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Understanding the 1911
The terms you will see in listings, explained plainly.
Sizes and patterns
- Government
- The standard full-size model with a 5-inch barrel — the original military configuration.
- Commander
- A 4.25-inch barrel on a full-size grip. Shorter to carry, same magazine capacity.
- Officer
- Compact: short barrel and shortened grip, built for concealed carry.
- Mil-Spec
- Built to military specification — traditional sights, standard controls, no custom work.
- 2011
- A modern double-stack development of the 1911, roughly doubling magazine capacity.
How a 1911 works
- Single-action only
- The trigger does one job: it releases the hammer. It does not cock it.
- Grip safety
- A lever at the back of the grip. The pistol will not fire unless your hand depresses it.
- Thumb safety
- A manual switch on the frame that locks the firing system.
- Cocked and locked
- Carried with a round chambered, hammer back and thumb safety engaged. Condition One.
- Beavertail
- An extended grip safety that protects the web of the hand from hammer bite.
- Barrel bushing
- The ring at the muzzle end of the slide that locates the barrel. A traditional 1911 feature.
Custom features to look for
- Front strap checkering
- A cut grid on the front of the grip for a more secure hold.
- Flared magwell
- A widened magazine opening for faster reloads.
- Skeletonised trigger
- A lightened trigger with cut-outs, for a faster reset.
Chamberings
- .45 ACP
- The original chambering, and still the classic choice.
- 9mm
- More rounds, less recoil, cheaper practice — increasingly the popular option.
- 10mm
- Substantially more power, used for hunting and heavy field work.
Selling a 1911?
List it here and it appears on this page automatically, alongside every other 1911 on Gun X.