Is the 1911 obsolete?
Yes, I am afraid that it is.
By obsolete I don’t mean out of use, as is one of the dictionary meanings of the word. What I mean is outmoded, old, no longer current – yo grandpa’s gun.
There is nothing wrong with collecting the 1911 and even using it if you are the historical/sentimental type. But, there are some design shortcomings that have been addressed by newer guns over the last 50 years that make me question why someone would buy one as their primary gun or why a tax payer supported organization would select it. Below are the design shortcomings IMHO:
1.) 1911’s have grip safeties that can prevent the gun from firing if the grip doesn’t fit your hand just right.
2.) They have an exposed hammer that can get snagged on clothing.
3.) They have a beaver tail that interferes with the ability to conceal.
4.) They don’t have molded grips with finger grooves for a better grip.
5.) They don’t have light rails for M3 type lights.
6.) They fire an obsolete slow moving round.
7.) Manual safety that interferes with quick presentation.
8.) They seem to require an excessive amount of gunsmithing.
9.) etc.
I know that this may be a controversial topic, but I think that Americans have fallen in love with an old design for too long just as the German army fell in love with the Mauser bolt action rifle (it too was the best in its class) when they should have been converting to a self-loading rifle as were the Americans.
Yes, I am afraid that it is.
By obsolete I don’t mean out of use, as is one of the dictionary meanings of the word. What I mean is outmoded, old, no longer current – yo grandpa’s gun.
There is nothing wrong with collecting the 1911 and even using it if you are the historical/sentimental type. But, there are some design shortcomings that have been addressed by newer guns over the last 50 years that make me question why someone would buy one as their primary gun or why a tax payer supported organization would select it. Below are the design shortcomings IMHO:
1.) 1911’s have grip safeties that can prevent the gun from firing if the grip doesn’t fit your hand just right.
2.) They have an exposed hammer that can get snagged on clothing.
3.) They have a beaver tail that interferes with the ability to conceal.
4.) They don’t have molded grips with finger grooves for a better grip.
5.) They don’t have light rails for M3 type lights.
6.) They fire an obsolete slow moving round.
7.) Manual safety that interferes with quick presentation.
8.) They seem to require an excessive amount of gunsmithing.
9.) etc.
I know that this may be a controversial topic, but I think that Americans have fallen in love with an old design for too long just as the German army fell in love with the Mauser bolt action rifle (it too was the best in its class) when they should have been converting to a self-loading rifle as were the Americans.
