Colt M1911

History

Early history and adaptations

The M1911 pistol originated in the late 1890s as the result of a search for a suitable self-loading (or semi-automatic) pistol to replace the variety of revolvers in service at the time. The United States was rapidly adopting new firearms; several new pistols and two all-new service rifles (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 within this decade. The revolvers were becoming more reliable then but did not have the firepower needed to be as effective as the M1911.

The next decade saw a similar pace, adopting several more revolvers; an intensive search for a self-loading pistol eventually led to the adoption of the M1911 after the turn of the decade. Hiram S. Maxim had designed a self-loading rifle in the 1880s, but was preoccupied with machine guns. Nevertheless, the application of his recoil-energy reloading principle led to several self-loading pistols in 1896. The designs caught the attention of various militaries, each of 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 20th century.

During the end of 1899 and into 1900, a test of self-loading pistols was conducted, including entries from Mauser (C96 "Broomhandle"), Mannlicher (Mannlicher M1894), and Colt (Colt M1900). This led to a purchase of 1,000 DWM Luger pistols, chambered in 7.65mm Luger. During field trials, these ran into some problems, especially with stopping power. Other governments had made similar complaints. Consequently, DWM produced an enlarged version of the round, the 9×19mm Parabellum, with fifty weapons chambered for it, tested by the U.S. Army in 1903.

American units fighting Tausūg guerrillas in the Moro Rebellion in Sulu during the Philippine–American War using the then-standard Colt M1892 revolver, .38 Long Colt, found it to be unsuitable for the rigors of jungle warfare, particularly in terms of stopping power, as the Moros had high battle morale and often used drugs to inhibit the sensation of pain.

The U.S. Army briefly reverted to using the M1873 single-action revolver in .45 Colt caliber, which had been standard during the late 19th century; the heavier bullet was found to be more effective against charging tribesmen. Problems prompted General William Crozier, the Chief of Ordnance, to authorize further testing for a new service pistol.

Service history

Following its success in trials, the Colt pistol was formally adopted by the Army on March 29, 1911, when it was designated "Model of 1911", later changed in 1917 to "Model 1911", and then "M1911" in the mid-1920s.

The Director of Civilian Marksmanship began manufacture of M1911 pistols for members of the National Rifle Association of America in August 1912. Approximately 100 pistols stamped "N.R.A." below the serial number were manufactured at Springfield Armory and by Colt.

The M1911 was formally adopted by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps in 1913. The .45 ACP "Model of 1911 U.S. Army" was used by both U.S. Army Cavalry troops and infantry soldiers during the United States' Punitive Expedition into Mexico against Pancho Villa in 1916.

The M1911 officially replaced a range of revolvers and pistols across branches of the U.S. armed forces, though some other designs have seen use in certain niches.

The pistol's formal U.S. military designation as of 1940 was Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911 for the original model adopted in March 1911, and Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911A1 for the improved M1911A1 model which entered service in 1926.

The designation changed to Pistol, Caliber .45, Automatic, M1911A1 in the Vietnam War era.

At the end of hostilities, the government cancelled all contracts for further production and used existing stocks of weapons to equip personnel. Many of these weapons had seen service and had to be rebuilt and refinished before being issued.

From the mid-1920s to the mid-1950s, thousands of 1911s and 1911A1s were refurbished at U.S. arsenals and service depots. These rebuilds ranged from minor inspections to major overhauls. Pistols refurbished at government arsenals are usually marked on the frame/receiver with the arsenal's initials, such as RIA for Rock Island Armory or SA for Springfield Armory.

Design

Browning's basic M1911 design has seen very little change throughout its production life.

Operation

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.

At this point, a link pivots the rear of the barrel down, out of locking recesses in the slide, and the barrel is stopped by making contact with the lower barrel lugs against the frame.

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 the casing out and away from the pistol through the ejection port.

The slide stops its rearward motion, then is propelled forward again by the recoil 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.

However, if the fired round was the last in the magazine, the slide will lock in the rearward position, which notifies the shooter to reload by ejecting the empty magazine and inserting a loaded magazine, and facilitates (by being rearwards) reloading the chamber, which is accomplished by either pulling the slide back slightly and releasing, or by pushing down on the slide stop, which releases the slide to move forward under spring pressure, strip a fresh cartridge from the magazine, and feed it into the firing chamber.

Composition

The main components of the gun are held in place by the force of the main spring. The pistol can be "field stripped" by partially retracting the slide, removing the slide stop, and removing the barrel bushing.

Full disassembly (and subsequent reassembly) of the pistol into its parts can be accomplished using several manually removed components as tools.

