The 1911 platform has been around for over a hundred years and it has seen many changes and alterations. Today, the 1911 is available as a traditional full-sized handgun in calibers beyond the old .38 Super and .45 ACP rounds. You can now get a 1911 in 9mm Luger and 10mm Auto. Likewise, the single-stack; single-action style of the 1911 has been miniaturized to small pocket guns in .22 LR or .380 ACP.
Many still love all the attributes of the 1911, but in the age of polymer-framed striker-fired pistols, is it still viable to carry? Leaving small pocket pistols aside, the traditional 1911 has shown its age for years. The 1911 is traditionally a heavy all-steel gun, whose single-stack magazine limits its capacity. The grip safety and manual safeties on most models also take some familiarity to use instinctively, compared to modern pistols with passive safety mechanisms. Everyone has an opinion on the 1911 as a carry pistol, including our own Jeremy Stone from GMW (Be sure to watch the full video).
The Good
Jeremy is typical of younger shooters born well after the 1911’s heyday. He has an affinity for polymer-framed pistols and is new to the 1911 platform. He had the opportunity to range test a few different 1911s and 2011s (1911s with a double-stack magazine). These included the Springfield Operator and Prodigy pistols, the Wilson Combat EDC X9, and the Nighthawk Custom. The Springfield Operator was Jeremy’s personal favorite, although the double-stack 9mm EDC X9 might be more generally appealing to the wider audience of shooters.
After shooting and handling these 1911 pistols, Jeremy saw more pros than cons to the platform. Principally, the 1911 has had time on its side and has an advantage few pistols available today have. The 1911 platform has proven itself in combat and on duty, garnering a reputation that lasts. Perhaps most importantly though, is the 1911 has had time to evolve. Almost every manufacturer in the US, and many others beyond, make a 1911 and there is plenty of aftermarket support to boot.
Jeremy also praises the safety of the 1911. All 1911s have a grip safety that has to be depressed, as well as a manual safety that has to be thumbed off to fire. Series 80 and newer pistols will also have a firing pin block as well. It requires conscious thought to operate a 1911 and, in the proper setup, is very safe to carry.
The 1911 is also renowned for its accuracy. This can partially be attributed to its weight. An all-steel 1911 weighs approximately 35-39 ounces, depending on the model you choose. The 45 ACP is a relatively stout cartridge when fired from a lightweight polymer-framed pistol. But the weight of the frame and slide in a steel 1911, compensate for much of the felt recoil and muzzle flip you would otherwise get.
The Bad
Some of the benefits of the 1911 also proved to be some of its drawbacks. For instance, the weight of the 1911 that makes it so easy to shoot also makes it a bear to carry. A full-size 1911 requires a good holster and a strong belt.
The tighter tolerances of mass-produced 1911s make them more accurate, but can also make them more prone to malfunction. The assembly line allows for a certain degree of acceptable tolerances, that can cause parts from either end of the spectrum to be paired together. The end result is one 1911 that runs well while the next can bind up when the pistol heats up or accumulates too much grit. First Generation 1911s were produced on assembly lines but the final assembly was done by hand. The tolerances were not particularly tight and GI models are notorious for rattling. A reliable 1911 can be a throw of the dice from a major maker, but custom models like the Wilson Combat and Nighthawk offer more care and hand fitting that make a serviceable 1911.
Where the 1911 is disappointing for Jeremy is magazine capacity. Modern 2011 pistols come with double-stack magazines that hold fifteen rounds or more, but the 1911 has a single-stack magazine. That makes the pistol easy to carry but limits its round capacity. GI 1911s used seven-round magazines. Modern versions generally hold 8-10 depending on the caliber of your choice. The smaller and lighter (but thicker) Glock 19 can give you fifteen rounds. If having the most capacity possible is important, the 1911 won’t satisfy. But while the 1911 is on the low end of the capacity scale, in all but the most extreme circumstances, it is enough.
Would You Carry a 1911?
The 1911 is as American as baseball and apple pie. But if we take off the nostalgia goggles, there are still legitimate reasons to carry a 1911. The 1911 has been pronounced dead on multiple occasions since the 1940s. Each time, the platform has rebounded and grown even more popular. The US Army searched for a more modern pistol shortly after WWII, after all their trials, the 1911 was still retained. In the 1980s, when the 1911 was finally displaced by 9mm pistols to conform to NATO standards, it was spontaneously embraced by competition circles. Now we live in an era of 1911s and 2011s with more options to come. Shootability and adaptability have led us to the polymer 9mm, but the 1911 platform has both of these attributes in spades. Overweight and outmoded, perhaps, but not quite outclassed.
