If you are interested in the seemingly timeless 1911 pistol, spend a couple of hours sharing this deep dive into the gun’s development and the fine point details of its construction and subtle modifications through World War I.
If you’re not a firearms nerd, it will probably put you to sleep faster than Nembutal.
If you’re a 1911 fan as I am, you’ll enjoy heck out of it. I’ve been studying this gun’s history and use since I was about ten years old, am now a geezer, and still learned things from the above video.
And if you are generally into guns and been wondering what the fuss over this old pistol design is all about, you’ll find it richly educational.
It is truly amazing the wide variety of firearms that John M. Browning was able to design, from single-shot rifles, auto loading & pump shotguns, light & heavy machine guns, lever actions and all manner of pistols… and all in his head.
C&Rsenal is the gold standard of gun history content. If you want the real deep dive, start with their Colt 1900 and work your way up with each model to get to the 1911.
welp, ima chime in here. through all my competition years IDPA, USPCA and participating in both MAG 40 and MAG 80 classes the 1911 is/was my go-to pistol. both in .45ACP and 9mm. then the hands got old and well, the arthritis told me to look at something friendlier to the age related condition. i discovered a polymer framed, internal hammer fired pistol that is in its form, a 1911. lighter to carry too which means the low back REALLY appreciates some relief in everyday carry. i used to be a 1911 snob because of the trigger weight and reset, but some things have to be sacrificed in embracing this aging process. the gun i am now carrying is the S&W EZ M&P shield chambered in 9mm, with ambidextrous thumb safety. thanks to John Browning for this and S&W for doing their best to make something equivalent for us old guys…
Interesting video. Did not fall asleep. I guess that makes me a gun nerd. For what it’s worth, Nembutal (pentobarbital) production in the US stopped in 1999. Therefore, anyone who understands the drug reference and watched the entire video marks themselves as an old gun nerd. Alas…Je m’accuse.
Speaking of nerdy 1911 topics, Mas, what do you think of titanium firing pins in series ’70 style guns as an additional form of drop-safety (beyond regular interval replacement of the firing pin return spring every 6000 rounds)? I have seen data showing that titanium firing pins did improve resistance to drop induced discharges; but only anecdotal or theoretical concerns over light primer strikes or broken firing pins, which would be the counter argument against their use.
I am in favor of them. I have several and they all work fine.
Mas, any concerns about titanium pins in high-power loads? For example, I’m finishing off my time as a gunsmithing student by completing the very first project I started so long ago, a 7″ .450 SMC. I seem to recall that .45 Super and .450 SMC originally called for heavy pins and superheavy springs… is the Ti pin contraindicated here? Big beast is as long as my forearm…
Not that I’ve heard of, but check with the manufacturer of the base gun to be sure.
Mas, there is no “base”–this is a full-on from-bare-frame custom that I started planning back when we were on AmBack Forum with Fernando and the gang. I wish Charlie Petty were still with us to see what he helped make possible… and I hope if your wrists allow someday you can have a chance to test-drive the beast – even though she’s not *meant* to ever be a defensive-duty gun, I’ve tried to craft something in keeping with your general philosophies while still keeping the WWII-to-’50s ‘retro’ aesthetic.