertheless, the application of his principle of using bullet energy to reload led to several self-loading pistols in the 1890s. The designs caught the attention of various militaries, which began programs to find a suitable one for their forces. In the U.S., such a program would lead to a formal test at the turn of the 19th to the 20th century. Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim, 1916 1895 . ... A Browning 9 millimeter Hi-Power Ordnance pistol of the French Navy, 19th century, using a Percussion cap mechanism Derringers were small and easily hidden. ... A machine gun is a fully-automatic firearm that is capable of firing bullets in rapid succession. ...

During the end of 1899 and start of 1900, a test of self-loading pistols was conducted, which included entries from Mauser (the C96 "Broomhandle"), Mannlicher (the Steyr Mannlicher M1894), and Colt (the Colt M1900). Mauser is the common name of a German arms manufacturer, maker of a line of bolt-action rifles from the 1870s to present. ... The C96, or Broomhandle Mauser, was the first semi-automatic pistol to see widespread use. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Colt Model 1900 Photo by Adam Guns The Colt Model 1900 was a self-loading semi-automatic . ...

This led to a purchase of 1,000 DWM Luger pistols, chambered in 7.65 mm Luger, a bottlenecked cartridge. These would go on field trials but ran into some issues, especially in regard to stopping power. Other governments had also made similar complaints, which resulted in DWM producing an enlarged version of the round, the 9 mm Parabellum (known in current military parlance as the 9x19 mm NATO), a necked-up version of the 7.65 mm round. Fifty of these were tested as well by the U.S. Army in 1903. Deutsche Waffen und Munitions Fabriken (German Weapons and Munitions Works), known as DWM, was an arms company in Imperial Germany created when Ludwig Loewe & Company merged with several other companies. ... The Parabellum-Pistole (Pistol Parabellum), popularly known as the Luger pistol is a semi-automatic self-loading pistol patented by Georg Luger in 1898 and manufactured by Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken (DWM) starting in 1900. ... The United States Army is the largest, and by some standards oldest, established branch of the armed forces of the United States and is one of seven uniformed services. ...

General William Crozier became Chief of Ordnance of the Army in 1901.

In response to problems encountered by American units fighting Moro guerrillas during the Philippine-American War, the then-standard .38 Long Colt revolver was found to be unsuitable for the rigors of jungle warfare, particularly in terms of stopping power, as the Moros had very high battle morale and frequently used drugs to inhibit the sensation of pain.^{[citation needed]} The U.S. Army briefly reverted to using the M1873 single-action revolver in .45 Colt caliber, which had been standard during the last decades of the 19th century; the slower, heavier bullet was found to be more effective against charging tribesmen. The problems with the .38 Long Colt led to the army shipping new single action .45 Colt revolvers to the Philippines in 1902. It also prompted the then-Chief of Ordnance, General William Crozier, to authorize further testing for a new service pistol. Image File history File links William_Crozier. ... Image File history File links William_Crozier. ... The Moro Rebellion was the second phase of the Philippine-American War, following the so-called Philippine Insurrection phase. ... Belligerents United States Philippine Constabulary Philippine Scouts First Philippine Republic several groups post-1902 Commanders William McKinley Theodore Roosevelt Emilio Aguinaldo Miguel Malvar several unofficial leaders post-1902 Strength 126,000 soldiers[1] First Philippine Republic: 80,000 soldiers Casualties and losses ~5,000-7,000[1][2] ~12,000... The . ... Jungle warfare is a term used to cover the special techniques needed for military units to survive and fight in jungle terrain. ... For the concept in nuclear physics, see stopping power (particle radiation). ... Branch insignia of Ordnance Corps The Ordnance Corps is a combat service support branch of the United States Army. ... -1...