Safety

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, including Kimber and Smith & Wesson, use a Swartz firing-pin safety, which is operated by the grip safety.

Language cautioning against pulling the trigger with the second finger was included in the initial M1911 manual and later manuals up to the 1940s.

Calibers

In addition to the .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol), M1911 models chambered for .455 Webley Auto, .38 Super, 9×19mm Parabellum, 7.65mm Parabellum, 9mm Steyr, .400 Corbon, and other cartridges were offered.

The M1911 was developed from earlier Colt semi-automatic designs, firing rounds such as .38 ACP.

Interwar changes

Battlefield experience in World War I led to a few minor external changes to the M1911, completed in 1924.

The new version received a modified type classification, M1911A1, in 1926 with a stipulation that M1911A1s should have serial numbers higher than 700,000, with lower serial numbers designated M1911.

The M1911A1 changes to the original design consisted of a shorter trigger, cutouts in the frame behind the trigger, an arched mainspring housing, a longer grip safety spur (to prevent hammer bite), a wider front sight, a shortened hammer spur, and simplified grip checkering (eliminating the "Double Diamond" reliefs).

These changes were subtle and largely intended to make the pistol easier to shoot for those with smaller hands. No significant internal changes were made, and parts remained interchangeable between the M1911 and the M1911A1.

Versions

Wartime production

The need to greatly expand U.S. military forces and the resultant surge in demand for the firearm in World War I saw the expansion of manufacture to other contractors besides Colt and Springfield Armory, including Remington-UMC and North American Arms Co. of Quebec.

Several other manufacturers were awarded contracts to produce the M1911, including:

National Cash Register Company

Savage Arms

Caron Brothers Manufacturing of Montreal

Burroughs Adding Machine Co.

Winchester Repeating Arms Company

Lanston Monotype Company

However, the signing of the Armistice resulted in the cancellation of the contracts before any pistols had been produced.

The M1911A1 pistol was produced in very large quantities 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:

M1911A1 pistols produced during WWII were given a parkerized metal finish instead of bluing, and the wood grip panels were replaced with panels made of brown plastic.

Among collectors today, the Singer-produced pistols in particular are highly prized, commanding high prices even in poor condition.

Educational Orders - preparing for future wartime production demands

Before the United States entered World War II, the government issued “educational orders” to prepare manufacturers for potential wartime production of the M1911A1 pistol. These contracts funded the development of production tooling and the manufacture of small quantities of pistols to establish manufacturing capability. The tooling could then be retained for use in a future mobilization.

On April 17, 1940, the Singer Manufacturing Company received an educational order for 500 M1911A1 pistols. After Singer shifted its efforts to other military equipment, some of its pistol-production machinery and tooling was transferred to Remington Rand for wartime manufacture.

The government bore the tooling costs associated with both educational orders and subsequent wartime production contracts. Production arrangements included the use of existing industrial equipment, specialized tooling, and machinery transferred between contractors.

M45 MEU(SOC)

In 1986, the USMC Precision Weapon Section (PWS) at Marine Corps Base Quantico began customizing M1911A1s for reconnaissance units. The units served in a new Marine Corps program Marine expeditionary unit (special operations capable) (MEU(SOC)). The pistol was designated the M45 MEU(SOC).

Hand-selected Colt M1911A1 frames were gutted, deburred and were then assembled with aftermarket 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.

In the late 1980s, the Marines 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, but design and supply time were limited.

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 soon began producing a limited number of what would later be 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.

M1911-A2

Due to increased demand for M1911 pistols among Army Special Operations units, which are known to field a variety of M1911s, the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit began developing a new generation of M1911s. It 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 which to select the features that best fit their missions.

The AMU conducted a well-received demonstration of the first group of pistols to the Marine Corps at Quantico and to various Special Operations units at Fort Bragg and other locations. The project provided a feasibility study with insights into future projects.

Models were loaned to various Special Operations units, and the results are classified. An RFP was issued for a Joint Combat Pistol, but it was ultimately canceled.

Ultimately, the M1911A2 project provided a testbed for improving existing M1911s. An improved M1911 variant becoming available in the future is a possibility.

M45A1

In July 2012, the USMC awarded Colt a $22.5 million contract for up to 12,000 M45A1 pistols with an initial order of 4036 pistols to replace the M45 MEU(SOC) pistol.

The Marine Corps issued the M45A1 to Force Reconnaissance companies, Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC) and Special Reaction Teams from the Provost Marshal’s Office. The new 1911 was designated M45A1 or "Close Quarters Battle Pistol" (CQBP). The M45A1 features a dual-recoil spring assembly, Picatinny rails, and is cerakoted tan.

