The early models look like drawings I did when I was a kid trying to draw guns

"The slide could potentially come straight back and... well, into your face." I wonder who the firsr poor bastard was that figured that out...

"Colt wanted to maintain their commercial market" shame they don't think that way anymore

This is likely the best piece of info on the evolution of John Moses Browning's 1911 pistol design available anywhere online. Props, Ian.

I met a US Cavalryman who served as a tractor driver in Iraq in 1991. He was issued an M1911 (original. Not A1.) And an M3 Grease Gun.

Man, those 1902 firearms were so beautiful it isn't even funny.

can we just appreciate that noise 26:50

This is probably one of the most prevalent still in use firearms from the early 20th century. the only others i can think of being the 1919 machine gun also designed by J.M. Browning. that guy was a genius. he even invented the pistol slide. The lee enfield is up there too. The mauser action is still used in a lot of bolt guns as well.

Still never understood how he could do these videos, in an auction house, and come home with ANY money left to his name lol

One thing I learned from this is I have a 1911 A1 after comparing mine to what you displayed.

And lo, Gun Jesus came down from on high to tell man and woman about the divine handgun, and it was good.

As I watched your video, I for the first time realize that the rear sight on my 1911 which my father who served in the Navy in WWII has an A1 rear sight. I was told many years ago that my 1911 with serial # 417305 was probably manufactured in 1918. I never got the story on how my father go this gun or that he even had a gun until after his death when I was 15 years old. I'm 60 now and this gun is my prize possession as far as guns go. My late mother made him get it out of the house when we were kids. After getting my first gun an Ithaca model 37 12 gauge pump when I was 16. My Mother told me a close family friend had it and I didn't know what it was, my imagination as a 16 year old thought Navy Revolver or some Japanese pistol. When my father best friend told me it was a Colt 1911 my jaw dropped. I asked how much will it cost to get my fathers gun back and he said I did not buy it and if your Mothers okay with it it's yours. He never expected any of my Dads sons to ask about it. Sorry for the long story the only other thing is that my older Brother was pissed that I got the gun...I let him hold it as I was stationed in Germany for 3 years in the 80s with the US Army Field Artillery. I actually had a M1911A1 as my issued firearm at Fort Stewart in the late 80s.

I'm an illustrator, and I'm drawing a series of pistols for a friend's husband as a Christmas gift. Right now I'm drawing a 1911A1, so this video is perfect "music" as I'm drawing. Well done, Rock Island Auction. This is an incredibly informative and articulate video, and I thank you for it.

If that 1911 could talk, imagine the stories it would tell...

Very technically and historically informative. And except for the 1911 and 1911A1, the closest I will ever come to any of these Colt/Brownings. It's not a big deal today for a manufacturer, SIG, Ruger, S&W to come out with a "new"1911A1, but it astounds me to think of John Browning doing it. With nothing to build off of and no pattern to follow, the ideas that he came up with were inspired genius. All that with mostly just hand tools, files, hammers, dividers and drills! Thanks John, you may be gone but you will never be forgotten. Everyone who has ever owned a gun in the last 120 years or so has held a part of your vision and genius in some form or way.

My gosh that pockethammer is beautiful

John Browning was such a genious! Think of all the awesome guns we wouldn't have today without him... Thank you so much Mr. Browning! 😀👍

"Fairly catastrophic"

60 years ago, I was reading every firearms magazine to try and get a handle on these, along with the WHB Smith tome. This is put together really well. Thank you. Narragansett Bay

the 1900 sight safety model = pure sexyness, and in. 38 acp too 👍👍👍

Good God... there aren't many inanimate objects that physically arouse me, but early Colt automatic pistols are definitely one of them.

I really wish they had kept that sexy long slide. I know Freud, I have a complex.

Table of Contents: Development of the Model 1911 Pistol - Forgotten Weapons 2:00 Colt Automatic Pistol (Model 1900 Sight Safety) 5:48 Model 1902 Sporting (this example converted from a 1900 Sight Safety) 8:06 Model 1902 Sporting (new production as such) 9:25 Disassembly and Functioning (covers all models from the 1900 to the 1908) 12:54 Model 1902 Military 16:01 Model 1903 Pocket Hammer (so named to distinguish it from the 1903 Pocket Hammerless) 18:25 Model 1905 20:47 Savage 1907 in .45 ACP 23:26 Model 1907 23:26 Model 1909 23:26 Model 1910 25:49 Model 1911 27:24 Model 1911A1 28:59 Model 1924 Transitional (not a formal designation)

I like that you mentioned the cadaver tests by Thompson. I just finished "The Gun" and Chivers spent some time on those tests. We've come a long way in ballistic science since shooting suspended cadavers and seeing how far they swing :p

What a great video on the 1911. I didn't realize that it was such a long process in the development of the 1911. I'm glad the military insisted on the grip safety. That was one of the best innovations for all guns.