Following the 1904 Thompson-LaGarde pistol round effectiveness tests, Colonel John T. Thompson stated that the new pistol "should not be of less than .45 caliber" and would preferably be semi-automatic in operation. This led to the 1906 trials of pistols from six firearms manufacturing companies (namely, Colt, Bergmann, Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM), Savage Arms Company, Knoble, Webley, and White-Merril). The Thompson-LaGrande Tests were a short series of unscientific tests conducted in 1901 to determine which caliber should be used in new military handguns. ... For other persons named John Thompson, see John Thompson (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see CMC. Colts Manufacturing Company (CMC--formerly Colts Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company) is a United States firearms manufacturer founded in 1847. ... Bergmann or Bergman is a surname which is German, Swedish, in origin, respectively. ... Deutsche Waffen und Munitions Fabriken (German Weapons and Munitions Works), known as DWM, was an arms company in Imperial Germany created when Ludwig Loewe & Company merged with several other companies. ... // Savage Arms was founded in 1894 by Arthur Savage in Utica, NY. Perhaps best-known for the Savage Model 99 which is a hammerless lever action rifle, which is no longer in production. ... It has been suggested that Webley & Scott Flare Guns be merged into this article or section. ...

Of the six designs submitted, three were eliminated early on, leaving only the Savage, Colt, and DWM designs chambered in the new .45ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) cartridge. These three still had issues that needed correction, but only Colt and Savage resubmitted their designs. There is some debate over the reasons for DWM's withdrawal — some say they felt there was bias and that the DWM design was being used primarily as a "whipping boy" for the Savage and Colt pistols,^[1] though this does not fit well with the earlier 1900 purchase of the DWM design over the Colt and Steyr entries. In any case, a series of field tests from 1907 to 1911 were held to decide between the Savage and Colt designs. Both designs were improved between each testing over their initial entries, leading up to the final test before adoption.

Among the areas of success for the Colt was a 6,000 round test at the end of 1910 attended by its designer, John Browning. The Colt gun passed with flying colors, having no malfunctions, while the Savage designs had 37.

Service history

Comparison of government-issue M1911 and M1911A1 pistols

M15 General Officers adopted by the U.S. Army in the 1970s for issue to Generals.

Following its success in trials, the Colt pistol was formally adopted by the Army on March 29, 1911, thus gaining its designation, M1911 (Model of 1911). It was adopted by the Navy and Marine Corps in 1913. Originally manufactured only by Colt, demand for the firearm in World War I saw the expansion of manufacture to the government-owned Springfield Armory. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 479 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,024 × 1,282 pixels, file size: 197 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Comparison of World War One era M1911 . ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 479 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,024 × 1,282 pixels, file size: 197 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Comparison of World War One era M1911 . ... Image File history File links M151911. ... Image File history File links M151911. ... M15 General Officers is a . ... is the 88th day of the year (89th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... USN redirects here. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for providing force projection from the sea,[1] using the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces and is one of seven uniformed services. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... This is an article about the US Government Arsenal. ...

Battlefield experience in the First World War led to some more small external changes, completed in 1924. The new version received a modified type classification, M1911A1. Changes to the original design were minor and consisted of a shorter trigger, cutouts in the frame behind the trigger, a curved mainspring housing, a longer grip safety spur (to prevent hammer bite), a wider front sight, a shorter spur on the hammer, and simplified grip checkering. Those unfamiliar with the design are often unable to tell the difference between the two versions at a glance. No internal changes were made, and parts remained interchangeable between the two. Hammer bite is a term used for firearms, and in particular semi-automatic pistols. ...

World War II

World War II and the years leading up to it created a great demand. During the war, about 1.9 million units were procured by the U.S. Government for all forces, production being undertaken by several manufacturers, including Remington Rand (900,000 produced), Colt (400,000), Ithaca Gun Company (400,000), Union Switch & Signal (50,000), Singer (500), the Springfield Armory and Rock Island Arsenal. So many were produced that, after 1945, the government did not order any new pistols, and simply used existing parts inventories to "arsenal refinish" guns when necessary. This pistol was favored by US military personnel.^[2] Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... A Remington Rand branded typewriter Remington Rand was an early American computer manufacturer, best known as the original maker of the UNIVAC I, and now part of Unisys. ... Ithaca Guns, USA LLC is a manufacturer of high-quality shotguns and rifles, founded in Ithaca, New York in 1880. ... George Westinghouse founded Union Switch & Signal in 1881, consolidating the assets of companies that had pioneered closed track circuits and interlockings. ... A Singer treadle sewing machine Singer Corporation is a United States of America manufacturer of sewing machines, first established as I.M. Singer & Co. ... RIA is a company located in the Phillipines. ...

