Why the 1911 is the greatest pistol ever made

Local said:
Only makes sense, seeing as the 1911 had two three wars under its belt before most other common handguns were even designed.

Local.
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So did the Lee Enfield, but that doesn't mean it's a relevant weapon today outside of its place as a curio & relic.

In reality, the 1911 was a good design when it was adopted, but compared to modern pistols like the Glock, Sig P226, CZ 75 or H&K, it leaves a lot to be desired. FWIW I own 2 1911's, but I don't pretend my interest in them is based on utility.
 
greatest pistol of its time, yes. greatest pistol ever made, no...why? ever isn't over yet.
 
misanthropist said:
Probably not...considering he was dead before the design was finished.


...and the work was completed by people who didn't seem to care much about triggers.
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His intent was to create a design that would better the 1911.

At least that's what his wish was prior to his death. Who knows how much influence the later designer had on the Hi-Power or what changes he had made to Brownings original design.
 
When the US adopted the 1911 it was subjected to a number of tests for reliability. It easily won. If you have an unreliable one that's not JMB's fault. When none other than jeff cooper preferred the 1911 to all other platforms that says alot.
 
Browning started the design of the Hi Power having to work around his own patents, as he had sold them to Colt. Browning's intent was to create a new pistol to meet a French military requirement without infringing the 1911 patents, not necessarily to improve upon the 1911.

The original Browning-designed prototype is very different from the BHP. It is striker-fired rather than hammer-fired.
 
LarryG said:
When the US adopted the 1911 it was subjected to a number of tests for reliability. It easily won. If you have an unreliable one that's not JMB's fault. When none other than jeff cooper preferred the 1911 to all other platforms that says alot.
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Sure. It won over a century ago. Big whoop. A lot has happened since then. Cooper meanwhile was more enthused about the .45 ACP than the 1911 and often showed admiration for the CZ pistols and the Bren 10.

JMB was a fine designer but too many people over rate his achievements to the point of hero worship. The tilt-barrel locking system aside many of his firearms designs were derivative of work done previously. There were many other gun designers at the time some even better than Browning.
 
tjhaile said:
Browning started the design of the Hi Power having to work around his own patents, as he had sold them to Colt. Browning's intent was to create a new pistol to meet a French military requirement without infringing the 1911 patents, not necessarily to improve upon the 1911.

The original Browning-designed prototype is very different from the BHP. It is striker-fired rather than hammer-fired.
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Bingo! People like to romanticize that JMB was the Mad Scientist type sitting alone in his secret hidden laboratory cooking up new and ingenious designs for the betterment of mankind (or at least the portion of mankind that is packing heat!). When in reality, he was a mechanical designer (albeit a brilliant one; arguably the most prolific firearm designer the world has ever seen) who was just designing and building the guns that his clients were paying him to design; and usually to the client's specifications.

The BHP was never intended to be a replacement for the 1911. It was a different gun for a different client. Plain and simple. It was also designed many years after the 1911 so improvements to the design are to be expected.
 
I'm not a Platonist, but the 1911 might convince me :)

Rumor has it God himself shoots one, and gave the design to his prophet (John) Moses (Browning):

"Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain."

;)
 
Claybuster said:
Sure. It won over a century ago. Big whoop. A lot has happened since then. Cooper meanwhile was more enthused about the .45 ACP than the 1911 and often showed admiration for the CZ pistols and the Bren 10.

JMB was a fine designer but too many people over rate his achievements to the point of hero worship. The tilt-barrel locking system aside many of his firearms designs were derivative of work done previously. There were many other gun designers at the time some even better than Browning.
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And who designed the 45 ACP? our hero, JMB!
:):)
 
This was probably one of the ####tiest article's I've ever read. One paragraph in and his glock hate was noticeable.
 
krausb said:
Bingo! People like to romanticize that JMB was the Mad Scientist type sitting alone in his secret hidden laboratory cooking up new and ingenious designs for the betterment of mankind (or at least the portion of mankind that is packing heat!). When in reality, he was a mechanical designer (albeit a brilliant one; arguably the most prolific firearm designer the world has ever seen) who was just designing and building the guns that his clients were paying him to design; and usually to the client's specifications.

The BHP was never intended to be a replacement for the 1911. It was a different gun for a different client. Plain and simple. It was also designed many years after the 1911 so improvements to the design are to be expected.
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True, true, but; JMB did say that the Hi Power design was better/superior to that of his 1911...or at least that's the urban legend. ;)
 
I haven't had my RPAL long so my experience is pretty limited. My Dominion Arms 1911 is so far my favorite centerfire handgun. I like the 45ACP over 9mm, I like the all steel frame, I like the narrow grip and I like how easy the single stack magazines are to load, no bleeding thumbs!. Mine rattles and shakes and isn't super accurate, but it is still very fun to shoot.
 
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