Fantastic video! First hand accounts gives us great context on this subject. One of my good friends was a 90's-2000's CAG operator who would always show up to the range with me running his 1911 and there was no convincing him to shoot my normie M9 that I so enjoyed shooting :)

“By me, because I was there”. Fact over fiction. Thank you for putting out such fantastic content.

I can’t believe that a WW2 era colt made it to the GWOT. That’s insane.

The biggest problem with the GI slides from WW2 were they were not entirely through-hardened. Stripping out the locking lugs is exactly how I would expect one to fail when subjected to a large number of rounds. The only slides that were through hardened were National Match slides and Post War replacement slides. Those would have a parts number on the left hand side rather than a manufacturer name. Awesome video, the 1911 is legendary for a reason and still king in some aspects today.

Thanks for making this video! I was one of the gunsmiths at 5th Group back then that rebuilt those 1911's. Steve Holland was trying to get Kimbers but couldn't get the funding so what you see is what happened. We wanted to add night sights and a few other upgrades but we weren't allowed to permanently alter the guns because of regs.

My dad, who passed away a year ago, was a huge 1911 fan. He had 13 various frames and calibers. I asked him what hit was about them, he said “It’s reliable and tested. It’s survived 2 world wars and many other smaller ones. They are easy to work on and will last forever “. Thank you for your service and for the video. I live in Raeford so I’m sure you know where that’s at if you went through Q at Mackall. 🇺🇸

For me, videos like that are true gems that are so hard to find in this day and age, when the whole KZfaq seems like a big pile of crap. Please keep up the good work, listening to people with actual first-hand experience on topics like that is truly fascinating.

Great video on my favorite sidearm the 1911. My father was a Navy SeaBee on Guam in WW2, he went ashore with the Marine corps in the first wave to liberate Guam from the Japanese. His unit built the crushed coral airfields on Guam, that are still the tarmac bedding at the Guam international airport today, a test to the SeaBees. His daily carry was his 1918 vintage Colt 1911, Ka-Bar Mk11, Winchester m1 carbine....All of which he sent home to his brother from Hawaii after the Japanese surrender. His Colt was used a lot he told me, he ran bulldozers and graders, the Japanese snipers were always taking shots at the SeeBees, although he had his carbine with him, he preferred his 1911 to return fire while jumping off his equipment to take cover and return fire, he had more confidence in the 45acp than the 30 carbine. He passed away in 2008, his Colt and Ka-Bar are now mine and both still capable battle proven weapons, that says a lot since the Colt made in January 1918 is now 104 years old and I would not hesitate to use it today in a defensive role, or in combat.

Just because the tactics have changed, it doesn't mean that the M1911A1 isn't lethal. It is. I enjoyed this video. Thanks for my freedom, Jeff.

In 1987 I was an MP NCO in Panama and a member of the pistol team. We went to Ft. Benning for the U. S Army Pistol Championship. We were issued TZZ .45 ammo . Out of 6 guns mine was the only one to survive. When we got back to Panama I sent my gun in to be rebuild. The Chief armor in country called me and told me my gun had 16 cracks in the frame. He didn’t bother checking the slide.

I was born In 2000 and I was also raised on the 1911. The first firearm my grandpa gave me was a colt 1911 when I was 10 years old. It’s always been my favorite

My experiences were similar. When I was in 10th Group in Iraq in 2004-2005 my team had several of the old WW2 1911s. When I was moved to 3rd Group in Afghanistan most of the 1911s were given to the support guys so they could push more M9s to the teams.

Excellent video. As a Marine I tend to lean more towards tradition and I prefer the 1911a1. I carry an old government model Colt 1911 til this day. Thanks for sharing. 👍🏼🇺🇸

Great video. My 1911 served me well all 3 tours in Afghanistan. I personally like a bigger caliber...and the stopping power it provides. But everyone is different...

As far as handguns go, I grew up shooting my dad’s Colt Gold National Match 1911. I bought a USP 45 tactical the day I turned 21 in 2002, and I picked up a Smith and Wesson Performance Center 1911 when they first came out. When I turned 30 I was given my dad’s mint condition 1952 Belgian Browning Hi Power. Added a USP Expert 9mm, along the way and for the last few years I’ve mainly been carrying my Staccato C2. All fantastic weapons. While I love the capacity of 9mm pistols, and the improvements to 9mm ammo has certainly made a difference, those same improvements have .45 just as swole. One thing that the forum warriors keep forgetting is that if you have to run suppressed, all 9mm ammo sucks enormous fat butts while the ballistics of .45 are almost completely unchanged.

