Is 1911 popular in US only or other countries share the love?

[HankC]

I know 1911 is going strong after 100 yrs in service and more and more vendors join the 1911 game. Is the popularity US only or loved by folks in other countries as well? It is an American gun!

 

[imashooter]

Oh it remains very popular globally. Especially through Mexico, Central America, South America, Philippine Islands, Southeast Asia. That's from personal experience. Most other regions have a following but they're not widespread.

 

[George Dickel]

I can't speak with any authority on popularity of the 1911 in other countries but this past summer the wife and I went to Germany to visit her family. My brother-in-law doesn't own firearms but he has friends that do that belong to a shooting club. We went with his friends to their club's range and did quite a bit of shooting. One of the guys brought a S&W 686, a Baer Custom .45, and a couple of 9mm pistols. He was very proud of and happy with his 1911.
I went to a gun shop while there and the owner had quite a decent number of S&W revolvers on display in .38 and .357 along with a number of European autos. I didn't however see any 1911's in his shop so it could indicate that the 1911 isn't too popular there but that is only supposition. It was obvious that apparently revolvers were popular as he had quite a number of them on hand.

As a side note while in the gun shop a young man took delivery of an AR15 that the shop owner had built for him. Had a lot of tactical goodies on it. I was surprised to see that and learn that there was a decent demand for those rifles.

 

[1911 guy]

Ditto what imashooter said. While legally prohibited from "military calibers", the 1911 chambered in .38 Super has a VERY large following in Mexico. I know several folks that own them and all are quite taken with the pistol and cartridge.

 

[tark]

During the years I worked for Les Baer, we sold a TON of guns to the Germans and more recently, the Thai's. The 1911 is very popular in the rest of the world.

I found it amusing that the Germans always ordered .45s we rarely sent them a 9X19..Guess they learned something ....

 

[barnbwt]

Designs only seem to get popular where they were given away for free by superpowers for multiple decades*, otherwise it's native designs that reign supreme...just sayin'

TCB

*Even in the US with the AK, which only got popular here once stupid-cheap kits and imports began arriving, same as the SKS before it

 

[CNobbe]

I recall when I visited Germany a few years ago, Colt 1911s were extremely popular there. I came across some imported Colt 1911 police trades from Europe (they were all 9mm) but was told Colt sends a lot of guns across the pond.

 

[Luger_carbine]

During the years I worked for Les Baer, we sold a TON of guns to the Germans and more recently, the Thai's. The 1911 is very popular in the rest of the world.

I found it amusing that the Germans always ordered .45s we rarely sent them a 9X19..Guess they learned something ....

Why would they order the 1911 chambered in 9mm? If someone in Germany were going to order a 1911 it would be silly to order it in 9mm. If someone were to order a Luger re-creation, they wouldn't order it chambered in .45 ACP or 38 Super. This has more to do with the desire to own a particular model of gun than any judgement of 45 ACP being superior to 9mm Luger.

 

[kBob]

Luger,

Colt themselves made 1911 A1 civilian guns as well as commanders in 9x19 mm. I can not speak for now but in the '70s and '80s .45 ACP ammo was thin on the ground in West Grmany.

Anytime I worked with German Police my Series 70 in .45 ACP attracted a great deal of attention.

-kBob

 

[Luger_carbine]

Sure and there are people who like the 1911-style platform and they'll buy a 1911 chambered in 9mm Luger, or a 380 Government Model.

But if a gun enthusiast wanted the iconic 1911, they would want it in 45 ACP, because that's really what the 1911 is. If someone showed me their prized 1911 and I saw it was chambered for 9mm I'd ask "why didn't you get it in 45 ACP?"

If a gun enthusiast wanted the iconic Browning Hi-Power, they would want it in 9mm Luger, not .40 S&W.

 

[herrwalther]

Colt themselves made 1911 A1 civilian guns as well as commanders in 9x19 mm. I can not speak for now but in the '70s and '80s .45 ACP ammo was thin on the ground in West Germany.

Still. When I was on a layover in Germany, we ran into a few members of GSG 9 who bought us dinner in the airport. They jokingly asked if a .45 could shoot down a commercial air liner because the round was so big.

 

[rondog]

The m1911.org website and forums is owned and ran by a guy in Greece, if I remember correctly. Stopped hanging out there years ago due to their Luddite rules, policies and enforcement.

 

[tark]

Luger carbine, nice try, but incorrect. We sold the majority(actually, almost all) of our guns to Manfred Kind, who pretty much owned the German market. Manfred told us that the 45 was outselling the 9mm, at least in his store. And not just 1911s. He said that German shooters were fascinated at the large .45 round and the power it had. This always fascinated me as they are both of about the same power and the 9 will penetrate better. Even more interesting are the Thai's. All they order are 45s. It is a very popular cartridge worldwide.

 

[tadeus]

The 1911 is still very popular in Mexico. Since our idiotic "gun laws" forbid the use of bigger calibers, we are stucked with the 22 conversions and some .380 conversions in the 1911.

 

[Pilot]

Still. When I was on a layover in Germany, we ran into a few members of GSG 9 who bought us dinner in the airport. They jokingly asked if a .45 could shoot down a commercial air liner because the round was so big.

At that time they were probably carrying HK P7's so I guess they had caliber envy.

 

[C0untZer0]

Shooting the 380 out of a commander must be fun.

 

[Reloadron]

Ditto what imashooter said. While legally prohibited from "military calibers", the 1911 chambered in .38 Super has a VERY large following in Mexico. I know several folks that own them and all are quite taken with the pistol and cartridge.

I have one in my stash. Colt Series 70 in 38 Super, I really like that gun. Today I was tempted by a sweet Colt Series 70 in 9mm but opted for another Series 70 Gold Cup in .45 ACP. I was tempted on that 9mm though. Anyway, the 38 Super is very enjoyable shooting.

Ron

 

[dfariswheel]

I believe the 1911 is popular in Norway, since they have a long history with it, having made it for their military under Colt license.

The 1911 design was very popular in Spain, and was made by Star and Llama for many years, in various calibers.

 

[Bama Drifter]

Anywhere the US soldier, Marine, or aviator has been, he has left a pile of influence. That would explain Thai, German, and Filipino demand. I've got a pre-war Colt commercial model with Siamese markings. My theory is it was either purchased, gifted or traded between allied serviceman who brought it home from Bangkok. Remember fellas, there are many foreign places Colt's shipped to BEFORE WWII.