1911 Question

Drew · October 23, 1999, 12:59 PM

I was curious if John Browning's 1911 was the first semi-auto handgun ever, or the first one here in the U.S.? If it wasn't the first one ever, then what was and who made it? Thankyou.

James K · October 23, 1999, 03:25 PM

Hi, Drew,

The Model 1911 (the Army designation) was not even the first semi auto handgun in the U.S. Disregarding experimental guns, Colt produced its first auto pistol, a .38 caliber, in 1900, followed by improvements in 1902, and 1903. A hammerless pocket model was produced in 1903 in .32 caliber, a .25 in 1908, .45s in 1905, 1909, and 1910.

Overseas, several auto pistols were in production before 1900, including the Mauser C96, the Mannlicher, the Bergmann, and the Borchardt. The Luger came along in 1900 and improved versions were adopted by the Swiss and the German Navy in 1906 and the German Army in 1908. Browning himself patented a .32 auto pistol that was made by FN starting in 1900, and another Browning design was made starting in 1903.

The first self-loading (semi-auto) pistol to be produced as a commercial venture was the Austrian Schonberger, made at Steyr in 1892. Examples are nearly non-existent today.

So, to answer your question simply, no, the 1911 was not the first semi-auto pistol.

Jim

Drew · October 25, 1999, 11:33 PM

Jim,

Thanks for taking the time to answer my question! I'd say that just about sums it up! Again, thanx.

James K · October 26, 1999, 11:07 PM

I forgot Savage, which made a .32 auto in 1907.

Jim

October 23, 1999, 12:59 PM	#1
Drew Member Join Date: October 14, 1999 Location: Oregon Posts: 56	I was curious if John Browning's 1911 was the first semi-auto handgun ever, or the first one here in the U.S.? If it wasn't the first one ever, then what was and who made it? Thankyou.

October 23, 1999, 03:25 PM	#2
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Hi, Drew, The Model 1911 (the Army designation) was not even the first semi auto handgun in the U.S. Disregarding experimental guns, Colt produced its first auto pistol, a .38 caliber, in 1900, followed by improvements in 1902, and 1903. A hammerless pocket model was produced in 1903 in .32 caliber, a .25 in 1908, .45s in 1905, 1909, and 1910. Overseas, several auto pistols were in production before 1900, including the Mauser C96, the Mannlicher, the Bergmann, and the Borchardt. The Luger came along in 1900 and improved versions were adopted by the Swiss and the German Navy in 1906 and the German Army in 1908. Browning himself patented a .32 auto pistol that was made by FN starting in 1900, and another Browning design was made starting in 1903. The first self-loading (semi-auto) pistol to be produced as a commercial venture was the Austrian Schonberger, made at Steyr in 1892. Examples are nearly non-existent today. So, to answer your question simply, no, the 1911 was not the first semi-auto pistol. Jim

October 25, 1999, 11:33 PM	#3
Drew Member Join Date: October 14, 1999 Location: Oregon Posts: 56	Jim, Thanks for taking the time to answer my question! I'd say that just about sums it up! Again, thanx.

October 26, 1999, 11:07 PM	#4
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I forgot Savage, which made a .32 auto in 1907. Jim