The 1911 Pistol

I have always loved guns, handguns in particular, since I was a little kid. When I was in sixth grade, I purchased my first ever airsoft gun - a springer pistol - as a Christmas present for myself. It was a Taiwan-made KWC M1911A1 shiny silver plastic toy gun that shoots yellow 6mm plastic ball bearings (BB) or pellets.

The Tokyo Marui M1911A1 Gas Blowback airsoft pistol based on the original Colt M1911A1

There were other models such as the Beretta M92F and the SIG P226, but the 1911 stood out to me for many reasons. One of which is that the design really appeals to me: the looks. Also, this particular pistol is very familiar because in the Philippines, where I'm from, it is probably the most widely used or the most popular handgun at that time (and probably it still is). Our country was hugely influenced by the Americans since World War II and the 1911 is one of the things that had been left and passed on to the Filipino tradition. Almost all, if not all Filipino action movies have used the John M. Browning-designed single-action, semi-automatic pistol, usually as the protagonist's primary and only weapon (which didn't seem to run out of ammo; and that is without reloading!).

When I entered the world of competitive airsoft in 2003, it dawned on me that after more than a decade, I still love the 1911 pistol. It still is my first choice for a handgun, my secondary weapon, during games. Just like the real steel 1911s, the airsoft counterpart is reliable and easy to operate. And just like everything else, there's a story behind this weapon.

The original real steel design by Mr. Browning - which has been adopted by the US Army as their service pistol on March 29, 1911, where it got its official designation M1911 (Model 1911) - basically hasn't changed...for more than 100 years now! Its continuous existence in the firearms world, and likely topping the handgun category, is a testament of how reliable this piece of art-and-science is. In fact, many, if not most other handguns that followed it had based their design from the original 1911.

Due to the extent of its use, there have been many manufacturing companies that make different versions of the 1911. Some of the most notable makers of tactical or competition models are Colt, Springfield Armory, Kimber, Dan Wesson, Les Baer, Ed Brown, Wilson Combat, Nighthawk Custom and STI International. The slide, frame and major components have evolved from the original design, but the mechanism has stayed the same. Different military and law enforcement outfits like the Marines, LAPD SWAT,  FBI regional SWAT and the Hostage Rescue Team, require different features and the versatility of the 1911 comes into play. Though John Browning originally designed it to be in its full-length size, modern models of the 1911 also come in compact versions which are popular concealed carry weapons for civilians.

Tokyo Marui's M.E.U. pistol which is based on the M.E.U. (Marine Expeditionary Unit) pistol used by the United States Marines

The 1911 is also the top choice for most recognized and reliable groups. As an example, the LAPD SWAT, the most elite law enforcement unit in the world, had contracted Kimber in 2002 and decided to use one of Kimber's 1911 models, the Kimber Custom TLE (Tactical Law Enforcement) II, as their official service pistol, then renamed it as the Kimber LAPD SWAT Custom II. These tactical models usually come with an under rail in front of the frame to accommodate the use of lasers and flashlights. 

Tokyo Marui Night Warrior Combat Custom pistol with an attached CQ-Flash flashlight

The 1911 is without a doubt an icon, a legend in the firearms industry, as it has been around in military and law enforcement around the world, even in shooting competitions like IPSC, USPSA and IDPA, for more than a century. And we believe it will continue on serving and evolving for the next century or more. And that's why I love 1911s, and I am a proud owner of a few of them. Well, the airsoft replicas at least.