Before World War II, a small number of Colts were produced under license at the Norwegian weapon factory Kongsberg Vaapenfabrikk (these Colts were known as "Kongsberg Colt"). During the German occupation of Norway the production continued; these pistols are highly regarded by modern collectors. German forces used captured M1911A1 pistols, using the designation "Pistole 660(a)".[1] The 1911 pattern also formed the basis for the Argentine Ballester-Molina and certain Spanish Star and Llama pistols made after 1922. Kongsberg Gruppen (KOG) (lit. ... [edit] History Norway adopted the 7. ... The Ballester-Molina bears an uncanny resemblance to the Colt M1911, perhaps because Colt technicians took part in the weapons development. ... Star Bonifacio Echeverria S.A. in Eibar Star Bonifacio Echeverria, S.A. was a manufacturer of small arms (principally handguns and sub-machineguns) in the Basque region of Spain from about 1905 until 1997. ...

Replacement for most uses

After the Second World War, the M1911 continued to be a mainstay of the United States Armed Forces in the Korean War and the Vietnam War and was even used during Desert Storm in some U.S. Army units. Belligerents United Nations: Republic of Korea Australia Belgium Canada Colombia Ethiopia France Greece Luxembourg Netherlands New Zealand Philippines South Africa Thailand Turkey United Kingdom United States Naval Support and Military Servicing/Repairs: Japan Medical staff: Denmark Italy Norway India Sweden DPR Korea PR China Soviet Union Commanders Syngman Rhee Chung... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... See also: 2003 invasion of Iraq and Gulf War (disambiguation) C Company, 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment, 1st UK Armoured Division The Persian Gulf War was a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force of 34 nations led by the United States. ...

However, by the late 1970s the M1911A1 was acknowledged to be showing its age. Under political pressure from NATO to conform to the NATO-standard pistol cartridge, the US Air Force's Joint Service Small Arms Program was run to select a new semi-automatic pistol using the NATO-standard 9 mm Parabellum pistol cartridge (a cartridge that had been previously tested by the US Army in 1903 and found wanting). After trials, the Beretta 92S-1 was chosen. This result was contested by the Army which subsequently ran its own competition (the XM9 trials) in 1981 which eventually lead to the official adoption of the Beretta 92F on January 14, 1985. By the later 1980s production was ramping up despite a controversial XM9 retrial and a separate XM10 reconfirmation, which was boycotted by some entrants of the original trials, cracks in the frames of the Beretta-produced pistols, and also despite a dangerous problem with slide separation that resulted in injuries to some US Navy service members. This last resulted in it being updated to the 92FS standard, which includes additional protection for the user. Seal of the Air Force. ... The Joint Service Small Arms Program, usually just called JSSAP was a program run by the Air Force to select a 9mm Parabellum pistol in the late 1970s and the turn of the decade. ... This article is about the military alliance. ... The Beretta 92 (also Beretta 96 and Beretta 98) is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy. ... The M9 handgun, formally Pistol, Semiautomatic, 9mm, M9, is a 9mm pistol of the U.S. military adopted in the 1980s. ... The Beretta 92 (also Beretta 96 and Beretta 98) is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy. ...

