A classic M1911A1 with deep royal blue finish.
The M1911 pistol is a single-action, semi-automatic, magazine-fed, recoil-operated pistol chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge, which served as the standard-issue sidearm for the United States Armed Forces from 1911 to 1985. The M1911A1 pistol was General Ramon Esperanza's sidearm after overpowering the Young Corporal on the plane.
Design and History[]
The M1911 is a heavy, all steel single-action semi-automatic pistol equipped with a beavertail grip safety. The 1911 had some problems such as a poor trigger, so it was replaced by the M1911A1. The M1911A1 is generally viewed as one of the finest combat pistols ever designed, and the first successful self-loading pistol. The 1911 was designed in 1911 by American firearms inventor John Browning and is the oldest service pistol in the world, still used in over 25 nations for over 100 years; it has proven itself to be one of the most popular and timeless handguns ever made. The M1911 holds eight rounds in a single-stack magazine and comes with checkered wood grips. The M1911 is reknown for its ergonomics. The 1911 has inspired countless copies and similar designs, including the TT-33, SIG-Sauer P226, Browning Hi-Power and CZ-75.
The 1911 served as the standard-issue sidearm for the United States Armed Forces from 1911 to 1985. It was first used in later stages of the Philippine-American War, and was widely used in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The M1911 is still carried by some U.S. forces. Its formal designation as of 1940 was Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911 for the original Model of 1911 or Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911A1 for the M1911A1, adopted in 1924. The designation changed to Pistol, Caliber .45, Automatic, M1911A1 in the Vietnam era. In total, the United States procured around 2.7 million M1911 and M1911A1 pistols in military contracts during its service life.
The M1911 was replaced by the 9x19mm Beretta M9 pistol as the standard U.S. sidearm in the early 1990s, but due to its popularity among users, it has not been completely phased out. Modernized derivative variants of the M1911 are still in use by some units of the U.S. Army Special Forces, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. Designed by John Browning, the M1911 is the best-known of his designs to use the short recoil principle in its basic design. The pistol was widely copied, and this operating system rose to become the preeminent type of the 20th century and of nearly all modern centerfire pistols. It is popular with civilian shooters in competitive events such as USPSA, IDPA, International Practical Shooting Confederation, and Bullseye shooting. Compact variants are popular civilian concealed carry weapons, because of the design's inherent slim width and the power of the .45 ACP cartridge.
Die Hard 2[]
After strangling the Young Corporal to death with his handcuffs, Esperanza took his pistol and broke through the cabin. Esperanza shot both the Val Verde Pilot and the Val Verde Co-Pilot, breaking a window in the process and causing the plane to lose cabin pressure. When the plane arrives on Runway 25R, he was prepared to shoot anyone else who confronted him, but did not see John McClane smash him with the door. It is unknown what happened to the pistol after this.