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70-500: The HK45 was designed to meet requirements set forth in the U.S. Military Joint Combat Pistol program which had the purpose of arming the U.S. Military with a .45 ACP semi-automatic pistol instead of the 9mm M9 pistol . Heckler & Koch developed the HK45 with the help of retired SFOD-D operator Larry Vickers and firearms instructor Ken Hackathorn. The Joint Combat Pistol program was suspended in 2006 and eventually cancelled due to

140-624: A 100-year span of military history. While new sidearms were adopted at a fairly steady pace in the late 19th century, the 20th century yielded only the M1911 (the result of a 1900 program) and the M9 (the result of a 1980s program, the Joint Service Small Arms Program ). The previous adoption took over a decade, involved several acts of Congress and multiple lawsuits, and stirred up great controversy. The short-lived JCP program

210-421: A fresh cartridge from the magazine and feed it into the firing chamber. At the forward end of its travel, the slide locks into the barrel and is ready to fire again. However, if the fired round was the last in the magazine, the slide will lock in the rearward position, which notifies the shooter to reload by ejecting the empty magazine and inserting a loaded magazine, and facilitates (by being rearwards) reloading

280-622: A limited number of what would be later termed the Interim Close Quarters Battle pistol ( ICQB ). Maintaining the simple recoil assembly, 5-inch barrel (though using a stainless steel match grade barrel), and internal extractor, the ICQB is not much different from Browning's original design. In July 2012, the USMC awarded Colt a $ 22.5 million contract for up to 12,000 M45A1 pistols with an initial order of 4036 pistols to replace

350-474: A low end of around $ 400 for basic models imported from Turkey ( TİSAŞ and GİRSAN ) and the Philippines ( Armscor , Metro Arms, and SAM Inc.) to more than $ 4,000 for the best competition or tactical versions (Wilson Combat, Ed Brown, Les Baer, Nighthawk Custom, and Staccato). Due to an increased demand for M1911 pistols among Army Special Operations units, who are known to field a variety of M1911 pistols,

420-476: A rope lanyard. The metal buckle and fittings were in gilded brass. The buckle had the seal of the U.S. on the center (or "male") piece and a laurel wreath on the circular (or "female") piece. The pistol was a standard-issue M1911A1 that came with a cleaning kit and three magazines. From 1972 to 1981 a modified M1911A1 called the RIA M15 General Officer's Model was issued to general officers in

490-494: A self-loading pistol that would culminate in the official adoption of the M1911 after the turn of the decade. Hiram S. Maxim had designed a self-loading rifle in the 1880s, but was preoccupied with machine guns . Nevertheless, the application of his principle of using cartridge energy to reload led to several self-loading pistols in 1896. The designs caught the attention of various militaries, each of which began programs to find

560-605: A series of specifications and improvements to make Browning's design ready for 21st-century combat, many of which have been included in MEU(SOC) pistol designs, but design and supply time was limited. Discovering that the Los Angeles Police Department was pleased with their special Kimber M1911 pistols, a single source request was issued to Kimber for just such a pistol despite the imminent release of their TLE/RLII models. Kimber shortly began producing

630-563: A single pistol over the course of two days. When the gun began to grow hot, it was simply immersed in water to cool it. The Colt gun passed with no reported malfunctions, while the Savage designs had 37. Following its success in trials, the Colt pistol was formally adopted by the Army on March 29, 1911, when it was designated "Model of 1911", later changed in 1917 to "Model 1911", and then "M1911" in

700-501: A single-stack magazine (which makes for a thinner pistol that is, therefore, easier to conceal), personal defense, target shooting, and competition as well as collections. Numerous aftermarket accessories allow users to customize the pistol to their liking. There are a growing number of manufacturers of M1911-style pistols and the model continues to be quite popular for its reliability, simplicity, and patriotic appeal. Various tactical, target and compact models are available. Price ranges from

770-409: A stipulation that M1911A1s should have serial numbers higher than 700,000 with lower serial numbers designated M1911. The M1911A1 changes to the original design consisted of a shorter trigger, cutouts in the frame behind the trigger, an arched mainspring housing, a longer grip safety spur (to prevent hammer bite ), a wider front sight, a shortened hammer spur, and simplified grip checkering (eliminating