By the early 1990s, most M1911A1s had been replaced by the M9, though a limited number remain in use by special units. The United States Marine Corps in particular were noted for continuing the use of M1911 pistols for selected personnel in MEU(SOC) and reconnaissance units (though the USMC also purchased over 50,000 M9 handguns). For its part, the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) issued a requirement for a .45 ACP handgun (Offensive Handgun Weapon System (OHWS) trials). This resulted in the Heckler & Koch OHWS becoming the MK23 Mod 0 Offensive Handgun Weapon System (beating a Colt OHWS, a much modified 1911). Dissatisfaction with the Beretta M9's stopping power has actually promoted re-adoption of the 1911 (along with other handguns) among USSOCOM units in recent years, though the M9 remains predominant both within SOCOM and in the US military in general. The M9 handgun, formally Pistol, Semiautomatic, 9mm, M9, is a 9mm pistol of the U.S. military adopted in the 1980s. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for providing force projection from the sea,[1] using the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces and is one of seven uniformed services. ... Emblem of the United States Special Operations Command. ... .45 ACP cartridges .45 redirects here. ... The MK23 Mod 0 is an offensive handgun system consisting of a match grade semi-automatic pistol, a laser aiming module (LAM), and suppressor. ... The Colt OHWS (Colt SOCOM) was a pistol manufactured by the Colt firearm company. ...

Current users

A Colt 1911 Gold Cup National Match edition with nickel plating.

The M1911A1 design is favored by a large number of police SWAT teams throughout the United States. Many military and law enforcement organizations in the United States and many other countries continue to use (often modified) M1911A1 pistols because they favor the greater stopping power of the .45 cartridge and the superior handling of the weapon in close fighting.^{[citation needed]} Marine Force Recon, Los Angeles Police Department Special Weapons and Tactics, the FBI Hostage Rescue Team and 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta (Delta Force) are among them. The Tacoma, WA Police Department made history in 2001 by becoming the first metropolitan police department in nearly 50 years to adopt the 1911 as its official carry weapon. The Tacoma Police Department selected the Kimber Pro Carry II or Pro Carry II HD as optional, department supplied weapons available to its officers.^[3] Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 532 pixelsFull resolution (3008 × 2000 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 532 pixelsFull resolution (3008 × 2000 pixel, file size: 2. ... The 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D) — commonly known as Delta in the U.S. Army, Delta Force by civilians, and Combat Applications Group by the Department of Defense — is a Special Operations Force (SOF) and an integral element of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). ... Kimber is a manufacturer of M1911 pistols, rifles, and shotguns. ...

M1911A1 by Springfield Armory (contemporary remake of WWII G.I. Model, Parkerized)

The M1911A1 is also extremely popular among the general public in the United States for practical and recreational purposes. The pistol is commonly used for concealed carry (thanks in part to a single-stack magazine, which makes for a thinner pistol; thus easier to conceal), personal defense, target shooting, and competition. Numerous aftermarket accessories allow users to customize the pistol to their liking. There are a growing number of manufacturers of 1911-type pistols and the model continues to be quite popular for its reliability, simplicity, and nationalist appeal. Various tactical, target, and compact models are available. Price ranges from a low end of $250 for an imported model to more than $3,000 for the best competition or tactical models such as those by Rock River Arms, Springfield Armory, STI International Inc, Strayer Voigt Inc, Kimber Manufacturing, Wilson Combat, and Les Baer. Image File history File links Springfield_Armory_M1911A1. ... Image File history File links Springfield_Armory_M1911A1. ... Springfield Armory, Inc. ... Parkerizing (sometimes called phosphating) is a method of protecting steel surfaces from corrosion and thus increasing their durability. ... Rock River Arms, Incorporated is a manufacturing company based in Colona, Illinois. ... Springfield Armory, Inc. ... STI International, Inc. ... An Infinity Firearms Pistol Strayer-Voigt, Inc. ... Kimber is a manufacturer of M1911 pistols, rifles, and shotguns. ... Les Baer Custom Inc. ...

