This is a lengthy discussion of the history of the 1911 pistol and its cartridge, the developments in handgun design that followed its adoption, the efforts to try and modernize the 1911, and the host's final conclusion to the question posed by the video: is the 1911 obsolete for military and police use? And the short answer to that question is "yes" according to the host. In fact, he believes it was obsolete by the 1950s, and certainly by the 1970s.
Looking at the original M1911 or M1911A1 designs, there is no question but that the design has been obsolete for quite a while. But neither has the 1911 sat still in its design and features, anymore than the AR15 has. The sights on the original were terrible, but that has been addressed in more modern variants. The drop safety issues have been addressed with more modern variants. You can buy versions sporting accessory rails and optic cuts. The heavy steel frame can be replaced with a lighter alloy or polymer frame. Issues with feeding hollow points were addressed with changes to the feed ramp. Even the limited magazine capacity has been addressed with double stack versions (commonly termed the "2011").
But even with all that, I would probably still agree that it is obsolete for standard military or police use. The complex design and number of parts is one item, but primarily it is the single action design that favors the weapon being carried cocked and locked (Condition 1) for quick use and the lack of a decocker. Historically, the 1911--particularly carrying in Condition 1--has been viewed as an expert's pistol because most people will not practice to a level allowing them to safely carry and operate it in Condition 1. (Even when it was issued to troops, they were supposed to carry it hammer down on an empty chamber). And that is why, IMHO, it is unsuited as a general issue weapon for the military and police.
VIDEO: "Is the M1911 Obsolete for Military and Law Enforcement Use Today??"
SmallArmsSolutions (53 min.)
Ultimately all arguments for boil down to nostalgia.
ReplyDeleteThe 1911 pistol is better described as "obsolescent" than actually "obsolete." Meaning that it is still a very capable design with much to offer, albeit one whose design and features are now behind the times. It seems premature to relegate it to the boneyard entirely when the M1911 can still be found in use by various military, police and special operations units around the world. Don't make the mistake of believing that because something is old, that it is not still useful. Another of John Browning's designs proves that point, the Browning .50-caliber HBMG - which continues to excel on battlefields around the world despite the best efforts of gun writers to consign it to museums.
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