Colt 1911 is the most beloved and revered weapon of more than one generation of Americans. It is considered a symbol of the country. Everyone, from simple housewives to police officers and bandits, preferred him to other brands of weapons. Simple, reliable with excellent stopping power, it gives a sense of security and confidence. The weapon cult in America has its own idol - Colt 1911.
Story
The American company Colt in 1896 acquired from John Moses Browning several patents for the design of automatic self-loading pistols. Among the first samples created Colt Auto Pistol M 1900. It was made under the cartridge 38 caliber.
“Colt 1911” (see photo in the text) was developed on its basis for 45 caliber and got its official name: “Government Model” - M1911 Government. The year of manufacture of the pistol - 1911 - and became its designation. Then he was accepted for long-term armament of the army and navy of America. With various modifications, improvements and changes, he stood in the arsenal of the country for almost eighty years.
Army armament
"Colt" was and is in service with the armies and special services of many countries. For one reason or another, these weapons fell into various parts of the world.
Exploiting countries:
- The United States of America took the gun into service back in 1911. Officially filmed in 1985, but some military personnel, police and private security agencies use it to this day.
- Estonia received 1,500 copies of the Colts under a military assistance program in 1997.
- England was provided with these pistols during the Second World War under the Lend-Lease program (US state program for the supply of weapons to the Allies).
- Norway adopted it in 1913.
- The USSR, like England, received the “Colt” thanks to the Lend-Lease program during the forties of the war.
- Japan adopted the Colt into service with the self-defense forces after the end of the war, in 1945.
- Haiti. The country's national police received a batch of pistols from the United States in 1997.
- Salvador. Through military assistance in the eighties of the twentieth century, 225 units of weapons were delivered from America.
- South Vietnam used the Colts in service with its army until 1975.
Characteristic
The main technical characteristics of the pistol of the Colt 1911 brand 45 caliber:
- caliber - .45 ACP;
- length - 219 mm;
- barrel - 127 mm;
- height - 140 mm;
- width - 30 mm;
- a store - for 7 ammunition;
- weight (without cartridges) - 1106 grams;
- weight (with cartridges) - 1274 grams;
- bullet speed (initial) - 260 m / s;
- effective firing range - 50 m.
Models
In different years, improved and modified pistol modifications were produced. They are presented in the table below:
Year of issue | Model | Description |
1911 | Colt M1911 .45 | Base sample |
1920s | Colt M1911A1 .45 | Changed the shank of the trigger, the shape of the fuse lever (frame), the profile of the rear end of the handle. |
1933 | Colt .22 Ace | For training firing, an analogue of .22 caliber was released. |
1933 | Colt .45 National Match | A sports pistol made of specially selected and carefully hand-fitted parts with an aiming device. |
1937 | Colt .22 Service Ace | The recoil when firing was strengthened to reproduce as accurately as possible an imitation of a shot from the Colt M1911A1 .45. |
1935 | Colt .38 Super Match | An expensive model, improved Colt .38 Super individual assembly. |
1937 | Colt .38 Super | Small-caliber analogue of the M-1191 with a magazine for 9 rounds. |
1949 | Colt commander | Ordering an army for lighter weapons. Colts were made of high-strength aluminum alloy, the barrel became shorter. There were modifications for cartridges .38, 9 mm and 7.65 mm. |
1957 | Colt .45 Gold Cup National Match | Pistols of high build quality, with a sharpened trigger, with some changes to the return spring, the ejector. Issued with sights. |
1971 | Colt combat commander | The rapid wear of aluminum alloy pistols forced manufacturers to revert to a material such as steel. |
1971 | Colt .45 Combat Elite | Made for training shooting, equipped with an aiming device. The handle was completely covered with rubber pads with a rhombic notch. |
1970 years | Colt Officers ACP | Powerful and compact model designed for senior officers of the US Army. Barrel - 88.9 mm, magazine for 6 rounds. |
1987 | Colt .380 Mustang | A small model that has gained wide popularity as a means of home defense. |
1987 | Colt .380 Mustang Pocketlite | One variant of the Colt .380 Mustang, lighter due to aluminum alloy, but with a stronger impact. |
1987 | Colt 10 mm Delta Elite | Model designed for 10 mm cartridge. |
1990 | Colt double eagle | The first model with a trigger (trigger mechanism) double action, which hit the commercial markets. |
1990 | Colt .380 Mustang Plus II | This model has a shutter-casing and a barrel from the Mustang, and the frame from the Government .380, the store began to hold 7 rounds. |
Traumatic Colt
All existing traumatic weapons can be divided into two groups: either converted from a military one, or made similar to military samples. The more famous the brand of the pistol or revolver, the more popular the traumatic option.
