What makes a 1911 - a 1911 - in YOUR opinion?

Rob!

Rob!

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I'm curious what you think makes a 1911?

Not looking for a flame war. It does matter to me though what others think of my guns. They'll get used for target practice, a bit - Competition, a bit - and showing off, well, quite a bit.

The classic example of my question would be the series 80 or other FPB models. They probably function every bit as well as pre-80 and they aren't that much harder to detail strip - but I just don't want to spend my life apologizing for a series 80. That's just an example.

We can probably all agree that the straight back trigger pull is definitive. Maybe single stack? (2011 is a different animal)

What about other things?

Standard length guide rod vs FLGR vs Recoil reduction guide rods?

Sights? Optical? Laser?

Gov't, Commander, Officer?

Rails?

Ambi Safety?

Magwell?

Beavertail?

Caliber? (Maybe that's opening a can of worms that should stay sealed) :rolleyes:

My tastes tend toward what John Browning designed and perhaps to the Jeff Cooper consensus. I respect both of those men and their designs / opinions. Having said that, I have no use for the 1911 for carry, SD or HD, so clearly, YMMV.

I'm asking because I do care what others think.

Please chime in.
 
When I think 1911 I think mil spec usgi and it's replicas. All other enhancements are just that. Different models with more refinements.
It's like mentioning Ferrari and thinking of only the F40 and not considering the 360 modena or 458 Italia or the 599
The 1911 is iconic in appearance and design. The grip angle is perfect and majority are made of steel (I've recently heard of some polymer framed 1911)

I shoot an Np 29. Those who aren't experienced gun nutz love it. My friends and coworkers who used it as their first experience with a handgun love it. I'm sure there's ppl out there that will look at it and laugh that it's a Chinese copy but at my club I haven't ran into that issue yet. I shoot what I shoot for me and I try to get as many ppl into shooting as I can
 
General silhouette (including grip angle), tilting link in the barrel, and the fire control group are probably the defining features, to me. I consider the 2011 to be the same beast as the 1911. I favour the .45, but I also understand there are more practical cartridges depending on your shooting disciplines/needs.
 
it is chambered in .45 acp.
it is all steel (blued, paint, stainless, plated...whatever, but it's steel.)
it only has rear slide serrations
it has simple fixed sights
it has a 7 round single stack magazine
it comes in "Government, Commander, and or, Officer" models
all controls are accessible with either the operators right hand thumb, or right hand index finger.
it is SA
it is not SA/DA, Decocker, safety, bullsh1t
it is to be carried "cocked and locked"
when in hand, it stirs the soul of every North American kid who ever read comic books
it implants a smile on the operators face with every squeeze of the short, straight back, break like glass, short reset trigger
it points and shoots naturally and instinctively (unlike hours of training that is required to shoot, oh I dunno, a Glock proficiently :p)
THE CHINESE make a reasonable facsimile of what I'm describing
If you're American, you can't own the Chinese aforementioned facsimile
Last, but certainly not least...it is a 70 series 1911 (80 series need not apply)
So by my own definition my GSG 1911, no matter how much I enjoy shooting with them, are not 1911s...I think John Moses Browning would be okay with that? :)
 
Gotta be a single action. This DA 1911 business is nonsense. It can be steel,polymer. 9mm or .45, Single or Double stack. Adj sights fixed whatever. There all running off the same basic mechanicals. Change that and IMO it is no longer a 1911
 
plinker 777 said:
it is chambered in .45 acp.
it is all steel (blued, paint, stainless, plated...whatever, but it's steel.)
it only has rear slide serrations
it has simple fixed sights
it has a 7 round single stack magazine
it comes in "Government, Commander, and or, Officer" models
all controls are accessible with either the operators right hand thumb, or right hand index finger.
it is SA
it is not SA/DA, Decocker, safety, bullsh1t
it is to be carried "cocked and locked"
when in hand, it stirs the soul of every North American kid who ever read comic books
it implants a smile on the operators face with every squeeze of the short, straight back, break like glass, short reset trigger
it points and shoots naturally and instinctively (unlike hours of training that is required to shoot, oh I dunno, a Glock proficiently :p)
THE CHINESE make a reasonable facsimile of what I'm describing
If you're American, you can't own the Chinese aforementioned facsimile
Last, but certainly not least...it is a 70 series 1911 (80 series need not apply)
So by my own definition my GSG 1911, no matter how much I enjoy shooting with them, are not 1911s...I think John Moses Browning would be okay with that? :)
Click to expand...


Me thinks you hit the nail on the head.
 
It eats 45 acp
Has one grip and thumb safety only
Single action
Single stack
No rails
Blued or Parkerized finish
Checkered brown bakelite or wood grips
Was old enough to be in at least one war
One piece milled trigger preferably
Checkered magwell, hammer, slide stop, trigger, thumb safety

The way John Moses Browning intended it, must have one that meets all the above.

Now get a 1911 with rail, 10 round mag, extended magwell, ambi safety, wrap around hogue grips, laser, muzzle break, one piece full length guide rod, beaver tail grip safety, stainless steel, ed brown barrel and bushing, wolf springs, Wilson combat hammer, trigger, and internals. But still feeds on 45 acp.

My thoughts.
 
I might get yelled out of the room, but, if from 10y away it looks like a 1911, it's a 1911. SA/DA? Rails? .45/.40/9/10mm? Single Double Stack? Round top/flat top/serrations? All just different toppings on the same flavor of ice cream.
 
Wow! Awesome feedback and thank you. I own a few - and only one really meets plinker's excellent description. I started with an STI Sentinel Premier - because I wanted a quality build 1911 that was close to the Cooper consensus. Had to ditch the recoilmaster for a SLGR and lose the long trigger - but we have a good relationship now. :) I bought a 1914 Canadian Contract because that is pretty close to where it began. It has new consumables - springs mainly - but nothing John would have objected to. I have a Norc - just to remind me why I bought the STI. :) I also have a GSG 22LR because it came with the Norc. Is it a 1911? Hell no, but it does allow me to introduce grandkids to pistols and can be used in less standard environments. ;)

Hope to see more responses. I truly do value every one. I have a guilty little secret to share. It's possible that I might shoot better with 9mm. I'm not sure though, because I only tried it once - and it's not going to happen again. :D

Rob!
 
For several of the other responses....

It's been years since we corresponded Mr Cooper. Thought you was dead. Good to see you live on in some of us. :cool:
 
Every single part is made of steel, except the grips. Heavy as possible.
Stock GI style A1 configuration. No extra safeties, extensions on levers to accomodate girl hands etc
And of course it has to be in .45 ACP
Anything else is just pointless douche fluff! :rockOn:
And a couple extra points for one that matches all of those above but that has actually been fired, roughly handled with some scars etc and not spent its life on a piece of satin in a walnut box or some other fruity nonsense.
 
Single stack, single action, and no rail. And besides 45ACP, the 9mm, 40S&W, 10mm, and 38 Super calibers are OK too. And obviously no plastic!
 
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