The 1911 is popular because:
1. It looks cool
2. Is famous
3. Has a great trigger
The trigger is a big part of the mystique. Modern guns just aren't made that way anymore.
Pistols have evolved since the 1911, but most of the innovations are not immediatly useful to the civilian enthusiast. For example, highcap - not needed for most defense situations; polymer - nice for mil logistics, ugly if its your money; double action - great for raw recruits.
As a civilian buyer, you can afford to try out a few 1911s and toss the lemons. The military want no none sense reliability out of the box. Personally if I'm in the jungle and I came across an old crate of left behind guns I'd pass the 1911 for a Glock. But as a shooter a gun is more than a tool, it's a passtime. The 1911 is a lot more fun, and inspires people to go shooting more than a Glock. And if you practice a LOT, it'll serve as well as anyother, possibly better in some applications.
1. It looks cool
2. Is famous
3. Has a great trigger
The trigger is a big part of the mystique. Modern guns just aren't made that way anymore.
Pistols have evolved since the 1911, but most of the innovations are not immediatly useful to the civilian enthusiast. For example, highcap - not needed for most defense situations; polymer - nice for mil logistics, ugly if its your money; double action - great for raw recruits.
As a civilian buyer, you can afford to try out a few 1911s and toss the lemons. The military want no none sense reliability out of the box. Personally if I'm in the jungle and I came across an old crate of left behind guns I'd pass the 1911 for a Glock. But as a shooter a gun is more than a tool, it's a passtime. The 1911 is a lot more fun, and inspires people to go shooting more than a Glock. And if you practice a LOT, it'll serve as well as anyother, possibly better in some applications.