Replacement of the M1911A1 by the Beretta 92F 45 Automatic pistols was of the Model M1911A1. Front sight top is wider to facilitate aimingįor immediate identification, the curved shape of the back of the mainspring housing indicates that the pistol is an M1911A1 as opposed to the straight housing on the M1911.Mainspring housing at the bottom, rear of the handle is arched and knurled to improve shooter's grip.Trigger face is cut back and ridged for better finger pressure control.
45 caliber ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) cartridge. It has a muzzle velocity of 860 fps and uses a. It is 8 ½ inches long and weights 2 ½ pounds. Is a conventional semi-automatic pistol, holding seven rounds in a detachable magazine (photo, left). 45 caliber semiautomatic pistol M1911A1 (a.k.a. Characteristics of the M1911A1 Colt Automatic Pistol Most Airborne soldiers carried their pistols in M-3 shoulder holsters. The M-1 belt holster and the M-3 shoulder holster were issued for the pistol. Many other soldiers and officers obtained and carried a "45" without authorization. It was officially issued to officers, NCOs, demolition personnel and vehicle crews. Colt automatic pistol was much sought after by GIs as a personal back-up weapon. Production ended in 1945 but the substantial inventories were in service for decades afterward until replaced by the M9 Beretta 9mm automatic pistol. Colt, Remington-Rand, Union Switch & Signal and the Ithaca Gun Company manufactured 1,800,000 pistols during WWII.
About 150,000 were produced before World War II. 45 Model 1911A1" in 1922 when some minor design improvements were introduced. It won fame in WWI and was re-designated as the "Pistol, U.S. Army in 1911 as the Automatic Pistol, Caliber. It was first mass-produced by Colt, as its M1905, then adopted, in modified form,īy the U.S. 45 automatic pistol was designed by John Moses Browning. History of the M1911 Colt Automatic Pistol