Due to an increased demand for M1911 pistols among Army Spec Ops units, who are known to field a variety of 1911 pistols, the Army Marksmanship Unit began looking to develop a new generation of M1911s and launched the M1911-A2 project in late 2004. The goal was to produce a minimum of seven variants with various sights, internal and external extractors, flat and arched mainspring housings, integral and add-on magazine wells, a variety of finishes, and other options with the idea of providing the end-user a selection from with to select the features that best fit their missions. The AMU performed a well received demonstration of the first group of pistols to the Marine Corps at Quantico and various Spec Ops units and Ft. Bragg and other locations. The project provided a feasibility study with insight into future projects. Models were loaned to various Spec Ops units, the results of which are classified. An RFP was issued for a Joint Combat Pistol but it was ultimately canceled. Currently units are experimenting with a 1911 platform in .40 which will incorporate lessons learned from the 1911 A2 project. Ultimately, the 1911 A2 project provided a test bed for improving existing 1911s. Perhaps we will see development of an improved 1911 variant in the near future.^[4]

The Springfield Custom Professional Model 1911A1 pistol is produced under contract by Springfield Armory for the FBI regional SWAT teams and the Hostage Rescue Team. This pistol is made in batches on a regular basis by the Springfield Custom Shop, and a few examples from most runs are made available for sale to the general public at a selling price of approximately US$2,500 each.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB Forces), an anti-terrorist tactical team in Bangladesh uses this gun.

MEU(SOC) pistol

A 1911 Colt Series 70.

Main article: MEU(SOC) pistol

USMC Marine Expeditionary Units used to issue M1911s to Force Recon units.^{[citation needed]} Hand-selected Colt M1911A1 frames were gutted, deburred, and prepared for additional use by the USMC Precision Weapon Section (PWS) in Quantico, VA. They were then assembled with after-market grip safeties, ambidextrous thumb safeties, triggers, improved high-visibility sights, accurized barrels, grips, and improved Wilson magazines. These hand-made pistols were tuned to specifications and preferences of end users. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 548 pixelsFull resolution (900 × 617 pixel, file size: 366 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 548 pixelsFull resolution (900 × 617 pixel, file size: 366 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is the smallest Marine Air-Ground Task Force in the United States Marine Corps. ... Official Name USMC Force Reconnaissance Force Recon Marines Branch United States Marine Corps Command Structure MARFORPAC; MEF I, III; MEU(SOC) 11, 13, 15, 31 MARFORLANT, MEF II; MEU(SOC) 22, 24, 26 MARFORRES, Reserves Description MEU(SOC) Deep Recon Capability, Special Operations Capability Readiness Any shore in the world... Quantico, Virginia is in Prince William County, 23 miles north-northeast of Fredericksburg, Virginia, near Dumfries and Stafford along Highway 619. ...

In the late 1980s, USMC Colonel Robert Young laid out a series of specifications and improvements to make Browning's design ready for 21st century combat, many of which have been included in MEU(SOC) pistol designs. However, as the U.S. Marine Corps began its process of hand selecting members from its Force Recon to be submitted to USSOCOM as Marine Corps Special Operations Command, Detachment One (MCSOCOM Det-1), the selection of a .45 ACP M1911A1-based pistol meant roughly 150 units would be needed, quickly. The PWS was already backlogged with producing DMRs, USMC SAM-Rs, and updating M40A1s to M40A3s, so Det-1 began the search for COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) surrogates to use. Discovering that the Los Angeles Police Department was pleased with their special Kimber M1911 pistols, a single source request was issued to Kimber for just such a pistol despite the imminent release of their TLE/RLII models. Kimber shortly began producing a limited number of what would be later termed the Interim Close Quarters Battle pistol (ICQB). Maintaining the simple recoil assembly, 5-inch barrel (though using a stainless steel match grade barrel), and internal extractor, the ICQB is not much different from Browning's original design. United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the second smallest of the five branches of the United States armed forces, with 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2002. ... Emblem of the United States Special Operations Command. ... MCSOCOM Detachment One Marine Corps Detachment One, United States Special Operations Command, or MCSOCOM Detachment One (DET1), is the USMCs contribution to USSOCOM. It is an eighty-six man unit, 81 Marines and 5 Navy corpsmen, commanded by Col. ... The United States Marine Corps Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR, NSN 1005-01-458-6235; more formally the United States Rifle, 7. ... A Squad Advanced Marksman of the 22nd MEU in Afghanistan The Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle (SAM-R) gives U.S. Marines the capability to provide precision fire in support of the rifle squad, providing precision fire in support of an assault, and aid in observation and adjusting of supporting arms. ... This article is about the M40 rifle. ... This article is about the M40 rifle. ...

