1911’s are cool and classic

[Sevens]

I’ve owned Colt, Sig, Springfield, STI, Remington, S&W and AMT in 1911’s. I also have high round count hands-on familiarity with Les Baer and Ruger as well.

I still have my Springfield Custom but I found my true love for this specific area and it’s a S&W Performance Center 945.

This isn’t a 1911 but it’s laid out quite similarly, especially in the trigger/sear arrangement where it matters a lot. This pistol sits in my hands better than a 1911 does. When I close my eyes and think about a 1911, the dream quickly morphs to a 945.

For me, it what I want “for” a 1911. Don’t think it needed it’s own discussion but it seems my experience wasn’t welcome in another thread. I’ll hedge a guess that if you’ve never enjoyed the experience of shooting a 945, you probably haven’t a clue how very 1911 it is.

[Jim Watson]

The 945 feels kind of broad and vertical in my hand.
I am so accustomed to the 1911, I am like Bill Jordan said about the campaign hat he wore in Border Patrol uniform... after a while your head just gets to fit the hat.

I wonder why they imported so many 1911 parts, buying them from Wilson.
An 845 is as good a gun, seems like they could have put their own thumb safety on it.

I saw a picture of a PC .40 cal with in house frame mounted safety. It was apparently by Very Special Order at a yacht class price. Even the big SHOT Show display did not have the actual gun, just a picture.

[Sevens]

The Performance Center had the grand idea very early to build guns to order but that idea proved not exactly viable. Those very early frame-mount safety guns came from that extremely short period of time and it’s likely only a few exist.

The 945 had the frame mount safety that all traditionalists argue is the bulk of their angst against the S&W 1-2-3rd Gen design.

[BornFighting88]

I am a huge fan of the 1911 platform. How all the controls are right within reach of the firing hand, no need to change grip (except for some that need to shift grip to dump a mag or drop the slide, me included, but I have changed that with an extended mag and slide release).

I have a Government size for target practice and “group therapy”, and my trusty officer’s model for carry. Plus, being able to put a big 45 cal slug RIGHT where I aim it from a bit of a distance time and again, and having very manageable recoil…. Plus plus.

[RickB]

I was pondering the 945 the other day, and was pondering the 745 a few days prior to that.
The 1911 fits my hand like it growed there, so no reason to go looking for a variation on the theme.

[AustinTX]

The 945 is an outstanding and perennially underappreciated pistol. A pure Performance Center creation from the time when the PC was a true semi-custom shop building some of the finest semi-autos ever produced in this country rather than a storied name that S&W shamelessly prostitutes as a marketing gimmick, as is the case today.

The 945 doesn't carry the cachet of the other three "flagship" PC models (845, 952 and PPC-9), given its greater production numbers and availability, but it's in the same lofty echelon of build quality and refinement. It's among my very favorite range guns. I picked up a very early no-dash (from the time before the fancy PC aluminum cases) and another no-dash with the blackened stainless and polished flats finish combination a few years back. I'm sometimes tempted to get another.

As recently as a couple of years ago, the more common variants could be found in excellent condition for under $1,500, with a little patience. Nothing else came remotely close to the value that represented for the level of quality and refinement. I see prices are finally moving up on them a little, but they are still terrific values at their current prices.

[oldbear1950]

I have 3 1911s. 1) COLT 1911A1 38 super built in 1967, with an ED BROWN 9 mm conversion. (all that was needed was the ED BROWN Barrel, bushing, and magazines.) works great. 2) Philippine 1911 commander size, 45 acp, and 3) SDS 1911 full size, 5 inch barrel, and they all work great. Am still testing out magazines to see which ones work.
I have found that when you find mags they like, most 1911s work great.
Not all 1911s like all magazines. Is just a fact of life,

[highpower3006]

I currently have 1911's that date from 1914 up through 2013 for a total of 14. I do love the darn things but I agree with oldbear1950 that they do tend to be kind of picky as to which magazines they like. so far.

[Mike38]

I have four M1911 pattern pistols. A series 70 Colt M1911A1. A series 80 Colt M1991A1. A Norinco M1911A1. An Argentine M1927. All four work perfectly with Metalform magazines with the rounded follower, and any ammo, be it SWC, Ball or hollow points. Spending the extra few dollars on Metalform mags is worth it to me, that, or I just got lucky and have four pistols that aren't picky.

[44 AMP]

Just being picky, but I've had a number of Colt .45s and .38 Supers made for commercial sale, up through the 90s.

None of them ever had "1911" or "1911A1" on them anywhere.

They were all marked "Colt Govt Model".

[101combatvet]

Originally Posted by 44 AMP

Just being picky, but I've had a number of Colt .45s and .38 Supers made for commercial sale, up through the 90s.

None of them ever had "1911" or "1911A1" on them anywhere.

They were all marked "Colt Govt Model".

[44 AMP]

nice (though overlarge picture) 1911.

And, it re-enforces my point. The guns Colt made for the military are "model of 1911" or later, 1911A1. You can see "U.S. ARMY" marked on the slide.

From what I've been able to find out, the very early (pre-WWI) 1911s were slide marked US ARMY, US NAVY or USMC. At some time during WWI (possibly about 1917) the marking "property of US Govt" was added, to the left side of the frame. I don't know when it was moved, but the 1911A1s had the US Property marking on the right side of the frame, above the trigger.

The guns Colt made for the US govt military were all 1911s and then 1911A1s.

The guns Colt made for the civilian market were all Colt Govt Models. (in 45acp) Prior to WWII the Colt guns in .38 Super were marked "Super .38", and not marked "Govt Model". When production resumed after WWII, the guns were marked "Govt Model .38 Super".

NO 1911s or 1911A1 were made by Colt after the end of WWII. The govt canceled the remaining contracts late in WWII. They could see the war coming to an end soon, and they had enough pistols.

When Colt reintroduced the classic GI configuration decades later, they called it the Model 1991.

The only exception I am aware of is the small number of reproduction WWI guns Colt made a few years ago. Those were marked 1911 and also had all the other period correct markings for a WWI era gun. (patent dates on the slide, etc.)

Springfield, S&W, Ruger, SIG and others make 1911A1 pattern guns, and since they make them, they can name them 1911 or whatever they want, that's fine, and proper.

The historical US GI guns made by Colt (and subcontractors during WWII) are 1911s and 1911A1s. Guns made by Colt for civilian sale were never 1911s or 1911A1s. They were Govt Models.

[gwpercle]

I still have that first all stainless steel 1911 "pattern gun " that was made by AMT the Hardballer ...stainless steel , 1911 in 45 acp with adjustible sights ...
... and living in the hot humid swamps of Louisiana I loved it ... what could be better than rust resistant construction !!!

Cool and Classic in Stainless Steel ... You betcha bottom dollar they are !

It's on the desk besides me as I type this .
Gary

[105kw]

I'm not really sure, but Colt may have trade marked and registered the Government Model name.

[Jim Watson]

slide marked US ARMY, US NAVY or USMC.

Although there were serial number blocks assigned to the Marines, I believe they got guns marked for the Navy early on, later just the regular Army roll mark.

Early commercial guns are clearly marked "Colt Automatic", they didn't have the internet to explain they were really semiautomatic.

[manta49]

I see this 1911 for sale in the UK, I am tempted.

[44 AMP]

My son has one of the S&W 1911 PD models. Had it for a couple years while he was deployed. Great gun. Be aware that the "standard" Colt/GI grips will NOT fit.

S&W changed the location of the grip screws by a little bit (1/4" or so) and so regular grips will not fit. If you want grips other than what is on the gun now, you must get grips made specifically for the S&W pistol.

standard magazines do work.