Sticking to their guns: Marines place $22.5M order for the Colt .45 M1911
It’s been called the greatest handgun ever made, and it has barely changed since 1911, when the legendary John Browning designed it especially for the U.S. Military.
And now, the Colt .45 M1911 is making a big comeback, now that the U.S. Marines have placed a $22.5 million order for the Connecticut-made pistols.
The gun, which has been wielded on film by John Wayne and in real life by Sgt. Alvin York and Maj. Audie Murphy, was the standard-issue sidearm in the military for decades, until it was replaced by the Beretta M9 in 1985.
“It just became an iconic part of military and American history,” Gerry Dinkel, CEO and president of Colt Defense, told FoxNews.com.
The gun, one of the most successful pistols ever used at Camp Perry’s National Matches, a competition known to be the main world event in artillery sports, has barely changed since its creation. Dinkel says that shows the gun’s “elegant design” just can’t be improved on. And firearms experts agree.
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Sticking to their guns: Marines place $22.5M order for the Colt .45 M1911
Kudos to the United States Marine Corps for their decision to return to the BEST handgun the U.S. military ever had. You can’t argue with perfection, and John Browning was truly inspired when he designed the 1911 platform.
I have owned and carried 1911’s in the past; they are a marvelous piece of work and will do exactly what they are intended to do; fire every time you pull the trigger and STOP, dead in his tracks, anyone that takes a round from it. Dead in his tracks; pun seriously intended too! 😛
I have been a HUGE FAN of the 230gr .45ACP since the 1st time I fired one, nothing has changed my opinion of the .45 in the 40 some odd years since that took place.
The .45 ACP cartridge has gone through many changes; up-grades in velocity, more foot-pounds of pressure, a development of a .45 hollow point that is 100% reliable and many more modifications I am certain. The 1911 hasn’t needed to be improved upon.
Why mess with the best?
As stated, I have owned a couple of 1911’s over the years, a traditional Colt 1911 that had been *tuned* by the masterful Jim Clark in Shreveport many years ago, and a Colt MarkIV Series 70 that was, in MY opinion, the finest handgun I have ever owned. Too bad I lost them in a divorce proceeding.
Today I own a Springfield XD-45 Tactical and I have to admit, I DO love that pistol, I especially love the high capacity magazines that it has, but it will NEVER replace the love I had for the Colt 1911.
I am also what is known as a *1911 purist*.
There are many pistols on the market today that are built on the 1911 frame, and I have to say, most, if not all are pretty good weapons! Some are even built on a High Capacity frame, thus allowing more ammunition to be in the pistol than the original Colt ammo capacity of 7 rounds in the magazine and 1 round in the chamber. Notice: I said in the MAGAZINE. It’s NOT a clip, it’s a magazine!
In any case, I am a 1911 purist; in MY estimation, if it’s not built by Colt it’s not a TRUE 1911. Many would argue that statement, and that’s OK, it’s just MY opinion, but in MY opinion, if it’s not a Colt, it’s a knock-off.
I am very pleased that the USMC is returning to this *old friend*, the Colt 1911, I KNOW that the Marines that carry it are much better armed than anyone carrying a Beretta M9.
Couldn’t agree more, Fred. I am happy the Marines FINALLY have a man-stopper back! Best decision in while by our military!
JDL
Just saw that. It’s for the Spec Ops forces. Nice kinda desert tan color.
BZ
It is what it is….the best. I carried it for some time. Great pistol.
Congress forced the Pentagon to dump the 1911 45 and go with the Beretta 9mm. The Air Force signed on to it immediately, like they really knew sidearms, but the Army fought it tooth and nail. Army brass would not approve the Beretta and always came up with reasons for not signing off on it. Congress finally stopped ALL funding for 1911 parts and ammo. That’s how the Army was forced into buying off on an inferior sidearm .
BTW, I traded my son my Para Ordinance Black Watch Companion (45) and a Taurus PT 145 for my Colt Combat Commander back. I had given it to him a few years back and now I have my baby back.
1 In the beginning was the 1911, and the 1911 was THE pistol, and it was good. And behold the Lord said, “Thou shalt not muck with my disciple John’s design for it is good and it workith. For John made the 1911, and lo all of his weapons, from the designs which I, the Lord, gave him upon the mountain.”
2 “And shouldst thou muck with it, and hang all manner of foul implements upon it, and profane its internal parts, thou shalt surely have malfunctions, and in the midst of battle thou shalt surely come to harm.”
The Black Watch Companion is my aviator picture.
I guess the Hello Kitty Pink option is not in play here. Glad to see some of the military get a good weapon. But I wonder how long it will be until Obama finds a way to take this out of their hands.
OBama will be “past tense” this coming January.
I know what the .45ACP does to the human flesh.
Been there, done that.
The absolute “stop in your tracks” ability is due to it’s bullet diameter.
Think sledgehammer hitting that large chisel posed vertically upon one’s chest.
This is great news.
I have known many combat vets that lost the faith in the German caliber 9mm Luger.
My latest carry is the Kimber Ultra. extremely compact .45 auto,,,but it is pricey.
But for one who wears shorts a lot, it carries comfy, and is concealed easily.
So, my favorite is the 40S&W or the 45 auto.
Only the coroner can tell the difference.
My advice to everyone within earshot, go get your “concealed carry handgun” permit NOW.
Why,,,,,well,,,”these times are ah changing”,,,,and you will be safer for it.
Yep. The Beretta is a Congress mandated and to some degree a Congress designed weapon. It’s mother was the whore named political correctness and it’s daddy was a shiftless, useless dude called NATO.
As a radio operator, I carried the 1911.
I loved that pistol.
They tried to make us carry Glocks and Berettas towards the end of my enlistment. The Glock they had me “fam fire” stove piped every third round, even on a bench mount. The Beretta was a piece of junk that you had to keep hermetically sealed until you fired it, and then immediately clean after every round to avoid jams. Well, it seemed like it, anyway.
I was never issued anything other than the 1911, and qualed as a Sharpshooter with the 1911. I loved the way it handled - no nonsense, all business, and if seven plus one isn’t enough then slap another magazine in there.
In addition:
The Beretta is what we got when we — as in: the Pentagon — decided we wanted to carry a New World Order UN Globalist handgun.
Because 9mm Parabellum was the Global Deal. “We” figured that, in the trenches, with flak and shrapnel clattering about, we could pitch an empty US magazine to the next foxhole occupied by a Frenchie and simply declare: “FILL ‘ER UP!”
And, of course, a full 9mm mag would come flinging back.
Right.
BZ
P.S.
Still like and CARRY my Sig P220 in Patrol.
My only complaint with the original design was the sights, and that is easily taken care of. Yes, I do like 10mm Auto in full power configuration. But a 1911 in 45 is a “first Love” and will simply never go away.