A 1911 Colt Series 70.

The final units as issued to MCSOCOM Det-1 are the Kimber ICQBs with Surefire IMPL (Integrated Military Pistol Light), Dawson Precision Rails, Tritium Novak LoMount sights, Gemtech TRL Tactical Retention Lanyards, modified Safariland 6004 holsters, and Wilson Combat '47D' 8 round magazines. They have reportedly been used with over 15,000 rounds apiece. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 532 pixelsFull resolution (900 × 598 pixel, file size: 389 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 532 pixelsFull resolution (900 × 598 pixel, file size: 389 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...

Other users

Numbers of Colt 1911s were used by the Royal Navy as sidearms during World War I in .455 Webley Automatic caliber. The handguns were then transferred to the Royal Air Force where they saw use in limited numbers up until the end of World War II as sidearms for air crew in event of bailing out in enemy territory. Some units of the South Korean Air Force still use these original batches as officers' sidearms(2008). This article is about the navy of the United Kingdom. ... RAF redirects here. ... The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROK Air Force, ROKAF, Hangul: 대한민국 공군, Hanja: 大韓民國 空軍) is the air force of South Korea. ...

Norway used the Kongsberg Colt which was a license produced variant and is recognized by the unique slide catch. Many Spanish firearms manufacturers produced the M1911 such as the STAR Model P, the ASTAR 1911PL, just to name a few. [edit] History Norway adopted the 7. ...

Argentina's military used the M1911-A1, which was known internally as the "Pistola Sistema 'Colt' Modelo Argentino 1927, Calibre 11,25mm." Colt produced an initial run of 10,000, after which Colt transferred its drawings and specifications, and provided training, to Argentine manufacturers to produce the pistol under license. Argentina's FMAP-DM (Rosario) arsenal manufactured 88,494 copies,[2] which eventually led to production of the cheaper Ballester-Molina. A service pistol is any handgun (revolver, or semi-automatic) issued to military personnel, or in some contexts, law enforcement officers. ... The Ballester-Molina bears an uncanny resemblance to the Colt M1911, perhaps because Colt technicians took part in the weapons development. ...

The Brazilian company IMBEL (Indústria de Material Bélico do Brasil) still produces the .45 in several variants for military and law enforcement uses.

The Greek Hellenic Army issues the M1911 as a sidearm. These are WWII production American pistols supplied as military aid in 1946 and afterward as the US aided Greece against Communist expansion.^[5] The heavy equipment and weaponry of the Hellenic Army is of mostly foreign manufacture, from German, French, American, British and Russian suppliers. ...

The Royal Thai Army still uses USGI 1911's supplied as military aid during the Vietnam War era.

A Chinese company Norinco exports a clone of the 1911A1 for civilian purchase. Importation into the US was blocked by new trade rules in 1993. The China North Industries Corporation (Chinese: ; pinyin: ; literally North Industries), official English name Norinco, manufactures vehicles (trucks, cars and motorcycles), machinery, optical-electronic products, oil field equipment, chemicals, light industrial products, explosives and blast materials, civil and military firearms and ammunition, etc. ...

Design

Asking for a .45-caliber automatic pistol was a tall order that few manufacturers or inventors attempted successfully in the early 20th century. To accomplish this, Browning settled on a design that is so timeless, it has been changed little in nearly 100 years of production. The basic principle of the pistol is recoil operation. As the expanding combustion gases force the bullet down the barrel, they give reverse momentum to the slide and barrel which are locked together during this portion of the firing cycle. After the bullet has left the barrel, the slide and barrel continue rearward a short distance.