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840-592: A suitable one for their forces. In the U.S., such a program would lead to a formal test at the turn of the 20th century. During the end of 1899 and into 1900, a test of self-loading pistols was conducted, including entries from Mauser ( C96 "Broomhandle" ), Mannlicher ( Mannlicher M1894 ), and Colt ( Colt M1900 ). This led to a purchase of 1,000 DWM Luger pistols , chambered in 7.65mm Luger . During field trials, these ran into some problems, especially with stopping power . Other governments had made similar complaints. Consequently, DWM produced an enlarged version of

910-528: Is noted for its unusual extended slide stop which was specified by Norwegian ordnance authorities. Twenty-two thousand were produced between 1914 and 1940 but production continued after the German occupation of Norway in 1940 and 10,000 were produced for the German armed forces as Pistole 657 (n) . Between 1927 and 1966, 102,000 M1911 pistols were produced as Sistema Colt Modelo 1927 in Argentina , first by

980-627: Is produced under contract by Springfield Armory for the FBI regional SWAT teams and the Hostage Rescue Team. This pistol is made in batches on a regular basis by the Springfield Custom Shop, and a few examples from most runs are made available for sale to the general public at a selling price of approximately US$ 2,700 each. On March 18, 2011, the U.S. state of Utah —as a way of honoring M1911 designer John Browning , who

1050-519: The .45 ACP cartridge . The pistol's formal U.S. military designation as of 1940 was Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911 for the original model adopted in March 1911, and Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911A1 for the improved M1911A1 model which entered service in 1926. The designation changed to Pistol, Caliber .45, Automatic, M1911A1 in the Vietnam War era. Designed by John Browning ,

1120-675: The Burroughs Adding Machine Co. , Winchester Repeating Arms Company , and the Lanston Monotype Company , but the signing of the Armistice resulted in the cancellation of the contracts before any pistols had been produced. Battlefield experience in World War I led to some more small external changes, completed in 1924. The new version received a modified type classification, M1911A1, in 1926 with

1190-613: The Dirección General de Fabricaciones Militares . A similar gun, the Ballester–Molina , was also designed and produced. The M1911 and M1911A1 pistols were also ordered from Colt or produced domestically in modified form by several other nations, including Brazil (M1937 contract pistol), Mexico (M1911 Mexican contract pistol and the Obregón pistol ), and Spain (private manufacturers Star and Llama ). World War II and

1260-785: The HK45 Compact (HK45C.) The HK45C features the same improvements as the full-size HK45, but has a shorter, more conventional straight grip similar to Heckler & Koch's P2000 . The grip can be customized with interchangeable backstraps. The HK45C can use all magazines of the full-size HK45 and the USP Compact chambered in .45 ACP, including the flush 8-round magazines and the extended 10-round 'elephant foot' magazines. An HK45 Tactical (HK45T) and HK45 Compact Tactical (HK45CT) are also available; these variants include an extended threaded barrel for suppressors , and tritium front and rear sights . Extended threaded barrels compatible with

1330-570: The SIG Sauer M18 to replace the M45A1. The Marines began the roll out of the M18 in 2020. The replacement was completed by October 2022. Since its inception, the M1911 has lent itself to easy customization. Replacement sights, grips, and other aftermarket accessories are the most commonly offered parts. Since the 1950s and the rise of competitive pistol shooting, many companies have been offering

1400-558: The SOF Combat Pistol program in terms of its scale, as the army dropped its participation. In the autumn of 2006, the Combat Pistol (CP) program was suspended indefinitely. In a 2007 supplemental session, the congressional defense sub-committee appropriated $ 5 million to a Joint Combat Pistol study. A cross-service US military sidearm is a notable event in that there have been only two major adoption programs over

1470-615: The Special Operations Forces Combat Pistol . Requirements for the JCP included being chambered for caliber .45 ACP , having an integrated Picatinny rail , including day/night sights, and being capable of accepting a suppressor . On March 10, 2006, a modification to the earlier request was made, changing the name from Joint Combat Pistol to Combat Pistol . The number of pistols sought was reduced from 645,000 handguns to 50,000. This effectively reverted to

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1540-694: The Springfield XD and the Heckler & Koch USP , the M1911 shows no signs of decreasing popularity and continues to be widely present in various competitive matches such as those of USPSA, IDPA , IPSC , and Bullseye . In 1986, the USMC Precision Weapon Section (PWS) at Marine Corps Base Quantico began customizing M1911A1s for reconnaissance units. The units served in a new Marine Corps program Marine expeditionary unit (special operations capable) (MEU(SOC)). The pistol

1610-484: The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit began looking to develop a new generation of M1911s and launched the M1911-A2 project in late 2004. The goal was to produce a minimum of seven variants with various sights, internal and external extractors, flat and arched mainspring housings, integral and add-on magazine wells, a variety of finishes and other options, with the idea of providing the end-user a selection from which to select

