Define the mystique of the 1911

[rock jock]

There is something for each 1911 aficionado that makes this gun irresistible, something that sets it apart from other guns. It is not the most reliable gun in the world, and certainly not the most affordable, and it may or may not be the most accurate, but it is definitely the most desired. After drooling over some offerings from Wilson tonight, I decided that my weakness is the aesthetics, basically, it is just so darn good looking......with its smooth curves and grafeful elegance *eye glaze over*.

Anyway, I digress, what is your 1911 soft spot?

 

[Mr. Mysterious]

I love the classic design... it was designed nearly 100 years ago and still is an awesome benchmark.

 

[Devonai]

History and tradition are the main reasons, but nine rounds of .45 ACP on board isn't bad either.

 

[eatatjoes]

history and tradition for me too. just something about having and using such a great design from so long ago.

 

[esheato]

Wait a second here...you're telling me I have to pick just *one*??

Impossible.

esheato....

 

[pbhome71]

It is a classic. Everyone, ok, almost everone owns one.

 

[Majic]

Engineering!!!
What other pistol can be taken completely apart with using itself as tools?

 

[SapperLeader]

I voted ergonomics, but the fact its a classic gun with a lot of history behind it doesnt hurt either. Plus I like single action guns.

 

[StuporDave]

You forgot to put a choice for "all of the above".

 

[stans]

It is not the most reliable gun in the world, and certainly not the most affordable, and it may or may not be the most accurate

WHOA!!! Wait a minute! What do mean it is not the most reliable gun in the world? If properly manufactured and fed proper ammo, it is as reliable as any semi-automatic pistol out there. If it is set up to be bank vault tight and has practically zero clearance between its parts, then yes, it will be unreliable when it gets dirty. So will any pistol with such close tolerances.

What's that? It won't feed hollowpoints? True! At least of the original design, but then hollowpoint ammo did not exsist for pistols in the early 1900's. Most 1911 manufacturers today build their pistols with hollowpoint ammo in mind.

But it still won't feed, even with ball ammo? Well get rid of that cr@ppy factory magazine and invest in a decent quality magazine, now watch how well it runs. Factory mags are frequently a cost cutting venture and I think they put them in the gun just so they can say it comes with a magazine.

Ok, now it won't extract fired cases! That is because manufacturers do not make the extractor to J.M. Browning's specifications. They cheap out and make this part from castings or the MIM process. The extractor is slapped into the slide, never having its tension adjusted, then it eventually cracks and breaks. If the extractor is made of spring steel and given a little tension, it will work perfectly and for a very long time.

Not the most affordable? Well, you get what you pay for. You want affordable, look towards a Jennings. For as little as $500 you can get a decent 1911. Last time I checked, the highly regarded Glock sold for that much or more.

Not the most accurate? Not if you base it on the performance of military issue 1911's that have tiny sights, 8 pound trigger pulls that are gritty, and barrels that have been shot so much that the rifling is disappearing. Any decent 1911 should be able to keep its shots within a 5 inch circle at 25 yards, most will do far better than this! A 1911 that is fully tuned can hold 1 to 1-1/2 inch groups at 25 yards.

As for your poll, I cannot pick just one aspect of the 1911 that makes it my favorite semi-auto pistol. It is well designed, capable of outstanding reliability and accuracy, pleasing to the eye, fits the hand very well, and is easy to work on and tune.

All right, end of my rant, I think I may have had waaaaay too much coffee this morning! Enjoy those 1911's and if you have one you don't like, send it to me, I'll take care of it!!!

 

[Brian Williams]

Engineering, what a Powerful weapon that is so simple and robust.

 

[FPrice]

i: All of the above.

To me, the Colt 1911 series has more good attributes than just about any other pistol you can name. But most importantly it just feels good to me.

 

[BigG]

Are you talking about a real 1911 or a faux 1911? There's a big difference between the real mccoy and a look alike.

 

[Dorrin79]

For me, it's simply because the 1911 fits my hand better, has a better trigger, and consequently is more accurate in my hands, than any other service-caliber pistol that I've tried.

Yeah, it's pretty and historically significant yadda yadda yadda... but for me, it's mainly a "good fit"

 

[SW9mm]

i can remember back to childhood and to me all guns were 1911's and winchester repeaters. who DIDN'T have those as toys when they were kids. i guess the images stuck cause i own both types of firearms.

 

[Sean Smith]

Mystique, schmystique. I like it because it works better for me. That, and the fact that it says "Colt" on it in pretty letters.

 

[4thHorseman]

Sleek, sexy and dances in my hand.

 

[Smoke]

Crashed my computer trying to click more than one choice.

could very easily have picked several, that is why it is my weapon of choice. Not just one reason, but a bunch of them.

I picked one, but I ain't saying which one.

Smoke

 

[Rupestris]

I voted Ergonomics.
Not only do I find it left-hand friendly, but the single stack and single action trigger made it the best .45 auto to fit my wifes hands. The additional weight helps with the recoil when she shoots too.

 

[George Hill]

Same reason I like the orginial Pontiac GTO's....



A sexy and powerful classic.

 

[tex_n_cal]

I can find no other pistol of the same power, that I can shoot with the same degree of accuracy, with the same speed. I voted for design but you could call it ergonomics, as well.

 

[HogRider]

I voted for beauty. Let's face it, there is no other production hand gun (not counting Revolvers) that comes even close to those classic beautiful lines of a 1911. Also, the ergonomics are hard to beat. And who doesn't want to own a piece of history?

 

[dsk]

I like the REAL 1911's, the military-issue pistols that were reliable as a brick and rugged as a mountain mule and saved many a GI. Most modern commercial junk need not apply, as they're built only for games or keeping gunsmiths employed.

Keep your thoughts tuned to 1970 or prior, and it is easy to think of a whole list of American heroes who called the .45 their friend when trouble began to brew.

 

[HSMITH]

It is ALL about ergonomics, I have had 15+ 1911 pattern guns and it is not any of the other choices. If we had "gold cup" types and "milspecs" only this poll would be drastically different. It is the myriad of makers and models that confuse things.

 

[horge]

You Americans have it all wrong:

slogan from the "People Power" Revolution of 1986:

Want to stop a tank? Call a Filipino.


a coulda-been slogan from an earlier revolution:

Want to stop a Filipino? Call John Moses Browning.






horge




PS:
Lest some accuse me of excessive morbidity
Death is sometimes a way of life here,
And often life is a way of death.
But amidst so much natural beauty and squalor
I remain proudly Filipino.