Iconic Weapon Retired from USMC After a Century in Service

SteinwayTransitCorp

SteinwayTransitCorp

Well-known member

The legendary Colt 1911 pistol has been withdrawn from use in the U.S. military.​

Richard Moorhead, Western Journal By Richard Moorhead, Western Journal October 6, 2023
News
October 6, 2023 at 9:47pm

The firearm that “won two world wars” has reached the end of its service with the U.S. military.

Marine Corps Systems Command confirmed with The Drive in June that the Colt M1911 had been withdrawn from service. The Marine Corps had been the last branch to use the handgun.

An upgraded 1911 variant designated the M45A1, previously in service in Marine Corps special operations and reconnaissance units, has been replaced with the 9mm M18 pistol.

The Marines had announced their intention to replace all sidearms with the newer M18 handgun in 2019.

The .45-caliber semiautomatic Colt 1911 is named after the year of its release.

The handgun served as the primary sidearm of the U.S. military in both World War I and World War II, also appearing in conflicts such as the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Task & Purpose recounted that during World War I, Army Sgt. Alvin C. York “used his 1911 pistol to single-handedly kill six German soldiers charging him with fixed bayonets.”

“He earned the Congressional Medal of Honor as a result.”


The 1911 was finally dethroned as the military’s standard-issue sidearm in 1985, when it was replaced by the 9mm Beretta M9.

Still, it was carried by a U.S. Army general in Afghanistan as recently as 2019, according to another report from Task & Purpose.

Have you ever fired a Colt 1911?
The 1911 is designed for single-stack magazines, with standard-capacity mags able to hold seven rounds.

This capacity pales in comparison to that of newer, striker-fired pistols, such as Glock and Sig Sauer handguns. However, proponents of the 1911 point to the stopping power and lethality of the .45 round in comparison to 9mm.

The 1911 was designed by legendary gunsmith John Browning, a craftsman considered by many to be unrivaled in his contribution to American military arms.

Browning was also responsible for developing weapons such as the Browning automatic rifle and the .50-caliber M2 machine gun. The M2 remains in widespread military use today.
 
Chuck Finley69

Chuck Finley69

Active member
The legendary Colt 1911 pistol has been withdrawn from use in the U.S. military. Richard Moorhead, Western Journal By Richard Moorhead, Western Journal October 6, 2023 News October 6, 2023 at 9:47pm The firearm that “won two world wars” has reached the end of its service with the U.S. military. Marine Corps Systems Command confirmed with The Drive in June that the Colt M1911 had been withdrawn from service. The Marine Corps had been the last branch to use the handgun. An upgraded 1911 variant designated the M45A1, previously in service in Marine Corps special operations and reconnaissance units, has been replaced with the 9mm M18 pistol. The Marines had announced their intention to replace all sidearms with the newer M18 handgun in 2019. The .45-caliber semiautomatic Colt 1911 is named after the year of its release. The handgun served as the primary sidearm of the U.S. military in both World War I and World War II, also appearing in conflicts such as the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Task & Purpose recounted that during World War I, Army Sgt. Alvin C. York “used his 1911 pistol to single-handedly kill six German soldiers charging him with fixed bayonets.” “He earned the Congressional Medal of Honor as a result.” The 1911 was finally dethroned as the military’s standard-issue sidearm in 1985, when it was replaced by the 9mm Beretta M9. Still, it was carried by a U.S. Army general in Afghanistan as recently as 2019, according to another report from Task & Purpose. Have you ever fired a Colt 1911? The 1911 is designed for single-stack magazines, with standard-capacity mags able to hold seven rounds. This capacity pales in comparison to that of newer, striker-fired pistols, such as Glock and Sig Sauer handguns. However, proponents of the 1911 point to the stopping power and lethality of the .45 round in comparison to 9mm. The 1911 was designed by legendary gunsmith John Browning, a craftsman considered by many to be unrivaled in his contribution to American military arms. Browning was also responsible for developing weapons such as the Browning automatic rifle and the .50-caliber M2 machine gun. The M2 remains in widespread military use today.
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My Glock 21 holds 13 rounds of 230 grain .45 ACP with another 13 rounds in a backup magazine. The best of both choices....
 
SteinwayTransitCorp

SteinwayTransitCorp

Well-known member
Chuck Finley69 said:
The legendary Colt 1911 pistol has been withdrawn from use in the U.S. military. Richard Moorhead, Western Journal By Richard Moorhead, Western Journal October 6, 2023 News October 6, 2023 at 9:47pm The firearm that “won two world wars” has reached the end of its service with the U.S. military. Marine Corps Systems Command confirmed with The Drive in June that the Colt M1911 had been withdrawn from service. The Marine Corps had been the last branch to use the handgun. An upgraded 1911 variant designated the M45A1, previously in service in Marine Corps special operations and reconnaissance units, has been replaced with the 9mm M18 pistol. The Marines had announced their intention to replace all sidearms with the newer M18 handgun in 2019. The .45-caliber semiautomatic Colt 1911 is named after the year of its release. The handgun served as the primary sidearm of the U.S. military in both World War I and World War II, also appearing in conflicts such as the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Task & Purpose recounted that during World War I, Army Sgt. Alvin C. York “used his 1911 pistol to single-handedly kill six German soldiers charging him with fixed bayonets.” “He earned the Congressional Medal of Honor as a result.” The 1911 was finally dethroned as the military’s standard-issue sidearm in 1985, when it was replaced by the 9mm Beretta M9. Still, it was carried by a U.S. Army general in Afghanistan as recently as 2019, according to another report from Task & Purpose. Have you ever fired a Colt 1911? The 1911 is designed for single-stack magazines, with standard-capacity mags able to hold seven rounds. This capacity pales in comparison to that of newer, striker-fired pistols, such as Glock and Sig Sauer handguns. However, proponents of the 1911 point to the stopping power and lethality of the .45 round in comparison to 9mm. The 1911 was designed by legendary gunsmith John Browning, a craftsman considered by many to be unrivaled in his contribution to American military arms. Browning was also responsible for developing weapons such as the Browning automatic rifle and the .50-caliber M2 machine gun. The M2 remains in widespread military use today.
====================================

My Glock 21 holds 13 rounds of 230 grain .45 ACP with another 13 rounds in a backup magazine. The best of both choices....
Click to expand...
Very true, I just always liked the feel of a 45 on my hip
 
Ph1llip

Ph1llip

Active member
The 1911 was always easier to hold because of the slimmer width of the grip. It was also the one that spiffed up the nicest if you were in full dress. And of course, the feeling of an all-metal frame action will never be beat by polymer, ever. Not to mention you can't ever get rosewood or pearl grips for the M17/18.
 
SteinwayTransitCorp

SteinwayTransitCorp

Well-known member
Ph1llip said:
The 1911 was always easier to hold because of the slimmer width of the grip. It was also the one that spiffed up the nicest if you were in full dress. And of course, the feeling of an all-metal frame action will never be beat by polymer, ever. Not to mention you can't ever get rosewood or pearl grips for the M17/18.
Click to expand...
Also looking down the barrel of a 1911 will say……”this is going to hurt”. LMAO
 
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