Front Sight, Press

The classic definition is this:

“In its final form, the M1911 was a locked-breech, single-action semi-automatic pistol. It was chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge and had a magazine capacity of seven rounds. Its weight unloaded was 39 ounces; overall length was 8.25"; the height was 5.25". Sights were fixed, although the rear sight was housed in a dovetail slot that allowed it to be drifted either left or right for windage adjustments. The pistols were finished in blue and fitted with checked wood stocks. The design includes a manual safety, a grip safety and a slide stop.” – The Sight M1911

OK, that’s what it was in 1911 when the Army Ordnance board adopted it as the sidearm of the U.S. Armed Forces. It was a single-action .45 caliber semi-automatic with a 5” barrel. Life was simple then. In the mid-1920’s it went through some minor changes, mostly involving the trigger and beavertail, and became the M1911A1. All the while, Colt was producing a “Government Model” for commercial sales to civilians which closely matched the form of the G.I. gun. But, in 97 years of its life, the design has experience some “mission creep.” It has been built with 3”, 3.5”, 4”, 4.25”, 5”, and 6” barrels. 8, 10,14 and other capacity magazines have been built for it. It has been chambered in 9mm, .38 Super, .40 S&W, 10mm, 9×23mm, and other cartridges. Yet, the pistol remains a “1911”. What is it that remains consistent through all of the myriad variations?

In this observer’s humble opinion, the defining characteristic of the M1911 pistol is its action. That which does not change across all of the design permutations is the action which is single and the grip safety and the manual or thumb safety. If the pistol has these characteristics, it is a 1911. Without them, it is not. Here’s a diagram of the action:

For me, this “single-action” mechanism is what gives the 1911 pistol its uniquely wonderful trigger. The single-action mechanism is simple. It only has to do two things: release the hammer when the trigger is pulled, and capture it again when the rearward motion of the slide cocks it. The additional mechanism needed to pull the hammer back during the trigger pull in a double action pistol is not present in the single-action. This means it is simpler, smoother, and requires less motion to activate. It also makes it easier to work on.

The 1911 trigger is fast and accurate because the trigger pull is so very short. Some consider this a liability. It isn’t hard to set off a 1911. Law enforcement officers facing tense situations may choose to carry a gun with a heavier trigger, and I won’t fault them. A 1911 trigger properly tuned “breaks like a glass rod.” There is no long, crunchy trigger pull to get the pistol to finally break a shot. The trigger pull is very short and crisp. Mil-spec is 5.5-6 lbs. of pressure. Most 1911 shooters like their triggers tuned down to 3.5-4 lbs. Bullseye shooters will take them down to the 2 lb. range. That’s a little light for me, but I don’t shoot bullseye. My carry gun, a Kimber Pro Carry, has a 3.5 lb. trigger. Don’t make me nervous.

By inference, guns like the Ballister-Molina and the Para-Ordnance LDA are not 1911 pistols. They may be nice, solid guns, but they do not meet the definition of the the 1911. The Ballister-Molina lacks the grip safety. The Para-Ordnance LDA is a double action, not a single action, pistol. The 1911 trigger does not pivot; it moves straight back. The LDA trigger pivots on an axis and is more like a Glock trigger than it is like a 1911.

In the 97 years that it has reigned as the gold standard of fighting and competitive handguns, no one has come up with a better trigger than John M. Browning did on the M1911. It may make you nervous, and it may scare your administrators, but when it comes to hitting what you’re aiming at, and hitting it fast, the 1911 has no equals.