The Legendary Colt .45

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Recommended: History of American gun culture and history

The Colt .45 M1911 is often considered the most successful handgun ever created. Although John Moses Browning designed the innovative gun for the U.S. military in 1911, it has been used and beloved by many to the present day. The world-renowned handgun has generated an abundance of imitators due to its simplicity and adeptness, however Browning had the intellect to create the very first model. Since its adoption by the U.S. Army in 1911, conveniently before the outset of World War I, the M1911 has become an “an iconic part of military and American history.” (“Multi-million Dollar Order for Colt .45 M1911”) In addition to being featured heavily in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, the gun has also played an incredibly significant role in recreational use by American citizens. Furthermore, the Colt .45’s status as “the most famous automatic firearm in handgun history” is largely because of the fact that American culture has embraced its presence so readily and graciously (Elliot). Indeed, John Browning’s simple, yet incredibly pioneering design of a single action, semiautomatic pistol, greatly influenced the gun industry and U.S. Military while also leaving an impact on American culture.

While the legendary .45 caliber, M1911 pistol first made its debut in 1911, a complete insight into its formulation begins approximately 15 years prior when the United States engaged the Spanish in a war in response to the “sinking of the battleship USS Maine in Havana Harbor (Engen). After a trouncing of the “Spanish fleet at Manila Bay in March 1898,” United States troops entered Spain, including the southern islands, to abolish the colonial government (Engen). Not coincidentally, the M...

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...ews (New York). (June 5, 2011

Sunday): 651 words. LexisNexis Academic. Web. Date Accessed: 2013/11/11.

Engen, Scott. "The History of the 1911 Pistol." - Browning Article. N.p., 24 Jan. 2011. Web. 11

Nov. 2013.

Jacobellis, Nick. "Arming Uncle Sam: U.S. Sidearms Of World War II." World War II 17.9

(2003): 66. Military & Government Collection. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.

Shideler, Dan. Gun Digest Book of Classic Combat Hundguns. Gun Digest Books, 2011.

Thompson, Leroy. The Colt 1911 Pistol. Osprey Publishing, 2011.

"U.S. Marines place multi-million dollar order for Colt .45 M1911, the 'world's greatest

handgun'." Asian News International (ANI). (July 29, 2012 Sunday ): 279 words. LexisNexis Academic. Web. Date Accessed: 2013/11/11.

Wright, Becky. "Model 1911 Browning Pistols Displayed." McClatchy - Tribune Business

News May 20 201. ProQuest. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.

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