Automatic Pistol

Designation: Colt M1911
Classification Type: .45 Caliber Semi-Automatic Pistol
Contractor: (See text for full listing of manufacturers)
Country of Origin: United States

Operators: Argentina; Brazil; Bolivia; Colombia; Coasta Rica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Fiji; Greece; Guatemala; Haiti; Indonesia; Iran; Liberia; Mexico; Nazi Germany; Nicaragua; Norway; Philippines; Spain; South Korea; South Vietnam; Soviet Union; Taiwan; United Kingdom; United States; Zimbabwe

Colt M1911 .45 Caliber Semi-Automatic Pistol
The Colt model M1911 series of pistols is one of the most successful small arms designs of the 20th Century, and in all history of warfare for that matter. The handgun has been produced in quantity in the United States, Argentina and Norway (the latter two under license production as the m/1914 and the Model 1927 respectively) and was fielded in the First World War and the Second World War, eventually becoming a commercial success for Colt in the process.

The M1911 was a design by famed gunsmith John Browning based on his earlier 1900 design. By 1905, the system was ready to compete for government contracts. With so many automatic weapons companies vying for such monetary rewards, it was settled by the US military to pit these companies against one another through controlled trials which began in 1907. The requirement of the government was for an automatic pistol capable of firing the lethal 230gr bullet, which had already been made for another Colt product. By the end of the trials, only the Colt M1911 remained against a product by Savage with the Colt coming out ahead.

The Colt .45 system offered up a 7-round detachable box magazine. Muzzle velocity was reported at 380ft/lb, offering up enough man-stopping capability to be respected throughout its tenure. Additionally, the pistols proved to be reliable and robust in the heat of battle so much so that the system would see heavy combat in two major world wars involving US forces and other users of the Colt M1911 and M1911A1.

The Colt M1911 entered service in 1911 and would be fielded as the standard-issue sidearm for both the United States Army and United States Navy from 1911 to 1992. British forces would also field the system through the Royal Navy and the Royal Flying Corps up until the end of World War Two. Seeing action in World War One, the Colt underwent some minor modifications in post-war leading up to the standardized designation of the M1911A1 in 1926. From then on, it would solidify its place in the history of small arms.

The Colt M1911 series has been produced throughout history from a variety of US and foreign sources. Argentina and Norway had already been mentioned earlier but Canada was scheduled to produce the M1911 for the First World War but the end of hostilities in that conflict produced only a seldom few models. Additionally, the Colt M1911A1 saw production (especially during the Second World War) from other US-based sources than just the Colt firm itself. They are as follows:

Ithaca Gun Company
Union Switch & Signal Company
Singer Sewing Machine Company
Remington Rand

The original Colt M1911 was produced by the following companies including the Colt firm:

Remington Arms-Union Metallic Cartridge Company
Government Arsenal at Springfield

Over 2 million M1911s are believed to have been produced since 1911.