I'm sure this is a newb question but almost every manufacturers has a 1911 model hand gun. From what I've searched Browning was the first, and they are all .45 acp. I just don't understand why every adopts the 1911 label, is it a mechanical similarity? An aesthetic similarity? Or just the fact that they are .45 acp? Also if there are mechanical similarities why would one manufacturer differ from another if they use a cookie cutter design and just put their name one it and a little bit of lipstick?
Can't understand 1911
- Thread starter Pgabriele
- Start date
Donny Fenn1
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- East Kootenays
John Browning invented it for the US Army, they requested a 45 caliber. Colt was the first manufacturer (soon built by many others due to demand in WWI).
For a long time Colt was the primary civilian supplier although there were licensed version buily elsewhere.
Many other calibers are/were available. Most companies today are "copying" the design or adding coming touches to suit consumers wants.
For a long time Colt was the primary civilian supplier although there were licensed version buily elsewhere.
Many other calibers are/were available. Most companies today are "copying" the design or adding coming touches to suit consumers wants.
Google is your friend if you want to learn more about John Moses Browning's arguable crowning achievement. Why do many manufactures make and sell them? Well, there is no longer any patent on the design (not that anyone cares about that stuff anymore), but more importantly, they sell. They (the 1911 design) sell well if made well and although generally in a caliber that is readily available (.45 ACP) they are also made in 9mm (probably an even more popular caliber, but not intended for the 1911). (not to mention the obscure 460 Rowland...44 mag power in a 1911 anyone!?)
The 1911 or a variant is IMHO a must for anyone into handguns.
Welcome.
The 1911 or a variant is IMHO a must for anyone into handguns.
Welcome.
Same guts, more or less. Different styling, different levels of fit n finish. I get what you say, though, they all look like 1911s, or are at leat recognizable, other than some of the space guns.
Look at another pistol: the cz75
It has been copied outright, or has had it's operating design copied by several different makers now. You can buy a CZ type pistol in many guises these days
Look at another pistol: the cz75
It has been copied outright, or has had it's operating design copied by several different makers now. You can buy a CZ type pistol in many guises these days
- Location
- YEG Alberta
Hear hear! I just ordered another one!
- Location
- YEG Alberta
...get 'er dirty!
Still waiting for her to come in, but this is what she looks like...
The 1911 pistol is the best 100 year old design in production and since Colt's patents are long expired everybody and S&W
are happy to make a buck copying it.
It may not be the best pistol ever built but for 60+ years it was the only .45 acp pistol available.
Don't knock the lipstick, some of it actually improves the usability.
And not all are .45's
9mm,10mm,40 S&W and .38 super are common enough.
are happy to make a buck copying it.
It may not be the best pistol ever built but for 60+ years it was the only .45 acp pistol available.
Don't knock the lipstick, some of it actually improves the usability.
And not all are .45's
9mm,10mm,40 S&W and .38 super are common enough.
- Location
- YEG Alberta
Is that Smith ported or are those just speed holes?
Barrel is not ported, just the slide. This is the S&W Performance Center version of the 1911.
Still alive
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Rainy mosquito infested part of BC
What? No love for JMB's other achievement, the Browning Hi Power? Fewer moving parts, more armies equipped and also cloned by just about every Eastern nation.
What? No love for JMB's other achievement, the Browning Hi Power? Fewer moving parts, more armies equipped and also cloned by just about every Eastern nation.
You really can't compare the SA mechanism to the DA/SA of the Hi-Power. They're two different guns completely imo. Both great guns that influenced almost all of the weapon designs you see today, thats for sure.
What? No love for JMB's other achievement, the Browning Hi Power? Fewer moving parts, more armies equipped and also cloned by just about every Eastern nation.
It's a nice pistol in its own right, but not nearly as successful as the 1911. Besides, the P35 was modified a lot from his original design, and since he died 9 years before it was really finalized, didn't have all that much to do with the end product.
I pointed that out too as well.
I'm saying, you can't compare the two guns because they're almost entirely different under the hood. The trigger mechanism of the 1911 is completely different (Some say superior, others not) than to the Hi-Power.
It isn't fair comparing single action only guns to ones that have double action, in my opinion.
