why do so many people love 1911's

[fencer1960]

"Why do you like the 1911?"

Reliability. Hey, mine is stone reliable. If the Glock design were in the pubic domain and everybody on Earth was making their own version, I think reliability from some vendors might suffer.

Ease of use. Boy, can I shoot this thing! The bullets go where I want them to, I'm encouraged by this positive feedback so I shoot more and get better.

Concealability. It's flat. It's really flat. I can wear it all day, under a t-shirt in summertime, without getting sore spots or having it made by nervous citizens.

Caliber. Mine shoots really big bullets. I like that.

I've owned 2 Glocks, a 17 and a 19, and a SW99 in 9mm. They were reliable, reasonably accurate, but they weren't mine the way my 1911 is. It's all about what works for you. I've owned my pistol for a little over a year but I've carried and shot it more than all the afore mentioned wondernines combined. A modern polymer framed pistol is kind of like a Playstation. It'll work every time, it's not very expensive, but they're all alike. A good 1911 can be tinkered with and modified into the perfect gun for a particular individual.

And if the 1911 platform doesn't do it for you, that's ok. Find a pistol that does and spend a lot of quality time at the range, turning money into noise.

 

[TimboKhan]

well, I own and shoot a 1911, but I wouldn't say I love them. Rather, I wouldn''t say that I love the obscene amount of hype that they get. Let me explain:

1. The modern 1911 that shooters will occasionally talk about in terms of "100 years of history" is pretty far removed from the 1911 that John Browing designed. In some cases, like extended beavertails and better sights, the new 1911's are superior. In other cases, like guns so tight they jam at the slightest hint of dirt, they are not. The original 1911 as John Browning designed was a fairly loose gun that functioned flawlessly in the varying conditions of the battlefield. Maybe you agree with me on this, maybe you don't, but you will never convince me that a Kimber Desert Warrior is the same gun as a good old GI .45. They are very similar to be sure, but they are not the same.

2. I think that the trend towards ultra-expensive 1911's is, to put it plainly, ridiculous. Look, its your money and you can spend it on what you want but don't for a second try and convince me that a 2000.00 gun is going to keep me any safer than a 500.00 gun. Your shop custom 1911 may be the cats ass in terms of looks, but it is not superior in function to most modern handguns.

3. It would be great if I could read about other guns in the magazines instead of each magazine having 3 articles about 3 1911's that are all about the same. I know the guys have to write something, but I don't need a description of function every single time. Secondly, I don't need them telling me that Uber-Gun A is different than Uber-Gun B because Uber-Gun A has vertical checkering. Seriously, its played out.

4. Not so much on THR, but in other places, you would think that the 1911 was designed by God for his army in the war on Satan. Dudes, there are other guns out there that offer splendid features and have histories long enough to establish them as classic designs.

Now then, after all of that, let me tell you why I like the gun.

1. I bought a Taurus for half the price of the cheapest Kimber, and with no observed sacrifice of quality. I like the gun and I like not having to sell a child to get it.

2. It is thin and feels good in my hand.

3. It is easy to find holsters, grips, and mags for them.

4. They are reasonably easy to shoot accurately, at least for me.

5. Despite other guns being designed as well or better, this is a classic design that has translated well to modern times.

 

[.45&TKD]

Dudes, there are other guns out there that offer splendid features and have histories long enough to establish them as classic designs.

TimboKhan, maybe its late, but I can't think of any.

 

[No_Brakes23]

It just feels right in my hand, as do other 1911s. I am not one of those rabid 1911 guys that proclaim it as JMB's definitive word on pistols, (He did go on to make the Hi-Power, after all,) but I sure am a fan. Old slabsides soaks up that recoil and comes back on target quickly, at least in my paws.

Oh yeah, it's a gorgeous design that looks like a pistol should.

 

[Boats]

The 1911A1 was developed in an era before political correctness took hold, just like the greatest American revolvers, (S&W M&P, Registered Magnums, K, Colt DS and Python) were.

There hasn't been much in the way of real improvements in the state of the art since. And it shows in almost every pistol pursuit from competition to combat.

 

[jonsidneyb]

While I don't like some of the gun cults there is alot to love about the 1911. The reason I some times do not like the cult like status is that there are some that think nothing else is any good or that no other gun exists.

I think the 1911 is a fantastic platform and I could easily fall in love with it. What I want does not exist but there are somethings that are close and there are some guns that I totally understand the appeal, the 1911 is one of them.

