Colt Model 1911 Research Paper

Throughout the history of the United States, we have been involved in military conflict, both here and abroad. Whether fighting for independence in Yorktown or fighting terrorism in Baghdad, our nation’s military has been defined by brave soldiers, and their weapons or war. While weaponry has advanced incredibly throughout history, it is certain that the Colt Model 1911 can be considered one of the greatest military inventions of the 20th century. Great inventions are almost always born out of necessity, and the Colt Model 1911 certainly can claim that origin. In order to understand how this classic American firearm came to be, we need to revisit history.

The United States occupied the Philippines as a result of winning the Spanish-American

GI’s everywhere carried the Colt 1911 with great results. The Colt Model 1911 was such a popular fixture in soldier’s lives that it even became part of military recruiting campaign posters. During World War II, there was such a great need for more 1911’s that old stock from World War I were brought back into service. These guns were refurbished for service at repair facilities called “arsenals”. Even with refurbished pistols being called into service, Colt could not keep up with the demand while still maintaining quality. Due to this, Colt contracted with other companies to assist in building these guns. Some of the companies who built 1911’s during the war included the Singer Sewing Machine Company, the Remington Rand Typewriter Company, the Ithaca Firearms Company, and the Union Switch and Signal Company. Due to the involvement of these other companies, Colt was able to keep up with demand, and production of these guns certainly helped to spur the

40 years after it was developed, the Model 1911 found itself again pressed into service during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. True to its reliability, the Model 1911 continued to be instrumental in the Vietnam War. Year after year, the Colt Model 1911 served alongside our nations’ military. Finally, in 1985 the Colt Model 1911 handgun was retired from service as the military’s main sidearm. While some smaller military units continued to carry it, it had virtually become extinct in military service. In 2012 that changed again, as the United States Marine Corps returned back to the 1911 in issuing the Colt Model 1911 Close Quarters Battle Pistol to its