1680-693: The XM9 trials, eventually leading to the official adoption of the Beretta 92F on January 14, 1985. By the late 1980s production was ramping up despite a controversial XM9 retrial and a separate XM10 reconfirmation that was boycotted by some entrants of the original trials, cracks in the frames of some pre-M9 Beretta-produced pistols, and despite a problem with slide separation using higher-than-specified-pressure rounds that resulted in injuries to some U.S. Navy special operations operatives. This last issue resulted in an updated model that includes additional protection for

1750-461: The "Double Diamond" reliefs). These changes were subtle and largely intended to make the pistol easier to shoot for those with smaller hands. No significant internal changes were made, and parts remained interchangeable between the M1911 and the M1911A1. Working for the U.S. Ordnance Office, David Marshall Williams developed a .22 training version of the M1911 using a floating chamber to give

1820-592: The .22 long rifle rimfire recoil similar to the .45 version. As the Colt Service Ace , this was available both as a pistol and as a conversion kit for .45 M1911 pistols. Before World War II, 500 M1911s were produced under license by the Norwegian arms factory Kongsberg Vaapenfabrikk , as Automatisk Pistol Model 1912 . Then, production moved to a modified version designated Pistol Model 1914 and unofficially known as " Kongsberg Colt ". The Pistol M/1914

1890-619: The 1911's basic field strip), beating the Colt OHWS , a much-modified M1911. Dissatisfaction with the stopping power of the 9 mm Parabellum cartridge used in the Beretta M9 has actually promoted re-adoption of pistols based on the .45 ACP cartridge such as the M1911 design, along with other pistols, among USSOCOM units in recent years, though the M9 has been predominant both within SOCOM and in

1960-428: The 1911A1 in service with some units past 1989. The 1911A1 has never been completely phased out. Modernized derivative variants of the M1911 are still in use by some units of the U.S. Army Special Forces , U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy . The M1911 pistol originated in the late 1890s as the result of a search for a suitable self-loading (or semi-automatic) pistol to replace the variety of revolvers in service at

2030-445: The 1940s. The same basic design has been offered commercially and has been used by other militaries. In addition to the .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol), models chambered for .38 Super , 9×19mm Parabellum , 7.65mm Parabellum , 9mm Steyr , .400 Corbon , and other cartridges were offered. The M1911 was developed from earlier Colt semi-automatic designs, firing rounds such as .38 ACP . The design beat out many other contenders during

2100-465: The DWM design over the Colt and Steyr entries. In any case, a series of field tests from 1907 to 1911 were held to decide between the Savage and Colt designs. Both designs were improved between each round of testing, leading up to the final test before adoption. Among the areas of success for the Colt was a test at the end of 1910 attended by its designer, John Browning. Six thousand rounds were fired from

2170-477: The HK45 and HK45C are also available for purchase from Heckler & Koch USA. Joint Combat Pistol The Joint Combat Pistol was the name for a former US program for a new military sidearm to replace the M9 Pistol , extant from late 2005 to early 2006. The program was started in 2005 and run by USSOCOM . It was the result of a merger of two earlier programs, the army's Future Handgun System (FHS) and

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2240-409: The M1911 as a base model for major customization. These modifications can range from changing the external finish, checkering the frame, to hand fitting custom hammers, triggers, and sears. Some modifications include installing compensators and the addition of accessories such as tactical lights and even scopes. A common modification of John Browning's design is to use a full-length guide rod that runs

2310-646: The M1911 is the best-known of his designs to use the short recoil principle in its basic design. The pistol was widely copied, and this operating system rose to become the preeminent type of the 20th century and of nearly all modern centerfire pistols. It is popular with civilian shooters in competitive events such as the International Defensive Pistol Association and International Practical Shooting Confederation . The U.S. military procured around 2.7 million M1911 and M1911A1 pistols during its service life. The pistol served as

2380-538: The M45 MEU(SOC) pistol. The Marine Corps issued the M45A1 to Force Reconnaissance companies, Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC) and Special Reaction Teams from the Provost Marshal’s Office. The new 1911 was designated M45A1 or "Close Quarters Battle Pistol" CQBP. The M45A1 features a dual recoil spring assembly, Picatinny rails and is cerakoted tan in color. In 2019, the USMC selected