 

[jlh26oo]

If the 1911 was available perfectly machined and fitted, from the factory, completely reliable and with a Tenifer finish I would buy one. In a heart beat.

Soft steel with a painted coating, and poorly fitted MIM parts just don't do it for me.

Honestly, despite the fact that external safetie(s) violate my criteria, I would STILL buy one if someone put a tennifer finish on one. And yeah, with quality parts. And around $500 or so. Guess it would be a dedicated range gun though since it would still weigh over 2 pounds. But I'd get one with the right finish.

 

[jonsidneyb]

While I am not a 1911 guy what is wrong with an external safety? A gun with a safety can be brought into action every bit as fast as a gun with not external safety. It becomes a natural part of the movement.

I at one time moved from heavy guns to light but I have gone back to heavy guns again. The weight really is not that bad with a proper holster.

 

[jlh26oo]

what is wrong with an external safety?

Nah, not "wrong" per se. Just not my preference (= "my criteria"). I want three controls on my pistols: trigger, mag release and slide stop. No more, no less. But would make an exception for a 1911 if someone tennifered/melonited one.

BTW I do not doubt you are capable of turning off a safety faster than I... can... NOT turn off a safety.

external safetie(s) violate my criteria

 

[jonsidneyb]

Now that was silly. It seems to me to be no faster to first bullet on the target with a a safety as it is without one but then I am a safey rider if I have a gun equiped with one. In fact when I don't have a safety on the gun I am shooting the motion is still the same and I need a perch for that downward pressure.

 

[jlh26oo]

It seems to me to be no faster to first bullet on the target with a a safety as it is without one

Are you under the impression I have asserted anything to the contrary? If so, please quote.

In fact when I don't have a safety on the gun I am shooting the motion is still the same and I need...

Interesting. Not me!

 

[XavierBreath]

Not many people mentioned reliability.

Nobody mentions reliability unless it's a problem. I own quite a few 1911s, all of them run with no problems. It's a matter of understanding the gun and getting it, or keeping it, right. Usually reliability problems are the result of enthusiastic tinkering by owners, substandard materials, or both.

Not to make this into a brand mud fight, but imagine.......Imagine if Glock were a generic term. Imagine if every polymer framed semi-auto was called a Glock. KelTec=Glock Sigma=Glock. All the other plastic fantastics=Glock. Suddenly "Glocks" reliability record pluments. I chose Glocks for this analogy not as a slam, but because they are reliable until altered. Colt 1911s are also reliable until altered. 1911 is a generic term for a type of pistol, not a brand of pistol.

But oh man... like a Harley? Coming from a sportbike rider, that's about the last thing I wanted to hear. Like a Harley in the sense of being pathetically weak and underpowered, unreliable, uncomfortable and generally completely iinferior in every measureable way, while being assembled from a hodgepodge of foreign parts and calling itself "American" to throw up a false appeal to dupe traditionalists and lure fashion lemmings and giving wannabe dentists an excuse to dress up like one of the village people at exhorbant prices twice that of other bikes with 5 times the power and build quality and then selling out it's namesake to cigarette lighters, crappy pocketknives, sweatshirts, jackets, keychains, dinner plates, bumper stickers, shampoo cat litter hemmroid cream blah blah blah in the name of profit?

ROTFLMAO. I used to make that analogy. I'll be more careful now. Thanks for the laugh!

 

[TimboKhan]

TimboKhan, maybe its late, but I can't think of any.

Well, lets see. None have the purported 100 years of history, but I think I can finger a few of the top of my head that have pretty solid backrounds of good, solid functioning.

1. Ruger P-Series - 21 years of production.
2. Beretta 92 - 30 years of production, slightly more if you factor in development.
3. Makarov - at the least, 40+ years of production, and it is only just now being phased out of service for China.
4. H&K USP - Roughly 16 years of production.

Now, granted 21, 30, 40 and 16 years aren't "100 years", but for the love of pete, if these guns were bad, don't you think we would have realized it by now?

 

[MrDig]

Mauser's, 1911's and Hi-Power's

What other designs have more offspring?
JMB Designed Hi-Power is easily as reliable, simpler in design, and as slim and concealable as the 1911 if not more. I miss my .45 a lot, specifically since I horsetraded it for a 30.06 03A3 to appease my now ex-wife. Love my Argentine HP and plan on getting another 1911, now that Spooky Old Alice is out of the picture.

