An in-depth and fully illustrated guide to the legendary pistol that revolutionized modern firearms.

The Colt M1911 is one of the most well-known military weapons of the twentieth century. Designed by John Browning, its innovative recoil operation, as well as its impressive firepower and reliability, gave rise to a new era of automatic pistols. It was the standard-issue sidearm of the US armed forces for more than seventy years and is still in use throughout the world.

This book chronicles the history and design of the M1911 from its initial development, manufacturing, and testing, through its combat use in WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Through more than 370 images, this volume includes close-up views of markings, as well as a serial numbers list, and a visual breakdown of the weapon. Accessories such as magazines, ammunition, holsters, and cleaning kits are featured throughout the book, as are rarely seen combat-related uniform and equipment items.