2450-543: The U.S. Armed Forces in the Korean War and the Vietnam War , where it was used extensively by tunnel rats . It was used during Desert Storm in specialized U.S. Army units and U.S. Navy Mobile Construction Battalions (Seabees) , and has seen service in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom , with U.S. Army Special Forces Groups and Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance Companies. However, by

2520-541: The U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force. From 1982 to 1986 the regular M1911A1 was issued. Both came with a black leather belt, open holster with retaining strap, and a two-pocket magazine pouch. The metal buckle and fittings were similar to the M1916 General Officer's Model except it came in gold metal for the Army and in silver metal for the Air Force. After World War II, the M1911 continued to be a mainstay of

2590-510: The U.S. and other countries continue to use (often modified) M1911A1 pistols including Los Angeles Police Department SWAT and S.I.S., the FBI Hostage Rescue Team , FBI regional SWAT teams, and 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment—Delta ( Delta Force ). The M1911A1 is popular among the general public in the U.S. for practical and recreational purposes. The pistol is commonly used for concealed carry thanks in part to

2660-625: The U.S. military in general. Both U.S. Army Special Forces Units and SFOD-D continue to use modernized M1911s, such as the M45 MEU(SOC) and a modified version of the Colt Rail Gun (a 1911 model with an integrated picatinny rail on the underside of the frame) designated as the M45A1 CQBP (Close Quarters Battle Pistol). Browning's basic M1911 design has seen very little change throughout its production life. The basic principle of

2730-531: The USP Compact chambered in .45 ACP and shares the operating principles and many internal parts of that weapon. Significant effort went towards making it more ergonomic than the HK USP Compact. These include a full-size grip eliminating the need for the older weapon's 'elephant foot' cover on the 10-round magazine, an ambidextrous slide release, a more ergonomic grip with finger grooves and interchangeable backstraps to fit differently sized hands. The HK45 uses

2800-407: The chamber, which is accomplished by either pulling the slide back slightly and releasing, or by pushing down on the slide stop, which releases the slide to move forward under spring pressure, strip a fresh cartridge from the magazine, and feed it into the firing chamber. Other than grip screws there are no fasteners of any type in the 1911 design. The main components of the gun are held in place by

2870-463: The features that best fit their missions. The AMU performed a well-received demonstration of the first group of pistols to the Marine Corps at Quantico and various Special Operations units at Ft. Bragg and other locations. The project provided a feasibility study with insight into future projects. Models were loaned to various Special Operations units, the results of which are classified. An RFP

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2940-501: The force of the main spring. The pistol can be "field stripped" by partially retracting the slide, removing the slide stop, and removing the barrel bushing. Full disassembly (and subsequent reassembly) of the pistol to its component parts can be accomplished using several manually removed components as tools to complete the disassembly. The military mandated a grip safety and a manual safety . A grip safety, sear disconnect, slide stop, half cock position, and manual safety (located on

3010-574: The frame/receiver with the arsenal's initials, such as RIA for Rock Island Armory or SA for Springfield Armory. Among collectors today, the Singer-produced pistols in particular are highly prized, commanding high prices even in poor condition. From 1943 to 1945 a fine-grade russet-leather M1916 pistol belt set was issued to some generals in the U.S. Army. It was composed of a leather belt, leather enclosed flap-holster with braided leather tie-down leg strap, leather two-pocket magazine pouch, and

3080-572: The full length of the recoil spring. This adds weight to the front of the pistol, but does not increase accuracy, and does make the pistol slightly more difficult to disassemble. As of 2002, custom guns could cost over and are built from scratch or on existing base models. Some notable companies offering custom M1911s include Dan Wesson Firearms , Les Baer , Nighthawk Custom , Springfield Custom Shop , and Wilson Combat . IPSC models are offered by BUL Armory , Strayer Voigt Inc ( Infinity Firearms ). Many military and law enforcement organizations in

3150-520: The government's selection period, during the late 1890s and early 1900s, up to the pistol's adoption. The M1911 officially replaced a range of revolvers and pistols across branches of the U.S. armed forces, though a number of other designs have seen use in certain niches. Despite being challenged by newer and lighter weight pistol designs in .45 caliber, such as the Glock 21 , the SIG Sauer P220 ,

3220-431: The initial order for M9 pistols was for 300,000 pistols (followed by more later). A Q&A listed the following projected dates: A large variety of .45 ACP pistols were entered into the competition. These include the: M1911 The Colt M1911 (also known as 1911 , Colt 1911 or Colt Government in the case of Colt -produced models) is a single-action , recoil-operated , semi-automatic pistol chambered for

