Ode to the 1911: Pistol of the century - 102 years and going strong

If you search the history of firearms, you would be hard pressed to find another weapon, especially a handgun, that has been in full utility and popularity for over 100 years. Another Colt, the 1873 "Peacemaker" has the longevity, but nowhere near the proliferation of the venerable 1911. Even the M-1 Carbine, going strong for 71 years, isn't a close competitor.

While it now has variations with polymer and swelled, double stack mag bodies, the basic weapon and design are relatively unchanged for over a century.

I am not a 1911 aficionado, though I first carried one when I was 22, in 1974 as an MP. I shot Expert and was fond of it immediately. Since then I have owned and used a variety of 1911 variants (Remington Rand, several Auto Ordnances, a Rock Island, and several Para Ordnance double stack) , both personal, and occasionally as a LEO duty weapon (though "cocked and locked semi's were generally not authorized)..

As my gun buying years are starting to fade, a 1911 was one I had to own again.

The P08 (Luger) is still in use and in production (by Krieghoff and, I believe, in China). It entered service in 1904 and its ammunition, the ubiquitous 9mm Para is the most widely used calibre with a higher production internationally than .45 ACP. Personally, I don´t particularly like the Browning principle and prefer the stable Luger barrel and toggle action, although the trigger mechanism is anything but optimal. Apart from that, the 08 is an iconic work of art.

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Originally Posted by villiers

The P08 (Luger) is still in use and in production

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But is it still being purchased for military use? (The Colt "rail gun" has a recent contract for the US.) And does it seem like it's being made by anybody that has a rifled barreled product in their catalog? And still a top competitor's hangun? And made in all sorts of calibers from .22"rf up? (If you include it's lengthened version, up to .45 Winchester Magnum and .44 Magnum in the old LAR Grizzly.)

The Luger is merely a curiosity while the 1911 platform is still strong and viable. The Nazi's realized that they needed to go to another pistol before WWII was going good , with the P.38 being the result. There is no other pistol that has been made and still being made by as many manufacturers as the 1911 style pistol. The recent USMC order for the 1911 platform pistol is an indicator of just how viable the 1911 has remained.

The best Mauser could do with resurrecting the Luger was to build a few commemoratives, which didn't sell very well. The Luger is a great collector pistol, but it's design and difficulty of manufacture doomed it 70 years ago.

The Luger is an iconic weapon, but, as I once read, its mechanism operates with "enough angles" in its workings to put a politician to shame. The Germans realized its shortcomings and designed the P38 Walther (which is also on my bucket list). The 9mm that they are chambered in, with military FMJ ammo, pales next to the 45 ACP in its FMJ loading.

The 9mm cartridge in its current trim is a viable cartridge (Hyrdro-shock, Golden Saber, Gold Dot, Critical Duty, etc.) and I carried it most of my LEO career. In fact, until I get my 1911 "out of jail" at the gunshop, I am still carrying a S&W 469 9mm as my duty weapon. I do feel, though, that the .45 ACP is superior. "9mm may expand, but .45s never get smaller!" The only reason I did carry .45 ACP for more of my career than I did, was administrative edicts.

Yes, made in .22lr (by Erma). And Krieghoff certainly know how to make rifled barrels. And it´s certainly still very competitive. AND it doesn´t have a barrel that flaps about like a ...

PS

... and it has STYLE!

The 1911 lives on in an issue pistol. The Tula tokarev 1933 . It was copied from the 1911. Tokarev used a better cartridge. Mauser .30 from 1896. Issued today in Russia, China, Serbia, etc.

Yes, that Tok cartridge has some serious snot to it...I just can't warm up to the pistol it's self...

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Yes, that Tok cartridge has some serious snot to it...I just can't warm up to the pistol it's self...

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Yep, it is a great cartridge. I would love to have a CZ52 in it. I had one lined up, but the deal fell apart. S&B still makes it in both the Tpkarev and Mauser loadings.