Springfield Mil Spec field stripped

A 1911 Colt Series 80 XSE model.

At this point, a link pivots the barrel down, out of locking recesses in the slide, and brings the barrel to a stop. As the slide continues rearward, a claw extractor pulls the spent casing from the firing chamber and an ejector strikes the rear of the case pivoting it out and away from the pistol. The slide stops and is then propelled forward by a spring to strip a fresh cartridge from the magazine and feed it into the firing chamber. At the forward end of its travel, the slide locks into the barrel and is ready to fire again. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 568 pixelsFull resolution‎ (2,632 × 1,868 pixels, file size: 909 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 568 pixelsFull resolution‎ (2,632 × 1,868 pixels, file size: 909 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 528 pixelsFull resolution (900 × 594 pixel, file size: 308 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 528 pixelsFull resolution (900 × 594 pixel, file size: 308 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...

The military mandated a grip safety and a manual safety. A grip safety, sear disconnect, slide stop, half cock position, and manual safety (located on the left rear of the frame) are on all standard M1911A1s. Several companies have developed a firing pin block safety. Colt's 80 series uses a trigger operated one and several other manufacturers use a Swartz firing-pin safety, which is operated by the grip safety.^{[citation needed]} It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Safety (firearms). ... Close-up shot of a safety of an M16A2 rifle. ... In a firearm, the sear is the component of the trigger group which resists pressure on the trigger. ... This article is about the mechanical safety devices built into most firearms. ...

The same basic design has also been offered commercially and has been used by other militaries. In addition to the .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol), models chambered for .38 Super, 9mm Parabellum, .400 Corbon, and other cartridges were also offered. The M1911 was developed from earlier Colt designs firing rounds such as .38 ACP. The design beat out many other contenders during the government's selection period, during the late 1890s and 1900s, up to the pistol's adoption. The M1911 officially replaced a range of revolvers and pistols across branches of the U.S. armed forces, though a number of other designs would see some use in certain niches. The . ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The . ... For other uses, see CMC. Colts Manufacturing Company (CMC--formerly Colts Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company) is a United States firearms manufacturer founded in 1847. ... The . ...

Despite being challenged by newer and lighter weight pistol designs in .45 caliber, such as the Glock 21, the SIGARMS P220 and the aforementioned Heckler & Koch Mk 23, the original 1911 design shows no signs of decreasing popularity. Despite its relatively large size, the M1911 has a very flat profile owing to its single-stack magazine design, easing concealment. The Glock 21 is a pistol manufactured by Glock. ... SIGARMS is the US representative of Swiss manufacturing firm Swiss Arms AG, which was split off of Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG) in 2000. ... Categories: Weapon stubs | Semi-automatic pistols ... Heckler & Koch GmbH (H&K) (pronounced IPA: [1]) is a German weapons manufacturing company famous for various series of small firearms, notably the MP5 submachine gun, G3 and more modern G36 assault rifle, the MP7 personal defense weapon, USP series of handguns and the high-precision PSG1 sniper rifle. ... The Mark 23 Mod 0 Caliber . ...

Specifications

• Cartridge: .45 ACP;
• Other commercial and military derivatives: Other versions offered include .38 Super, 9 mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, 10 mm Auto, .400 Corbon, .22 LR, .50 GI, 9x23 mm Winchester, and others. The major ones were 9 mm Parabellum (9x19 mm), .38 Super, 10 mm Auto.
• Barrel: 5 in (127 mm) Government, 4.25 in (108 mm) Commander, and the 3.5 in (89 mm) Officer's ACP. Some modern "carry" guns have significantly shorter barrels and frames, while others use standard frames and extended slides with 6 in (152 mm) barrels
• Rate of twist: 16 in (406 mm) per turn, or 1:35.5 calibers (.45 ACP)
• Operation: Recoil-operated, closed bolt, single action, semi-automatic
• Weight (unloaded): 2 lb 7 oz (1.1 kg) (government model)
• Height: 5.25 in (133 mm)
• Length: 8.25 in (210 mm)