After the end of the war (World War II), the production of weapons intended for the self-defense of the population was organized in Germany. The Erma-Werke company (Erfurt) produced pocket-size counterparts of well-known brands at that time. One of the models was very similar in appearance to the American Colt.
Nowadays, a traumatic gun - the Erma-459R model - was created on its base. It is called - the traumatic "Colt 1911" - among lovers. But for specialists, this is far from the case. Too many differences, even external ones, do not allow him to give such a definition. The "filling" of the gun is very far from the original and has nothing to do with it. In its pure form, there is no traumatic Colt.
Pneumatic model
All weapons from the Gletcher trademark are of excellent quality. Gunsmiths know their business and love. The steady demand for the company's products provides a guarantee for all types of pistols and revolvers for a period of 18 months (from the date of purchase) and excellent service. It can be obtained anywhere in the world.
The air gun "Colt 1911 Gletcher" looks almost impossible to distinguish from a combat original. The accuracy of the model is amazing, and a unique movable shutter system provides a very realistic sense of shooting. The rate of fire, high accuracy combined with the durability of the use of models - these are the advantages for which the weapons of the brand Gletcher are valued.
"Colt Gletcher 1911", like the original, is easily and conveniently held in his hand, despite its massiveness. The gun is made of high quality metal alloy, there are plastic pads on the handle. There is a full-size store in it, and a balloon is also inserted there. Air gun "Colt 1911" is equipped with an original system of two fuses. It can be worn in the army when there is a cartridge in the chamber. The automatic fuse on the frame will not allow an accidental shot.
Characteristics of the gun:
- store for 19 charges;
- bullet speed (initial) - 100 meters per second;
- fuses: semi-automatic and automatic;
- USM - single;
- the bore is smooth;
- total length - 205 mm;
- trunk - 96 mm;
- weight - 900 grams;
- cylinder with CO 2 , volume - 12 grams (up to 70 shots);
- Country of manufacture and brand - Taiwan, Gletcher.
Advantages and disadvantages of the pneumatic model
"Colt 1911" pneumatic has its advantages:
- most accurately repeats a combat pistol;
- movable shutter system (blowback) enhances the effect of realism colt;
- high range of aimed shooting - confident 20 meters;
- possible shooting using a preliminary platoon (this provides the type of trigger).
The disadvantages of the model:
- jamming during shooting is possible;
- if the valve moves too freely, balls can get into the gas engine;
- it is better to wear a pistol in a holster: if you sharply deliver a weapon from your pocket, it can catch on clothes.
Although the gun is pneumatic, certain rules of use apply to it:
- you can shoot from it only in places equipped for this purpose: at shooting ranges, at shooting ranges, at shooting and hunting stands or the territory that is surrounded by a fence and there is a guarantee that the bullet will not leave its limits when fired;
- it is possible to transport and carry pneumatic colt in all settlements exclusively in a sheathed condition.
The price of such pneumatics is serious, can reach 300 US dollars.
Application
"Colt 1911" and today is in service in some countries of the world. In the American army, individual units of special forces did not abandon the pistol, tested for reliability for more than a dozen years.
It is in steady demand among the civilian population, not only in America but also in European countries. Fans of weapons transform the "Colts" to the level of a work of art. Tuning is so original and unexpected that it’s just the right time to exhibit such a weapon in a museum.