Possibly the most
popular handgun of all time. The orginal 1911 has spawned a countless number of clones, accessories, and ripoffs. It was (and still is) manufactured in .45 ACP caliber, although there are cosmetically-indentical variants that fire in other pistol calibers. It is often critisized for it's
small magazine capacity (7), although high-capacity clones are very
popular, such as the
Para-Ordinance P14. The 1911 is known for it's power, accuracy, and dependability. Unlike a traditional hinged trigger, the 1911 utilizes a sliding trigger that pulls straight back, thus further enhancing accuracy. Initially made by John Browning, it was manufactured by
Colt for the US
Army until replaced by the Beretta 92FS (M9) in 9mm caliber in the 80s. There is controversy over the Beretta and it's lack of power, and soldiers are known to scrounge for 1911s in Iraq.