• Capacity: 7+1 rounds (7 in standard-capacity magazine +1 in firing chamber); 8+1 in aftermarket standard-size magazine; 9+ in extended and hi-cap magazines/frames guns chambered in .38 Super and 9 mm have a 9+1 capacity. Some models using double-stacked magazines, such as those from Para Ordnance, Strayer Voigt Inc and STI International Inc have significantly larger capacities. Colt makes their own 8 round magazines which they include with their Series 80 XSE models.
• Safeties: A grip safety, sear disconnect, slide stop, a half cock position, and manual safety (located on the left rear of the frame) are on all standard M1911(A1)s. Several companies have developed a firing pin block. Colt's 80 series uses a trigger operated one and several other manufacturers (such as Smith & Wesson) use one operated by the grip safety.
• Grip safety deactivation: A problem for some shooters is that they have trouble deactivating the grip safety when they hold the gun. This primarily affects shooters who have small hands. It can also occur when a shooter places his thumb on top of the thumb safety, which tends to reduce pressure on the grip safety. To rectify this problem, a number of grip safety manufacturers have designed safeties with extended ridges, so that when a shooter grips the gun, his hand will come into contact with the ridges and deactivate the safety (i.e., allowing the gun to fire). Some instructors find this "problem" to be a result of poor hand placement, since an 11 year-old was documented able to do so^[6], or worn safety components, known to both military^[7] and civilian armorers^[8] and systematic checks are to be made to verify its functionality.

.45 ACP cartridges .45 redirects here. ... The . ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The . ... The 10 mm Auto is a powerful and versatile cartridge for semi-automatic pistols, developed by ammunition manufacturer FFV Norma AB of Ã…motfors, Sweden, and introduced in 1983 in the ill-fated Bren Ten pistol. ... The . ... (Redirected from . ... The . ... Recoil operation is a type of locked-breech firearm actions used in automatic firearms. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Image File history File links Memory_Groove_Grip_Safety. ... The . ... Para-Ordnance is a firearms manufacturer located in Toronto, Canada. ... An Infinity Firearms Pistol Strayer-Voigt, Inc. ... STI International, Inc. ... In a firearm, the sear is the component of the trigger group which resists pressure on the trigger. ...

Notes

References

• U.S. Military Automatic Pistols 1894-1920 by Edward Scott Meadows (Richard Ellis Publications 1993)
• Colt 1911 & Early prototypes by Gerard Henrotin (H&L Publishing - HLebooks.com 2003)
• The Colt 1911A1 Explained by Gerard Henrotin (H&L Publishing - HLebooks.com 2004)
• Early Colt Pistols Models 1900-1902-1903 by Gerard Henrotin (H&L Publishing - HLebooks.com 2008)
• Garrett, Rob, “Army Marksmanship Unit: The Pipeline for Spec Ops Weapons”, Tactical Weapons Magazine (Harris Publications, Inc.) 1 (1) 

External links

• Colt Manufacturing Company 1911 page
• Official M1911 Safety and Instruction Manual (.pdf)
• Official M1911A1 Safety and Instruction Manual (.pdf)
• Official MKIV Series 70/Model O Safety and Instruction Manual (.pdf)
• Official MKIV Series 70/Model O1970A1 Safety and Instruction Manual (.pdf)
• Official MKIV Series 80/90 Safety and Instruction Manual (.pdf)
• Sam Lisker's Colt Automatic Pistols Home Page
• The M1911 Magazine FAQ
• The Thompson-LaGarde Cadaver Tests of 1904
• Reference manual page with several M1911 manuals on 90th Infantry Division Preservation Group's site
• Articles page including on blank adapting the M1911 on 90th Infantry Division Preservation Group's site
• Colt M1911A1 on ww2db.com
• M1911 Pistols Organization main page, Detailed animated drawing of all operational parts and Syd's 1911 Notebook on M1911.org