After watching C&Rsenals videos on the early Colt revolvers, I can't help but draw a connection between the barrel locking wedge that held them together, and the slide wedge that holds these early autos together. Just funny how that element reappears at the beginning of both repeating firearm revolutions.

Ian, thanks very much for doing these. Many of us folks are historical minded, love gizmo's and have only seen stuff like this as drawings or fuzzy black and white pic's in old books. Very VERY cool !

26:50 _Ahhh, that sound..._

Best looking hand gun of all time!

i think the savage .45 looks great, kinda looks like a gun flash gordon would use!

I fell in love with the .45 back in boot camp ('80), nothing says "you're doomed" more than that sound of chambering a round. Factoid: I remember watching a "How it's Made" episode on how cordless drills were made and they specified that the grips of every cordless on the market is based on the 1911A1.

The Savage 1907 "Buck Rogers Ray-Gun"

Awesome video. I believe this is one of my favorite on Forgotten Weapons, but I do have a soft spot for the 1911.

"I don't enjoy killing, but when done righteously, it's just a chore, like any other." Joshua Graham

Great presentation on the M1911. Always love knowing the history of the pistol that I want to own. Thank you!

I just wanted to thank you for the hours of cool and interesting content on your channel, thanks Ian!

Ian's channel makes learning fun again. I can't get enough of it, every time I see a new video I legitimately get excited to learn something new

This is a great video. It was really neat to see the transitions here. Thank you

Kudos Ian!! The most expansive history of the 1911 that I have seen-lol

Browning was an absolute genius when it came to firearm design. Over 100 year old design and still sells like crazy

Another great history lesson. Thanks for sharing your knowledge on the 1911.

My favourite pistol of all time!

This is a really well done, well detailed look at the history of this iconic firearm. I didn't even look at the length of the video, and by the time it was over I saw a half hour went by. Very entertaining, thanks for this.

Fantastic video, Ian. I still rewatch this at least once yearly, it's essential viewing for any 1911 enthusiast.

Best designed hand gun in history. A 1911 just feels right in your hand when you hold it.

17:17 Watch out, Ian! A sniper! I actually like a lot the design of the Pocket Hammerless, it looks very neat. It's incredible how long they went on with production without a safety, though :S The Savage looks like the illegitimate child of a TT33 and a Ruger MK II :P

One of my favorite pistols for its history and the first gun I ever fired. Thank you for making this video it really captures what went into the 1911 as we know it. Watching this for oh probably the third time but had to say thank you. Rock on, and keep making these vids. They bring the background and history to life!

A 45 collectors dream....if only....! You did a good job with the back ground. I don't think anyone else has laid it out with all the different models like this. Enjoyed it!

Fantastic video, Ian! The 1911 is one of my favorite handgun designs.

Bravo job well done. The 1911 is, was, and always will be the best side arm a man can carry.

The best. A wonderful view of the Colt 1911. Clear pictures and descriptions of each.

Nice video man. I could wait for the next one every time. Even though you didn’t have all of the models, you did a great job of explaining.

"cadaver testing" .. they shot dead bodies lol

Hm I cant help it, everytime someone mentions pistols the first picture that comes to my mind is a 1911...

Such a professional layout for this channel. With a slight humor here and there. Bravo!

I am so impressed with how much info Ian can store in his head...!Great job Ian...! ....I love to learn the history of anything that I own or owned....great video...!

a 1908 browning in 9mm browning, as adopted by sweden, would be sweet. john jay

When I taught my son to shot handguns a few years back, he kept going back to the 1911 despite all the newer choices on the table. When I asked him which handgun he wanted for his first? Same answer. If Glock is "perfection", then the 1911 is in a class of it's own.

Great vid Ian. Slowly becoming one of my favourite firearms presenters on KZfaq. You and Hicock 45 put some awesome material up.

Bless you ian and crew for hours and years of pure enjoyment...honestly thank you. I cant afford many guns much like ian in the beginning stage so thanx for helping me scratch the itch love you guys

That sight safety is goofy as hell.

The fact that it went from incredibly ugly to one of the most sexy guns ever just makes the gun even better.

