What Makes Colt 1911 Originals So Popular?

There are few handguns as popular as 1911s; perhaps none. Just look at the number of variants and 1911 clones there are out there. Tons of companies have manufactured 1911s or clones in their day, including Wilson Combat, Springfield Armory, Rock Island Armory, and many others.

But rarely do any manufacturers approach the quality of Colt 1911 originals, which to this day command a premium - and a lot of prestige. This short post will break down some of the reasons Colt 1911 originals are, and have always been, in such high demand.

Durability

Among other things, Colt 1911 originals are extremely durable handguns. Made with steel frames, these things are fairly heavy in the hand, and if you keep them clean and in good order, they will last as long or longer than pretty much anything else out there. They are originals, after all, and they still work.

Nothing against polymer-framed handguns like the VP9 or Glock pistols. Even though polymer is lighter than steel, it just can’t match it for downright toughness.

Simplicity

Some handguns are stacked with special optics, attachment points, and less than intuitive controls. While the 1911 does have an external safety, as a general rule, these are very, very simplistic handguns with basic controls that are more or less intuitive. This makes them friendly to new shooters and also makes operation straightforward in a crisis or stressful situation.

Reliability

Reliability often goes hand in hand with simplicity; it certainly does here. These are extremely reliable handguns that are quite well-renowned for their ability to continue working as intended even when conditions are not favorable. Naturally a well-clean and oiled 1911 is going to shoot more smoothly than one that’s caked with fouling, but they’re reliable nonetheless.

A Slim Frame and Easy Concealment

Despite the fact that Colt 1911 originals are so solidly built, they have a deceptively thin frame and overall width. This is due in part to the fact that they feed from a single-stack magazine which, though it limits capacity, seriously shaves down the profile of the gun.

This makes 1911 handguns very slim and fairly easy to conceal. One of the great things about them is that, despite the fact that some of them are rather large handguns, they don’t print that  readily. All you need is a light jacket or other layer over most 1911s and they usually don’t print.

The Cartridge

Other cartridges like 9mm Luger and .40 S&W may have put a dent in the popularity of .45 ACP, but all the same, it just won’t die. There is a dedicated fan base of this cartridge that will never abandon it.

Nor should they. Despite the advantages of lighter modern cartridges like the former, .45 ACP produces significantly more stopping power despite producing only a little more recoil. That could be because the bullets are both slower and heavier.

To be fair, .45 ACP is also more expensive, but when you need the stopping power, you need it.

Accuracy, Relatively Low Recoil

The Colt 1911 is an accurate handgun, all the more so when you add a match-grade barrel and shoot high-quality ammunition.

Add to this the fact that they produce generally little recoil due to their sizable heft. Though they are slim, that steel frame adds some, and it absorbs a lot of recoil.

That helps to cancel out some of the advantages on that front with respect to lighter cartridges.

The Trigger

Colt 1911 originals have single-action, straight-pull triggers. The trigger alone is one of the strongest selling points of the gun, and the one attribute that gets nearly universal acclaim from all shooters.

Because it is a straight pull trigger, it only moves in one dimension - along the line straight to the rear. This means it’s easier to shoot the gun accurately than some triggers which swing rather than slide.

The “Americana” Cool Factor

Even if you canceled out everything mentioned so far and argued that Colt 1911 originals are average guns, and that there are better guns in better calibers that offer greater capacity (which can easily be argued) there’s one thing no other gun quite has.

Colt 1911 originals are as American as baseball, apple pie, hot dogs and Chevrolet. Honestly, more so. This is the gun that was carried by our servicemen through two World Wars and which has since been carried by millions of law enforcement officers and civilians.

There’s no way to cheat that aesthetic. It’s part and parcel of a Colt 1911 original.

Shop Colt 1911 Originals and 1911 Accessories Here

Here for 1911 accessories or Colt 1911 originals? Take a look at both on our website, and note that our Colt original 1911 pistols are import stamped as required by the ATF. If you have any questions about what we sell or what 1911 accessories are compatible with what models, get in touch with us at 610-250-3960 and we’ll be happy to help.