What makes a 1911 a 1911?

[ptgarcia]

I always thought a 1911 was a specific gun, the Colt in .45 caliber. Then I join here and see there are many different makes and even more than one caliber. Can someone explain to me what constitutes a model 1911? I'm confused.

Thanks!

[swifty]

Any pistol based on the US Military Model of 1911 platform.

[zfields]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1911_pistol

The M1911 is a single-action, semi-automatic, magazine-fed, and recoil-operated handgun chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge.[1] John M. Browning designed the firearm which was the standard-issue side arm for the United States armed forces from 1911 to 1985. The M1911 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.[1] In total, the United States procured around 2.7 million M1911 and M1911A1 pistols in military contracts during its service life.

The M1911 is the best-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. It is popular with civilian shooters in competitive events such as USPSA, IDPA, International Practical Shooting Confederation, and Bullseye shooting. Compact variants are also popular civilian concealed carry weapons, because of the design's inherent slim width and the power of the .45ACP cartridge.[citation needed]

[MA2]

[dascoyne]

I think I'm in love.

[ptgarcia]

Wow, that video was perfect.....thanks!

[slowjonn]

The hand of God comes down and creates out of wine and bread that which will become the 1911's.

The waste products are used to make Glocks.

[cmace22]

The hand of God comes down and creates out of wine and bread that which will become the 1911's.

The waste products are used to make Glocks.

hahaha

[OneSevenDeuce]

I subscribe to that chick on youtube. She's very knowledgeable and passionate about guns. But she kinda looks like an alien to me and freaks me out.

[Colt]

What makes a 1911 a 1911? John Moses Browning.

[Fishslayer]

I think I'm in love.

The music starts, the glasses come off, the hair falls down...

[fpeel]

What makes a 1911 a 1911? The Pony...

[toby]

A 1911 is a 1911 cuz nothin else even comes close....

[chim-chim7]

It will be a sad day if 1911's go polymer.

[Speedpower]

It will be a sad day if 1911's go polymer.

It already did a few years back, Wilson Combat have a polymer version of the 1911, If I'm not mistaken, I believe Kimber too!