03/29/2026
β€οΈ
This Day in History: March 29th, 1911 - the U.S. Army Formally Adopts the C**t Model 1911 Pistol
Arguably the most iconic American handgun in the 20th Century was the Model 1911 pistol invented by John M. Browning. Evolving from the Model 1905 and chambering the .45 ACP cartridge; the C**t went head-to-head with a pistol from Savage during the military trials. In late 1910 at a test attended by John Browning, 6,000 rounds were fired through the Model 1911 during a two-day period. When the pistol began to overheat, it was immersed in water to cool it off. The C**t pistol passed the test with zero malfunctions while its opponent had 37 βhiccups.β
Following this success, the C**t/Browning pistols was formally adopted by the Army on March 29th, and it was designated the Model of 1911, later shortened to Model 1911. In 1913, it also became the service pistol of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. It served with distinction during WWI and because of battlefield experiences in 1924, some external changes were made that included a shorter trigger, cutouts in the frame behind the trigger, an arched mainspring housing, a longer grip safety, a wider front sight, a shortened hammer spur, and simplified grip checkering. It then was designated the Model 1911A1 and remained in general service until 1985; a span of almost three quarters of a century.