What is the appeal of 1911's?

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vito

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Over the years I have had two 1911 pistols. one a Browning and one a Kimber. I sold the Browning because I was offered a ridiculous amount of money for it, and I considered it a reasonably good, but limited use gun. The Kimber was beautiful, shot with great accuracy, and had constant FTF's and FTE's and I traded it for a quality revolver years ago. I've also had a number of excellent semi-autos that are of other than 1911 design, and some (the ones I keep) have proved to be reliable, accurate and easier to maintain than a 1911. About the only thing, in my mind, going for the 1911 is that if you are turned off by polymer and want all steel, the 1911 is probably your gun. But I often have wondered why this design of firearm, revolutionary when first introduced but certainly no great shakes today, inspires such loyalty and devotion by its fans.

Personally, for concealed carry I want a small reliable gun that is lightweight so that rules out the 1911. For home defense I want a gun with high capacity, so that rules out the typical 1911. That's my take on the 1911.
 
Well, okay, that leaves more for the rest of us.

The appeal of the 1911? If I have to explain it, you'll never understand.

And that's why they make different types of handguns. Just like red bicycles and blue bicycles. I've never had a 1911 with FTF or FTE issues. Occasionally, I'd get a stovepipe, but those are normally traced to magazine issues. Good magazines are mandatory for a 1911. Thankfully, lots of people make them.

Nowadays we're blessed with a wide choice in serious fighting pistols, but for many years, it was either the 1911 or a revolver.I carried a 9111911 in the Army, and I've carried a 1911 as a duty pistol as a cop after the Army. If my boss hadn't issued me a Glock and told me to carry it, I'd probably still be carrying my 19111.
 
I suppose it’s sort of like someone who drives a classic car, uses a fountain pen or wears a mechanical watch. There are more modern versions of all these things and some would argue better versions. However, there is something satisfying about using a proven piece of classic equipment.

Now, from a more practical standpoint I really enjoy shooting a 1911. I like the feel of the trigger and the smooth recoil from a larger caliber weapon. I’ve had a few 1911s and one of them was sort of finicky about ammo. However, the gun I shoot now handles everything and to this day I’ve had zero issues with it.

Bottom line I like variety in my collection and my 1911s are a favorite part of that collection.
 
A 1911 is reasonably small, and despite a five inch barrel, it is reasonably easy to conceal.

I don't have any 1911s anymore, but I do have scars on the web of my right hand showing past ownership of one before they all had beavertail grip safeties. For me the appeal was a grip that was just right with enough changes in shape around the circumference of the grip to allow above average point shooting.

Once use of the manual safety and the feel of that grip is burned into your brain, other pistols can seems weird and foreign. I shot a G24 for years and never developed the sort of intuitive connection I had with the 1911.

The 1911 always seemed to need some sort of tweaking or tightening; the G24 was an objectively better pistol that never seemed as good while I was shooting it. Had Glock made a five or six inch slide with a frame mounted manual safety and a grip with the very same shape and dimensions as a 1911, I would surely own at least one. Ruger came closest with its 345.
 
I own many different brands and styles of semi-auto pistols and revolvers, mainly because I like a variety every now and then. My EDC is a 1911 (4" barrel) and my favorite guns are 1911's. My hand is the perfect size for a 1911 grip and I am most comfortable shooting them. I am deadly accurate with them and always carry an inventory of springs when at the range, which can go into nearly all of them.

When I was 10 years old, my Dad introduced me to the world of shooting with a .22LR High Standard and a Sears Rifle. I became very good with both but was getting bored. My first "real" pistol was issued to me in the military. It was a GI 1911. When I became a civilian again, the first gun I purchased was a Colt 1911. Working for a government agency later in life, I was issued a HK .40 and became very proficient with it but still went back to the 1911 for personal, off duty carry.

What I really love about the 1911? The gigantic hole it makes.
 
BarryLee said:
I suppose it’s sort of like someone who drives a classic car, uses a fountain pen or wears a mechanical watch. There are more modern versions of all these things and some would argue better versions. However, there is something satisfying about using a proven piece of classic equipment.
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I thought about using an Alfa Romeo or MGB as an example. They aren't actually excellent cars by many objective measures. The MGB I had when I was 15 left me stranded a few times and got worse mileage than an asian sedan I bought later in life. That sedan started every time for five years and I couldn't wait to get rid of it.
 
