Thank you, John Browning, for the 1911.

[tark]

Look at some of the other designs of that time; the Broomhandle, or even the Luger. The 1911 is the layout that has endured.
Moon

Well, C-96s and Lugers were both too expensive to make. They had very limited parts interchangeability without a lot of hand fitting and they weren't nearly as good a military pistol as the 1911 in the first place.

Either Browning really had the human hand figured out, or else we have been shooting the darn things so long that they simply feel great.

I think it was the latter. The arched mainspring housing came to be for a reason: It was an attempt to get the gun to shoot higher. Close your eyes and hold a 1911 ( not an A1 )at arm's length where it feels comfortable. Open your eyes and you might find find that the centerline of the bore is not parallel to the ground. It is probably pointing downward. Do the same thing with a Luger and you will find that the bore is probably more closely parallel to the ground. The arched housing was an attempt to solve this problem...that didn't really work.

So who shoots with their eyes closed anyway???!!!

 

[Jim Watson]

Kinda like the BHP, Browning did the original design but what went into production was designed after he died. And the designs were significantly different from Browning's original prototypes.

I have a coffee table Winchester book that gets real snarky about how hard the Brownings were to deal with and how much work the brilliant Winchester staff had to do to get a final product from a Browning design.

I figure sour grapes over outsmarting themselves on the auto shotgun.

 

[Hangingrock]

I was introduced to the 1911 series pistol at Parris Island in1964 followed on by Vietnam 1965. .

 

[jrmiddleton425]

John Browning got it right.

A mechanical genius he may have been, and I won't dispute that. But at the end of the day, he built the pistol the Army ordered.

 

[tark]

Actually, I hate to be the one that pees in the pool, but the 1911 is neither simple nor comprised of few parts. It has a total of 48 parts. If you want stupid simple and few parts, look at a Tokarev. It has 35.

This in no way insinuates that the 1911s are not good guns, they are magnificent. Still the best automatic pistol ever invented, in my book. But simple with few parts...they are not.

 

[hutch51]

Actually, I hate to be the one that pees in the pool, but the 1911 is neither simple nor comprised of few parts. It has a total of 48 parts. If you want stupid simple and few parts, look at a Tokarev. It has 35.

This in no way insinuates that the 1911s are not good guns, they are magnificent. Still the best automatic pistol ever invented, in my book. But simple with few parts...they are not.

Yes Sir the 1911 has some parts. Can't argue your point there.

But - I'm going to redefine "simple" here. Simple means no special tools or jigs. They can be stripped down to pins and springs and reassembled without any tools. I do cheat a bit, use a screwdriver on the grip screws, sometimes the mag release. Everything else is fingers.

I agree best semiautomatic pistol ever invented, but I'm an amateur at this stuff.

Y'All take care.

 

[Lo-Profile]

I just love the simplicity of the 1911/2011 platform. My EDC is a Sig Sauer C3 1911. The weight is 29.5 ounces. 8 ounces lighter than my Wilson Combat CQB Compact.

I currently have 11 1911/2011's in 5 different calibers, my favorite to shoot, a Dan Wesson Guardian in 9 mm.
Just bought a Wilson Combat EDC X9 today that will be my EDC once it's been too the range for some shooting.

 

[tark]

But - I'm going to redefine "simple" here. Simple means no special tools or jigs. They can be stripped down to pins and springs and reassembled without any tools. I do cheat a bit, use a screwdriver on the grip screws, sometimes the mag release. Everything else is fingers.

Excellent point! And quite true, if we are talking about an unmodified military issue 1911 or A-1. My retirement present from Les requires a bushing wrench, at least, to pull it apart. A race gun with a full length guide rod can be a pain in the rear to break down.

 

[tark]

I do cheat a bit, use a screwdriver on the grip screws, sometimes the mag release. Everything else is fingers.

Don't need a screwdriver for that. The sear/trigger/disconnector spring has a small , bent section that that works for that.

 

[hutch51]

Don't need a screwdriver for that. The sear/trigger/disconnector spring has a small , bent section that that works for that.

True. I usually pull the grip panels first, so screwdriver it is. That's just me.
The mag release is usually the sear/trigger/disconnector spring. Perfect fit.

 

[hutch51]

My retirement present from Les requires a bushing wrench, at least, to pull it apart. A race gun with a full length guide rod can be a pain in the rear to break down.

No race guns here. A stock GI 1911 is more accurate than I am.
I understand my limitations (grin). Semi old-fart at 71.

 

[JCSC]

I was introduced to the 1911 series pistol at Parris Island in1964 followed on by Vietnam 1965. .

thank you for the service.

 

[Simple Shooter]

My P229SAO checks all the boxes for me as a perfect carry gun. But my Colt 1911 Defender is still my absolute favorite to shoot and gets carried often, especially in summer as it is easier to conceal. John Browning got it right.

 

[Jim Watson]

Colt 1911 Defender

You know a real Browning design that size is a .32, right?

 

[King Medallion]

I'm a fan!

 

[mavracer]

1911tuner was always spot on, I especially find this one notable.

 

[Simple Shooter]

You know a real Browning design that size is a .32, right?

I did not know that. What model? I know the defender is larger than a 1908.

 

[Jim Watson]

Looks thicker but shorter to me.

 

[JCSC]

I am new to the 1911 and absolutely love it.

shot my first cast rounds tonight and it’s a gem to shoot.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

 

[Tallball]

Thank you, JB!

RIA 1911 45acp

• Tallball
• Jun 26, 2019

 

[johnmcl]

The 1911 is my first and greatest love.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

A couple of bright and shiny Super .38’s. One is a RIA the other a factory nickel Springfield Armory Mil Spec.

 

[tuckerdog1]

I'm also a fan. The collection is modest, but I'm working on that.


Starting at the top & going clockwise, Desert Eagle 1911C, Sig STX, STI Black Guardian 45 ACP, STI Trojan 9mm, STI Elektra 9mm, STI Trojan 45 ACP, STI Escort 9mm, Ruger SR1911 45 ACP, Ruger SR1911 10mm, GSG 22LR,
Colt MK IV series 70 45 ACP, Taurus PT1911 45 ACP, RIA 9mm/22TCM9R combo.

 

[Hikingman]

The parts count on a 1911 is amazingly low, as one of JMB's design values was to have individual parts serve multiple functions. I just rewatched a JMB documentary on YouTube the other day and the man was truly a mechanical genius.

If anyone has the link, let us know. I would enjoy watching it.