In 2019, the USMC selected the SIG Sauer M18 to replace the M45A1. The Marines began the roll out of the M18 in 2020. The replacement was completed by October 2022.

Other models

Working for the U.S. Ordnance Office, David Marshall Williams developed a .22 training version of the M1911 using a floating chamber to give the .22 long rifle rimfire recoil similar to the .45 version.

As the Colt Service Ace, this was available both as a pistol and as a conversion kit for .45 M1911 pistols.

Custom models

Since its inception, the M1911 has lent itself to easy customization. Replacement sights, grips, and other aftermarket accessories are the most commonly offered parts, more so since the 1950s and the rise of competitive pistol shooting.

Price ranges from a low end of around $400 for basic models imported from Turkey (TİSAŞ and GİRSAN) and the Philippines (Armscor, Metro Arms, and SAM Inc.) to more than $4,000 for the best competition or tactical versions (Dan Wesson, Les Baer, Nighthawk Custom, Springfield Custom Shop, and Wilson Combat).

These modifications can range from changing the external finish and checkering the frame to hand-fitting custom hammers, triggers, and sears. Some modifications include installing compensators and adding accessories such as tactical lights and even scopes.

A common modification of John Browning's design is to use a full-length guide rod that runs the full length of the recoil spring.

This adds weight to the front of the pistol but does not increase accuracy and makes the pistol slightly more difficult to disassemble. As of 2002, custom guns are built from scratch or on existing base models.

Rechambered versions

M1911 pistols that were captured/taken from the Korean War were rechambered to use 7.62x25mm ammunition.

Modern conversion kits are manufactured/sold to enable a user to convert an M1911-type pistol to fire 7.62x25mm from 9×19mm Parabellum and .38 Super calibers.

Usage

The M1911 design has been offered commercially and has been used by other militaries.

The M1911 was likewise widely copied, and its localized variants remain in use worldwide to date.

During wartime

By the beginning of 1917, a total of 68,533 M1911 pistols had been delivered to U.S. armed forces by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company and the U.S. government's Springfield Armory. The M1911 and M1911A1 pistols were also ordered from Colt or produced domestically in modified form by several other nations, including Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Spain.

Britain ordered approximately 13,000 1911s in .455 Webley Auto during the First World War, with examples known to go to the Royal Air Force. Some remained in service during the Second World War.

The M1911A1 was a favored small arms weapon among both U.S. and allied military personnel during the war. In particular, the pistol was prized by some British commando units, Britain's highly covert Special Operations Executive, and South African Commonwealth forces.

Some Colt M1911s were used by the Royal Navy as sidearms during World War I in .455 Webley Automatic. The pistols 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 aircrew in the event of bailing out in enemy territory.

The German Volkssturm also used captured M1911s at the end of World War II under the weapon code P.660(a), in which the letter 'a' refers to "Amerika", the weapon's country of origin.

Users

Former

Mandatory Palestine: Used by the Mandate's Army and militants

Legacy

The M1911A1 is popular among the general public in the U.S. for practical and recreational purposes.

Civilian use

The M1911 is commonly used for concealed carry thanks in part to its single-stack magazine (which makes for a thinner pistol that is therefore easier to conceal), as well as for personal defense, target shooting, competition, and collections.

There is a growing number of manufacturers of M1911-style pistols, and the model remains quite popular for its reliability, simplicity, and patriotic appeal.

The M1911 is popular with civilian shooters in competitive events such as the International Defensive Pistol Association and International Practical Shooting Confederation, showing no signs of decreasing popularity.

State firearm

On March 18, 2011, the U.S. state of Utah—as a way of honoring M1911 designer John Browning, who was born and raised in the state—adopted the Browning M1911 as the "official firearm of Utah".

Military and law enforcement

The M1911 served as the standard-issue sidearm for the United States Armed Forces from 1911 to 1985. It was widely used in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. It also has seen service in the Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, albeit to a different extent.

Many military and law enforcement organizations in the U.S. and other countries continue to use (often modified) M1911A1 pistols, notably Los Angeles Police Department SWAT, the FBI Hostage Rescue Team, and Delta Force.

2011 platform

In the 1990s, manufacturer Tripp Research (which would later become STI International, then renamed Staccato) developed a modular design based on the 1911, meant to accommodate double-stack magazines and allow the grip to be separated from the frame for increased customization. The 2011 designation is now often applied to any 1911 pistol with a stacked magazine, even if it doesn't retain the other particularities of the 2011 platform.