I own DA and SA revolvers, a DA/SA auto, vintage pistols of various sorts, but for any purpose that requires putting bullets on target accurately and quickly, I have a battery of 1911s in four different sizes and five different calibers.
There is not gun that is easier to shoot well, period.
The trigger has no equal, the frame size and shape are well-suited to just about any hand size or shape (and can be modified easily if it doesn't).
They can be made in multiple forms, for pin-point accuracy or knock-about durability.
And as far as "maintenance" is concerned; what are you doing, detail-stripping the gun after every range session? Wipe it off when you get home, and save the detail cleaning for every thousand rounds, or so.
If you have one that doesn't work - maybe no surprise that the OPs malfunctioning nightmare was a Kimber - then return it and insist that they fix it.
I was describing the need to keep an eye on a screw that is part of the captive recoil system on one of my guns, lest it unscrew itself during a range session, and a guy sort of chuckled, and said, "Just get a Glock".
My reply to the guy at the range: "But, then I'd have to shoot a Glock".
 
Me too.
I've tried many types of pistols down through the years, but seem to have always drifted back to the 1911.
For my needs, it's perfect.
Never a parts problem -important to a dedicated do-it-yourselfer.
Accurate and reliable and rarely a problem if it's a good one to start.
More than can be said for lots of others.
 
.... for concealed carry I want a small reliable gun that is lightweight so that rules out the 1911. For home defense I want a gun with high capacity, so that rules out the typical 1911. That's my take on the 1911.
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I agree with this - for me it's a Glock 17 for home defense and a Diamondback DB9 as my EDC. Still, I have several 1911's and an STI 2011. Both of my 1911's are somewhat collectible. The 2011 weighs a tad more than my Glock weighs, holds 15 rounds of .45acp, is smooth as silk to shoot and is my 2nd most accurate semi-auto handgun (1st goes to my Sig X-Five). It has tritium sights too. It would make a great home defense gun.

Why folks like 1911's?
1. Accurate to extremely accurate;
2. Trigger - still one of the best single-action platforms out there
3. Reliable
4. Aesthetics
5. Nostalgia
6. 45acp.....better yet, 10mm!:D
 
Over the years I have had two 1911 pistols. one a Browning and one a Kimber.
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What 1911 Browning are you referring to? I was not aware that the Browning Company makes/made a 1911. Did you mean Browning High Power or Colt 1911? Does Browning make a 1911 other than the Browning 1911 .380?
 
Vito

the 1911 is over 100 years old--that says a lot. It is mor e popular now than ever becaus e of reliability,durability,accuracy and just the plain fun of a steel framed handgun that shoots well and feels good in the hand.

whether you use it for sd/hd is a personal choice. I love it for the ranger but would not use it for sd/hd due to expense. Good 1911s (good handguns in general) cost too much(and sometimes are too hard to replace) to let the cops take one if used and trash it

I use a glock. It is easily replaced. It is very reliable and durable and I shoot them well.

to each their own--if you do not like 1911s --stay away from them.

for me, every range session has at least one being shot--My wife favors 1911s in .45 acp and she is great with one!!!
 
I suppose it’s sort of like someone who drives a classic car, uses a fountain pen or wears a mechanical watch.
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I drove Alfa Romeos for more than 20 years, and switched only because they had withdrawn from the U.S. market. I've used a fountain pen for more than 50 years and carry one daily. And I wear mechanical watches.

I've used 1911s in competition (USPSA) and in quite a few high round count classes at Gunsite and elsewhere. I never had any problems and have carried 1911s with confidence whenever I legally could. I handle them and shoot them well. I have small hands and a short trigger reach so many popular, more modern guns simply don't work well for me. But a 1911, especially with a short trigger installed, is a perfect fit.

zukiphile said:
I thought about using an Alfa Romeo or MGB as an example....
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My Alfa GTV6 and 164S were my daily drivers and commute cars (as well as weekend touring cars) for years. The GTV6 had about 110,000 miles and the 164S had about 170,000 miles when I passed then along to enthusiasts who planned to restore them.
 
The 1911 may be antiquated to a degree, but, much like the B-52, which has been in service since 1955, it is totally competent and quite able to get the job done very efficiently.
 
I have no dog in the fight, I don't own one.
They are pretty much the best looking autoloaders out there, even by modern standards. They are thinner than many pistols out there. If I lived in a state with magazine capacity laws, I'd carry one for sure.

So, this is my contribution from an outsider in order of importance, lol: they are aesthetically appealing if I knew nothing else about them. Big bullet. Have a good reputation.

Aesthetically pleasing counts, many will deny but it does. Given two guns in the same caliber that function identically and are equally reliable....,. The one chosen will be the prettiest.
 
They've got the best trigger of any common autoloader. They've got very good ergonomics for typical male hands. They're arguably the most durable common autloader if built from appropriate forgings and machined parts with correct heat treat. They're chambered in the most effective of the common self defense rounds. In modern incarnations they have better sight options than anything else. They are thin and conceal well. They look good.

For a full size auto, I see no reason to even entertain shooting anything else.
 
I started carrying a m-1911a1 in Dec. 1969 I have carried one ever since it did not fail me then. You always stay with the one who brought you to the dance.
 
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