Two World Wars And Then Some… [OLD SCHOOL]

At the end of the 19th century, European small arms designers produced a number of effective early semi-automatic pistol designs. Many of these designs featured smaller-caliber rounds. 7.65 caliber (.32) rounds were popular in various guises, with .32 ACP being a stand out and still a survivor in 2025, although far less popular even in Europe where it once dominated. 

In the early years of the 20th century, a new caliber, 9×19 Parabellum or 9mm Luger (currently the world’s most popular handgun cartridge over a century on) stormed on to the scene with the introduction of the Pistole 08 or Luger, a pistol that rightfully deserves its legendary status. However, the service life of most of the semi-automatic pistols of this era was short-lived. 

The Luger was meaningfully produced (not counting limited runs) for just over 30 years. The C96 “Broomhandle” had an overall production life with odd variants and runs about as long as the Luger, but in fewer numbers. Pistols such as the Roth-Steyr came and went fairly quickly and a multitude of these early semi-automatic pistol designs lie mostly forgotten today. They were a product of early experimentation and design philosophy that eventually led to better models. 

On the other side of the Atlantic, John Browning, easily arguable as the most influential small arms designer of the 20th century, was working his way through a series of semi-automatic pistol designs. The United States was in the process of emerging from isolationism following the Spanish-American War. 

The U.S. Army had modernized little from 1865 to 1898, with its primary security concern being the continued wars against Native Americans that were mostly resolved by 1890. The Trapdoor Springfield was still issued by the time of the Spanish-American War, and it was little but a converted single-shot musket. The Krag, a mechanically awkward rifle, was adopted and in use by 1898. American troops found it wanting compared to the Mausers they faced. 

Following the “accidental empire” created in the wake of the Spanish-American War, American troops found themselves engaged in the Philippines. While the course of that effort was long and bloody, and not without extreme controversy, it revealed that troops were unhappy with the smaller- caliber pistol cartridges being issued by the army. It was felt there was a distinct lack of stopping power, and the United States began testing a series of new designs in new calibers with many semi-automatics becoming a part of the process, including, without irony at the time, the Luger. 

Browning tinkered with many designs during this period. The design that the U.S. Army finally adopted, the 1911, in a caliber Browning designed, .45 ACP, is now a legend. Still produced in essentially its original guise well over a century after its initial introduction and enjoying a renaissance in wide-body 9mm variants, the 1911 is a design that simply refuses to die. Throw the Fudd card all you want, the 1911 endures.

The 1911 and 1911A1 (pictured in this article) are recoil-operated semi-automatic pistols chambered in .45 ACP, although variants have been chambered in other calibers. They are fed through a seven-round box magazine (standard). The pistol weighs 39 ounces as issued. The standard .45 ACP ball ammo, little changed over a century, features a 230-grain FMJ bullet that travels at subsonic speeds (about 850 fps). The bullet is twice (or almost twice) the mass of the zippier 9mm Parabellum weighing in at 115 to 123 grains. 

The 1911 was designed to be a combat pistol, not the match gun it eventually became. Its tolerances are a little loose compared to some other designs (especially the Luger), and the 1911 as issued, rattles a bit, even when new. This allows for combat conditions such as dirt and fouling to have less effect of the function of the gun. The straight-walled magazine is reliable and has hardly changed since it was originally designed. Early 1911 magazines had a lanyard loop attached to the bottom of the magazine, a feature that was later omitted. 

The 1911 was built with safety in mind, mostly at the request of the U.S. Army. It has a grip safety similar to those found on other Browning-designed pistols, and a manual safety on the left side of the frame with the basic two settings, safe and fire. In addition, when the 1911 is in its issued holster, the holster pushes the slide slightly out of battery, adding a third layer of safety. The level of safety in a century-plus design might be a little conspicuous to some today.

The 1911 served well in World War I, and it proved to be reliable and effective. It was issued to the army, navy, and marines, and it developed a reputation as a good sidearm. The legend of the 1911, due partially to its design but more to the men who wielded it in France in 1917, is a story for another article. 

In the interwar period, the army made some slight modifications to the 1911 design, yielding the 1911A1s pictured in this article, both of which were produced in 1943. The most obvious modifications were the addition of a curved mainspring housing with a lanyard loop, shorter trigger, and slightly improved sights. 

The grips were also simplified and went from wood to plastic. The finish was also changed to Parkerization by the time World War II production got into full swing. Earlier 1911 models have some variants in finish from deep blue to “Black Army.” 

During World War II, multiple manufacturers produced the 1911A1, to include Colt, Remington Rand, Ithaca, Union Switch and Signal, and even Singer, the sewing machine company. Of these, the Singers are by far the most valuable, with recent examples having an asking price of over $200,000 in excellent condition.

Following World War II, the 1911A1 continued to serve through Korea, Vietnam, and much of the Cold War. The government rebuilt many 1911A1s through the decades. With the last production guns being built in 1945, training and combat use led to the predictable need to replace worn parts. 

By the 1980s, although many 1911A1s were rebuilt to serviceable standards, the design was beginning to show its age, and trials led to the adoption of the M9 Beretta, a double-action 9×19 sidearm with a capacity over twice that of the 1911A1. 

Yet, the 1911A1 refused to die in U.S. service. Many special operations units, including MEUSOC, refused to relinquish their 1911s, and various special operations units requested 1911s as late as GWOT. Many pistols wielded by the grandfathers or great-grandfathers of the operators were once more pressed into service in the early 2000s. 

Although the 1911 is the subject of social media memelords in 2025, it was an effective sidearm for a century of use in the United States. Although not as modern or reliable as modern designs, it deserves its status as an icon. 

With the release of many thousands of 1911A1s from the U.S. Army through the CMP (Civilian Marksmanship Program), they are once again easier to find for the curious and the collector, although civilian manufacture has never ceased. Price ranges vary for an issued 1911A1. On the low end, a well-used example might be found under $1,000; a cared for or re-arsenaled 1911A1 as issued will start at $1,300 or more. 

Nicer guns with all original parts from the common manufacturers, including Colt, Ithaca, and Remington Rand will start north of $2,000. Union Switch and Signal guns in nice condition can command $5,000 with little problem, and the aforementioned Singers are rare with only about 500 being produced and good examples now being priced at north of $200,000.

More will follow on this firearm, its history, and its legacy.

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