In the mid 70s, i was a gunner 11Charlie…and got my first issued 1911. It was worn out, but I loved it. Years later I got the M9 for 2 deployments, and i loved it. After I retried I bought an M17, and love it.

I carried 1911s on both my deployments, and after I got out, I carried it as my EDC from 2013 to 2020 until I replaced it with a Shadow Systems DR920 which is a re-engineered Gen 4 Glock 17 that I am running the 1911 grip angle on, loved the video

As a Marine MP in 1986 my duty pistol was an Army hand me down 1911A1(stamped US Army colt 1942). Had a rebuild or two in it's 44 years up to that point, but it shot great. Like to see a berretta 9mm do that.

As an MP in 1984 I had a Remington Rand… it rattled but was very accurate… came into possession of one a few years ago… best weapon for personal defense and will be with us for another 100 years… just like the “BUFF”

Just found this channel and I’m really excited about it. Looks like great content!

Excellent video! Just a few years ago I inherited my grandfather’s Remington Rand and I absolutely love shooting it. This was a great video to give this pistol new life for me and how it served our nation’s heroes!

Love the stories of real life experience and the history. Please keep the videos coming! Thanks

Great to hear these stories straight from the source man, keep it up.

Great video!! My Dad was SF from '60-'73 Thank You for your service!!

I'm 65 years old and I too grew up with the M1911. I remember as a small child, I had a die-cast, pot metal toy M1911 probably 2/3 or 3/4 scale (I can't remember if it fired caps) but I played with it all the time. I especially remember sitting on my father's lap (a WWII Navy vet) and I asked him, "Dad, what kind of gun is this?" his response, which I can still hear today, "That's a FORTY-FIVE". Until 1992, I referred to the M1911 as 'a forty-five'.

outstanding historical perspective...thank you sir.

I struggled with the M9‘s ergos. It’s probably my shorter fingers but the palm swell and DA pull made it a struggle. Most of the senior NCO’s in the battery had a negative viewpoint of 9mm. The 1911 is truly an everyman‘s pistol.

Sitting here in my nice warm home, full stomach, and the freedoms that I have, I can not express the gratitude sincerely enough for everything you did and continue to do. Thank you, thank you to you and all of your teammates. And thank you Mr. Browning. I agree with you about the loose tolerance and reliability over tight tolerance and accuracy. Thank you… for everything.

Actual treasure tove of knowledge, criminally under-viewed video and channel. Thanks for the video Jeff.

VERY VERY informative sir...Thank you for your service...I'm looking forward to more tactical videos from you

This is great info. Thank you for your time here and your service.

Very informative. Thanks for posting the video!

I also grew with 1911s as the go to, mainstay of semi auto handguns. I still have the one my parents got me for Christmas after I graduated OSUT and remember thinking it was the be all end all of combat handguns, and seeing SF run them down range in the earlier GWOT years (I was a regular nothing special soldier who didn't even carry a handgun), only confirmed my biases. I run Glocks primarily these days as well, but will always love John Moses Browning's masterpiece and will always keep that Christmas gift handy.

Man I don't know how I missed this video! Great stuff!

Thank you for your Services!

Very professional and informative video! I look forward to attending one of your classes.

Thank you gor your service

Thanks for the video and history and first hand experience.

Please write a book with these histories. So much has been lost and these gems are wonderful to hear from a man who was there.

👍. Thanks for posting. Thanks for your service.

Great channel and content. Really cool stories and real world experience 👍🏻

First up thanks for your service. Second thanks for sharing your experience and the video. My dad did 21 years and 2 foreign wars. Korea and 1st. Cav in Vietnam. I know he carried the 1911.I Acquired a TRP a few years ago. Maybe the M1911-A1 has seen it's day in combat with the US military. But after a century..... A enduring legacy.

Not a 1911 owner nor do I have much interest in them, but these videos are awesome. Fun to learn the history of use of various weapons with SF during the GWOT.