3290-491: The late 1970s, the M1911A1 was acknowledged to be showing its age. Under political pressure from Congress to standardize on a single modern pistol design, the U.S. Air Force ran a Joint Service Small Arms Program to select a new semi-automatic pistol using the NATO -standard 9mm Parabellum pistol cartridge. After trials, the Beretta 92S-1 was chosen. The Army contested this result and subsequently ran its own competition in 1981,

3360-448: The left rear of the frame) are on all standard M1911A1s. Several companies have developed a firing pin block safety . Colt's 80 series uses a trigger operated one and several other manufacturers, including Kimber and Smith & Wesson, use a Swartz firing-pin safety, which is operated by the grip safety. Language cautioning against pulling the trigger with the second finger was included in the initial M1911 manual and later manuals up to

3430-534: The mid-1920s. The Director of Civilian Marksmanship began manufacture of M1911 pistols for members of the National Rifle Association of America in August 1912. Approximately 100 pistols stamped "N.R.A." below the serial number were manufactured at Springfield Armory and by Colt. The M1911 was formally adopted by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps in 1913. The .45 ACP "Model of 1911 U.S. Army"

3500-421: The new .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) cartridge. These three still had issues that needed correction, but only Colt and Savage resubmitted their designs. There is some debate over the reasons for DWM's withdrawal—some say they felt there was bias and that the DWM design was being used primarily as a " whipping boy " for the Savage and Colt pistols, though this does not fit well with the earlier 1900 purchase of

3570-501: The new pistol "should not be of less than .45 caliber" and would preferably be semi-automatic in operation. This led to the 1906 trials of pistols from six firearms manufacturing companies (namely, Colt , Bergmann , Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken (DWM), Savage Arms , Knoble, Webley , and White-Merrill). Of the six designs submitted, three were eliminated early on, leaving only the Savage , Colt, and DWM designs chambered in

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3640-403: The pistol is recoil operation. As the expanding combustion gases force the bullet down the barrel, they give reverse momentum to the slide and barrel which are locked together during this portion of the firing cycle. After the bullet has left the barrel, the slide and barrel continue rearward a short distance. At this point, a link pivots the rear of the barrel down, out of locking recesses in

3710-602: The price of re-arming the entire U.S. armed forces. The M9 pistol remained the standard issue handgun for the U.S. Military until the adoption of the Sig P320 by the U.S. Army in January 2017. Even though the Joint Combat Pistol program had ended, HK decided to make the HK45 available on the commercial market as well as to law enforcement and military groups. The HK45 represents an evolutionary advancement of

3780-708: The resultant surge in demand for the firearm in World War I saw the expansion of manufacture to other contractors besides Colt and Springfield Armory, including Remington- UMC and North American Arms Co. of Quebec. Several other manufacturers were awarded contracts to produce the M1911, including the National Cash Register Company , the Savage Arms Company, the Caron Brothers Manufacturing of Montreal,

3850-689: The round, the 9×19mm Parabellum with fifty weapons chambered for it tested by the U.S. Army in 1903. American units fighting Tausūg guerrillas in the Moro Rebellion in Sulu during the Philippine–American War using the then-standard Colt M1892 revolver, .38 Long Colt , found it to be unsuitable for the rigors of jungle warfare , particularly in terms of stopping power , as the Moros had high battle morale and often used drugs to inhibit

3920-432: The same magazines as the USP Compact chambered in .45 ACP, but with different floor plates. All HK45 magazines will work without modification in a USP Compact chambered in .45 ACP, but magazines of the latter will require new floor plates to work in the HK45. Further improvements include serrations on the front of the slide, a standard Picatinny rail for mounting accessories, and a barrel O-ring for more consistent lock-up of

3990-599: The sensation of pain. The U.S. Army briefly reverted to using the M1873 single-action revolver in .45 Colt caliber, which had been standard during the late 19th century; the heavier bullet was found to be more effective against charging tribesmen. The problems prompted the Chief of Ordnance , General William Crozier , to authorize further testing for a new service pistol. Following the 1904 Thompson-LaGarde pistol round effectiveness tests, Colonel John T. Thompson stated that

4060-855: The slide and barrel as found on higher-end Heckler & Koch models such as the full-size USP Match, Expert and Elite, the Mark 23 and the SFP9/VP9 OR Match. In 2011, the United States Naval Special Warfare Command adopted a variant of the HK45 Compact Tactical under the designation MK 24 MOD 0 . The HK45 is manufactured in Germany and at Heckler & Koch's facility in Newington, New Hampshire . Heckler & Koch also manufactures