Now, that was very interesting and informative. I appreciate this kind of approach to a topic; rich in information, to-the-point and non-exaggerating or bragging, no derogative tone - this is how information should be given. Not being a typical "gun-guy" myself, I really enjoyed every minute of this video, so thanks a lot for uploading this !

Great historical review of a classic gun. Much appreciated. 1911 was my carry gun in USMC for many years.

Very informative. Thank You.

I own a dozen 1911’s from a WW2 colt to everything up to STI 2011’s, Sigs, Les Baer ect. I love this platform and I’ve owned about every popular handgun made. John Browning was 100 years ahead of his time. The modern handguns Glock ect. are junk. In my opinion the only new platform out there that holds a candle to a 1911 would be a FN 57.

Fascinating stuff man. I appreciate the research you did on this and loved seeing how the famous 1911 we know today got its shape.

Really cool video, and awesome that you've gotten your hands on such history! Good job

There is no finer design than the 1911/1911A1.

I love the 1911 I think it is still the best most comfortable, hand gun with a quick and crisp trigger there is a reason many of our solders wanted to keep using the 1911, in its final stage it is the most well balanced gun I know with comfort, trigger, caliber, reliability, which increases even more by making an international ramp to prevent the rare Incurance of the slide catching the little depress. a mod done most commonly on race 1911's and is one of the most common hand guns used in race gun competition because of the easily manageable single action trigger. haters are gana have a fit with those words.

Thanks Ian for all your great videos!

Great video. Thanks for showin us all those great and interesting pistols. The 1911 is one of my favorites.

This guy has forgot more than I would ever know.

that was an extremely interesting video!

Really nice to discover the long and somewhat convoluted development of the 1911. Cases of final designs made out a blank sheet are quite rare and even a genius does have to struggle with the paper pen and tests to get everything right. In a way demystifying the 1911 makes it even more interesting, it becomes what it truly is a really nice design with a really nice story. I also wish there were more long dust cover 1911 with blued finishes out there.

Probably my favorite video of yours so far

DAMN YOU ARE ONE SMART DUDE.... THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT VIDS...

Ah my favorite pistol. It's crazy to think how long it has served the us from ww2 soldiers to some police forces who still use it today. It's truly a classic.

Awesome stuff about some of the production history on one of my absolute favorite sidearms ever created.

Learning about firearms gives me a certain satisfaction that no other entertainment or informational channel on youtube can give me. Thank you for your awesome videos sir!

if you could do a video about the FN1910/22 this pistol was used by both allied countries and the germans during ww2 i think it's defintly worth one of your video's

1903 - Back when Colt actually cared about commercial sales.

Finally, a full and comprehensive comparison of pre-1911 Colt automatic pistols, thanks again, sir, excellent job!!!👍👍

Really like your historical firearms knowledge and the ability to teach it.

Imagine, the Army couldve gotten the savage ray gun instead of the 1911 and we would've really had nazi zombies IRL

Excellent video, I was wondering how much input did Browning have at the various stages of the evolution? Was it a case of a Colt Design team working on his original design? I assume he actively worked on the concept in that he developed the tilting barrel for the 1910?

Thanks Ian for your effort in this vid, that was bloody interesting. Just keep it up mate.

That was a beautiful presentation. Thank you

Great video. You've out done yourself.

There’s a strange allure about first generation auto pistols that modern weapons just don’t have, mostly because they didn’t give af about cutting costs

Thanks for a great video!! I loved seeing the differences and the history behind the 1911.

Learned SO much new info. Thank you for doing this vid, please keep doing what you do.

So did John Browning solved and re-think the functions, and problems all the 1900 to 1911, not A1 had? Or was it Colt MFG that time?

That pistol made by savage looks like it's from Fallout... Someone put it in Fallout.

Awesome as always Ian!!!

This is the kind of review a firearm with such a long rich & history deserves. Well done, excellent review.

1911 shot 6,000 rounds with no problems ya try to tell a glock guy that.......

23:13 looks like from star trek xD

Excellent overview of the development of the 1911 pistol. Thank you for making it.

Thanks Ian that was a very interesting history lesson on the Colt autos. The 1911 is my favorite semiauto. I carried it in the service and own a Kimber TLE II now in 45 ACP and a Colt in Super 38. Both are excellent guns however I am really starting to shoot my 38 more than my 45. I handload for it and it approaches 357 magnum velocities without exceeding recomended charge weights. It makes a great trail and range gun.