Stumbled on your channel this morning and have to say I’ve been very impressed. Coming from a background in martial arts I never felt naturally comfortable with the squared off shooting stance - seeing your son and demo made me understand why. I also appreciate your delivery which doesn’t try to compete with guntubers (who have zero combat experience). You walk softly but carry a big stick of experience. Lastly you’re in my home state - hopefully we can connect sometime. I could definitely use the training!

Way cool those old pistols continued service with you all. Cool history. Thanks for the story.

Great channel you have here. I really like the narrative style of conveying information that you have. The 1911 is my all time favorite gun.

Great history vid! Subscribed.

Outstanding review. The 1911 first saw combat in Mexico in 1917 during the Poncho Villa Punitive Expedition. Mexicans who survived a 1911 hit called it the "Yankee Fist" because it felt like being punched. Thank you John Moses Browning.

Great video, and great information!

Excellent video. And thank you for serving...

What a awesome video! As a veteran that went in 05/06 this man is 110% correct with every word he has said in this video. Great history my man!

I have carried the same 1911 since 1992 and I will always carry it, its served me well and been thru alot with me.

Good to hear some war stories and the gear that got ya through. Thanks for sharing.

I just found this channel, it is becoming one of my favorites. This fella seems very humble.

Excellent video! Great info!

Always a good time for a 1911 story. Its easy to leave it sitting all alone while you shoot all the fancy new pieces but when you take it out and shoot it, it just seems so sweet and balanced

Thanks for the video

Really appreciate this channel. And it is entertaining without trying to be. Maybe I'm just old now. Again, thanks.

.... I will never forget my first expert with the 1911.... I fell in love with it immediately, and had no idea or knowledge of the history and tradition of the side arm at that time, but I only got sucked in deeper the more I learned about it... To a certain point, I don’t even look at the price of a bulletproof built 1911... All I am really interested in is the dependability and consistency... When you get a 1911 that is built correctly and doesn’t have any reliability issues, and has all the comforts to make it carry all day without a problem, then I feel this is something you can’t really put a price on... I prefer an all steel frame and slide, with no sharp edges that will tear up skin and clothing, make in gods caliber , the .45acp 👍🇺🇸... I don’t mind a little bit of weight or having to constantly maintain it, but it must be able to preform and go many rounds without failure... That said, if I was going to war or any hostile environment, I would take an HK Mark23 or USP, or HK45/45c before any other side arm if given the choice 👍🇺🇸

Great video and subject!! I love seeing the classics like John Shaw and MidSouth get some credit. Love your assessment of L10, it's the small pond appeasement division to hide from real shooters in. I started with a single stack in LIM, and still have several. I'd love to hear more about 2011s / STI etc in the "CAG" type units. I was working one of their guys, he loved my LIMITED STI and made reference to the unit having some STIs for T&E. I also had buddies on our program that reported seeing STIs in the sandbox. There was also the mysterious "mag scarcity" that pointed to this in the early 2000's after 911.

Thanks for sharing Your experience Sir . I competed while serving in the USAF during the 1980s and We had old 1911s .

Thank you for your service sir , If I could be half the man you are at 30 years old - I’d consider my life a success 🇺🇸

This answers so many questions. I just received a Freedom of Information Act request on a Remington Rand 1911a1 I received from the CMP. It was assigned to 5th Group in 2003 until 2014. I couldn’t understand why it would have been there in that time frame. Makes sense now. It has an 80s Government Contract replacement slide from the 1980s. Thanks for the great information.

Carried a kimber in Afghanistan 2020. Used a Blackhawk holster which was ok but preferred leather. Had a local from the Bazaar craft a leather holster. Worked great.

I used 1911a1 era of ww2 pistol in my compitition back then in my unit and its very reliable to use, thousand of rounds fired,never bad issues happen. Great pistol and i own it someday for my retirement.