4130-422: The slide, and the barrel is stopped by making contact with the lower barrel lugs against the frame. As the slide continues rearward, a claw extractor pulls the spent casing from the firing chamber and an ejector strikes the rear of the case, pivoting the casing out and away from the pistol through the ejection port. The slide stops its rearward motion then, and is propelled forward again by the recoil spring to strip

4200-521: The standard-issue sidearm for the United States Armed Forces from 1911 to 1985. It was widely used in World War I , World War II , the Korean War , and the Vietnam War . The M1911A1 was replaced by the adoption of the 9mm Beretta M9 pistol as the standard U.S. military sidearm in 1985. However, the U.S. Army did not officially replace the M1911A1 with the Beretta M9 until October 1986; production and procurement delays kept

4270-419: The time. The United States was adopting new firearms at a phenomenal rate; several new pistols and two all-new service rifles ( M1892/96/98 Krag and M1895 Navy Lee ), as well as a series of revolvers by Colt and Smith & Wesson for the Army and Navy, were adopted just in that decade. The next decade would see a similar pace, including the adoption of several more revolvers and an intensive search for

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4340-740: The use of M1911 pistols for selected personnel in MEU(SOC) and reconnaissance units (though the USMC also purchased over 50,000 M9 pistols. ) For its part, the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) issued a requirement for a .45 ACP pistol in the Offensive Handgun Weapon System (OHWS) trials. This resulted in the Heckler & Koch OHWS becoming the MK23 Mod 0 Offensive Handgun Weapon System (itself being heavily based on

4410-613: The user, the 92FS, and updates to the ammunition used. During the Gulf War of 1990–1991, M1911A1s were deployed with reserve component U.S. Army units sent to participate in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. By the early 1990s, most M1911A1s had been replaced by the Beretta M9 , though a limited number remain in use by special units. The U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) in particular were noted for continuing

4480-543: The war. At the end of hostilities the government cancelled all contracts for further production and made use of existing stocks of weapons to equip personnel. Many of these weapons had seen service use, and had to be rebuilt and refinished prior to being issued. From the mid-1920s to the mid-1950s thousands of 1911s and 1911A1s were refurbished at U.S. arsenals and service depots. These rebuilds consisted of anything from minor inspections to major overhauls. Pistols that were refurbished at government arsenals will usually be marked on

4550-407: The wood grip panels were replaced with panels made of brown plastic. The M1911A1 was a favored small arm of both U.S. and allied military personnel during the war. In particular, the pistol was prized by some British commando units and Britain's highly covert Special Operations Executive , as well as South African Commonwealth forces. The M1911A1 pistol was produced in very large quantities during

4620-433: The years leading up to it created a great demand. During the war, about 1.9 million units were procured by the U.S. Government for all forces, production being undertaken by several manufacturers, including Remington Rand (900,000 produced), Colt (400,000), Ithaca Gun Company (400,000), Union Switch & Signal (50,000), and Singer (500). New M1911A1 pistols were given a parkerized metal finish instead of bluing, and

4690-403: Was designated the M45 MEU(SOC). Hand-selected Colt M1911A1 frames were gutted, deburred and were then assembled with after-market grip safeties, ambidextrous thumb safeties, triggers, improved high-visibility sights, accurized barrels, grips, and improved Wilson magazines. These hand-made pistols were tuned to specifications and preferences of end users. In the late 1980s, the Marines laid out

4760-422: Was issued for a Joint Combat Pistol but it was ultimately canceled. Currently, units are experimenting with an M1911 pistol in .40 S&W , which will incorporate lessons learned from the A2 project. Ultimately, the M1911A2 project provided a testbed for improving existing M1911s. An improved M1911 variant becoming available in the future is a possibility. The Springfield Custom Professional Model 1911A1 pistol

4830-406: Was not an exception, only surviving a few months before being drastically scaled back and renamed. Its successor, the Combat Pistol program fared even worse, being halted just a few months later. This was based on original solicitation, which was later modified, and finally, heavily changed in March 2006, with the program renamed to Combat Pistol . While this is the max procurement, in comparison

4900-412: Was used by both U.S. Army Cavalry troops and infantry soldiers during the United States' Punitive Expedition into Mexico against Pancho Villa in 1916. By the beginning of 1917, a total of 68,533 M1911 pistols had been delivered to U.S. armed forces by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company and the U.S. government's Springfield Armory . However, the need to greatly expand U.S. military forces and

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