The 1911's are as popular as they are for the simple reason that once you shoot and own one, you can't deny the pure engineering marvel that they are. Availability of little upgrades for them is another plus. A trained Monkey can do the upgrades for the most part, another plus.

The same reason Mauser's are so popular to work on, just about every other Bolt Rifle is just a variant of the Mauser. And the availability of inexpensive parts is attractive to those of us who like to tinker.

 

[f4t9r]

everyone likes something and that something for me is 1911 pistols.
I am still a big SIG fan but shoot the 1911 style so much better. I have others and tried about all of them over the years and keep comming back to the 1911 as my fav.
Thats my story and I'm sticking to it !!!!

 

[miko]

For the same reason I love women; even though they all serve the same basic function, they come in an endless variety, with each having its own distinct personality.

Judging by the divorce statistics, americans are bad at selecting the right women. I beleive the same lack of discrimination applies to the guns.

miko

 

[TimboKhan]

Spooky Old Alice is out of the picture.

AHAHAHAHA.... That made me laugh very, very hard that you refer to your ex-wife as "Spooky Old Alice"... hahaha.... I can't say what I refer to my ex as, because that wouldn't be taking the high road. I might just start calling her "Spooky Old Alice" as tribute though....

 

[DrBoomBoom]

I "get" it

I traded a Buckmark .22 and a few bucks for a 1911 just yesterday. It's a Charles Daly, not fancy not expensive, some might say inferior to the fine machines, but I like traditional things and always wanted to try a 1911.

After two days at the range, running through 150 rounds, I get it. For one thing, it fits my hand. I've got small hands, don't even like target grips on my revolver. The 1911 fits me as well or better than my CZ75 9mm. It doesn't kick like I thought it would. Not as hard as my Smith Model 15. Nowhere near as much as my wife's 642 snub nose. Shooting strong hand only it double tapped better than the CZ...and with a much bigger round.

Now I'm thinking that if it shoots as well in a few hundred more rounds, I might use it as a carry piece.

If the expensive guns are that much better, I'd better start saving up now.

 

[ugaarguy]

Nah, not "wrong" per se. Just not my preference (= "my criteria"). I want three controls on my pistols: trigger, mag release and slide stop. No more, no less. But would make an exception for a 1911 if someone tennifered/melonited one.

SIG GSR Revolution 1911 type with Nitron over stainless work? All machined internals too. Pretty reasonable prices to boot. The purists while whine about the external extractor, but I'm not worried about it.

BTW I do not doubt you are capable of turning off a safety faster than I... can... NOT turn off a safety.

My thumb rests on the safety, so it snicks off as I grip the gun - it's just like gripping and firing a DA gun without a safety.

 

[wildburp]

Love

The Greeks had seven words for love. I think love for the .45 stems from long use and reliability. Drop it in the mud and stumble over it. It still goes bang, largely due to loose tolerances, which is overcome by modern gunsmiths. I say, leave it alone, unless you are serious about target shooting. Otherwise, it will do the job: Knock anyone unlucky enough to stray close enough dead, with awkward force. Forget target tuning, et cetera - the basic 1911, despite all the more modern calibers, will blow a human head over heels, thus stopping them.

So, love - love a gun that does the job. Love my brother (philia) and sex (eros), and a good gun (gun powderus goodus). I can't remember the other meanings of Greek love. Don't bendus overus - I'm sure that is Geek. Shoot first, then ask questions - that's Old West stuff, oh, and I got sidetracked. Fancy mods to .45's are great; they make them tighter and more accurate on the range, but don't drop them in the mud and hope to survive.

wb

 

[the naked prophet]

I think some people just really enjoy reloading

 

[ugaarguy]

I think some people just really enjoy reloading

No sir, you got it all wrong. A 1911 with GI magazines gives me one in the tube plus 7 seven in the mag. That's 2 more than my S&W sixguns . Ohh you mean like those big honkin double stack wonder guns? Yep, I got one of those, called a Browning Hi-Power.

 

[Dr. Dickie]

It is steel and wood--as it should be.
WWI
WWII
Korea
Vietnam
You need more?

 

[varoadking]

why do so many people love 1911's

Next question...

 

[Walkalong]

BTW I do not doubt you are capable of turning off a safety faster than I... can... NOT turn off a safety

Anyone half way competent with the 1911 will have the safety off after it is safe to do so and before it is necessary to pull the trigger and have a nice easy short trigger pull to deal with at that point in time unlike a long stiff DA trigger. Don't knock what you don't seem to have tried. It is one smooth motion.