Superbly fascinating video. Even if the 1911 falls out of favor with military/LE or even civilian carry crowd, I think that it will remain an extremely popular platform amongst all types of shooters There's just so much nostalgia and history to the 1911 Besides, name a movie that doesn't have at least one appearance by the 1911 The Yankee Fist is 111 years old as I write this. Here's to another 111 years Again, outstanding video, sir. Thank you

Old Marine your spot on I still sleep with my 1911 thanks for your video. From my hill top in Sc

Excellent video! Thank you for providing your perspective on the 1911. Most of all thank you for your service to our country. The 1911 has always been my favorite pistol.

wonderful. very helpful info, thanks

Made two trips to Mid South for CQB School. Some of the best training I ever had during my 28 years in LE. Back in 1990 I was an active duty Marine stationed at Stone Bay with the MTU. I actually saw some new 1911A1’s in the match grade armorers shop in RR11. They were not rebuilds. These had been made late in WWII, and went straight into war reserve. They were issued to Marine officers and Staff NCO’s that were called up out of the IRR. The 2112 was tuning mags so they would feed reliably. I heard that once those Marines arrived in SWA those pistols were turned in and they were issued M9’s. As for the TZZ ammo it was good, but like you said it was loaded hot. We were issued TZZ Match .45 hard ball for use in EIC matches AKA leg matches. It shot well. I was also fortunate enough to see the 2112 working on the MEUSOC .45’s that Force Recon, and SOTG used. Up till that point I had never even heard of those pistols.

@Modern Tactical Shooting: Thank you for your service. this is a great story sir.

I have a mk IV mod80 officers acp. Putting a Hogue wrap around grip on it made a world of difference in shooting comfort. I recommend that for any large hand shooters on most any 1911 model.

Thank You Man. Great Insight.

Great video, I get to switch between a GI 1911A1 and a Wilson Combat, thanks to my Dad and brother. My true love is that GI 45.

I truly enjoyed this vid. 👍🏻 I own a 1944 Remington Rand myself and it's just a joy to feel the smooth action of this little beauty.

Super interesting experience since you can't (ethically) test lethality in a lab. I always thought of the 92/M9's two different trigger pulls as an advantage, but a woods and farm sidearm has different priorities than special forces.

While I was a Military Police K9 officer I always asked for a Remington Rand , Mainly because I grew up near Syracuse NY where they were made, Great Video, Thank You for you service

The army and marines don't throw anything away. Thank you for your service. God bless you and your brothers.

Great video. The 1911 always has a special space in my heart, I own a Les Baer but my edc is my G26. When I was in a Patrol car I carried a G34 with Federal 9BPLE and always felt confident with what I had.

I have owned s Colt 1991 a1 45 acp for about 25 years and i love it. With regular maintanance and plenty of lube i have had few failure to fire. And in most of thise cases i think they were due to faulty mags or poor ammo

Thank you 😊

When I went to my first unit in the FMF in 1982 I was issued a 1911A1 made by Ithaca. I was told by the armorer from what he could tell by the serial number it was made in 1944. I used to keep a cleaning rag in the leather flap holster because it used to rattle so loudly. But I have to say it always worked and it shot fine.

Thanks Sir. And I value your firsthand knowledge and experience.

i am so excited to watch this video!

Great video thank you 😊

I carried a 1911 for years. Definitely the best trigger system. I was issued later on S&W, M&P. There are 2 things I have noticed. First I live in a rain Forrest. The polymer frame requires less lubrication. All steel frames require more lubrication. Accuracy & triggers are supreme with the 1911. My M&P with a red dot can normally shoot point to point with my 1911. My heart still goes out to my 1911. Again I can’t emphasize the 1911 reigns supreme in the 1911. Thanks for your video!👍😊🇺🇸✝️

Enjoyed. Thanks!

Thanks for serving.

Exelente video, gracias por la opción del traductor al español.

Great video! I am the happy owner of a CMP service grade, 1945 vintage Remington Rand 1911a1.

Probably one of the coolest vids on KZfaq

show me your 1911 rig and holster that you ran in Afghanistan is the new mic drop. thank you for your service, Jeff. Been reading you in Defrev.

My favorite 1911 I milled out of titanium. It was expensive and a pain in the ass but worth it in the end. It took 3 tries for the frame and 4 before I got the slide right. I don’t remember how many end mills I went through.

terrific lecture.i still carry my uncles colt 1911 that he carried in ww1 as a marine corporal

Great stuff! Keep up the great work brother! DOL!

I own a 1911A1, a 92FS, and a Glock. Was issued an M9 back in the day. Only issue pistol I'm not impressed with is the Sig...but if it works, it works.

Great info. Awesome to hear real world accounts of this old war horse. Like you said, I find the A1 sights to be serviceable out to 50 yds. Not the best, but it can get the job done.

I like history lessons I like seeing the evolution of our needs and our solutions.

I really love your channel.

Thank you! 👍🏻