Show your 1911.

Absolutely.

1911 is a 1911.

But I think anything designed by John Moses Browning qualifies.

LOVE that C96. I'm not familiar with the design, but believe it or not, if that has a detachable magazine, it would be considered an assault weapon under California law because the magazine is contained outside of the pistol grip.

So a semi-automatic Masterpiece Arms top-cocker is not an assault weapon, but a C96 is

And speaking of JMB designs....
Here's grandpa's 1903.
Serial number traces to 1917, Mom said that her dad bought it right after the war.

 

I think the reason I love the 1911 the most is how timeless the design is, well, maybe the history of it first, but I just can't get over how beautifully designed it is.

I explained it once this way: "If I were six years old again, and asked to draw a gun, I would draw a 1911, because that is what a handgun SHOULD look like"

 

That's nice. In good shape for its age.

 

That '03 is sweet, .32 ACP correct? Seems in '08 Colt offered it in a .380 ACP.

 

That is a fine pistol sir. It is in excellent condition for its age.

 

The box has a removable floor plate but my Broomhandle is fed by 10 round stripper clips.

 

Yup.
Both the same basic hammerless design.
1903 was .32ACP and the 1908 was a .380

Thanks Mang.

Dad said that the last time he fired it was probably 30 years ago. I'm thinking longer than that because I'm 50 and all I remember growing up was rifles... I had no idea that we even had a handgun in the house. Grandpa died when I was 5, so I'm thinking it hasn't been fired since '67 or '66.

Stripped it and found the recoil spring was arched. Common problem because a common reassembly mistake was to install the guide rod the wrong way... this resulted in a gap between the frame and barrel and the spring would rise and get caught behind the chamber during reassembly putting a kink in it.

I replaced all of the springs with Wolfe, intended to take it to the range, and slammed my trigger finger in the door of my work truck.
By the time it healed, things were nuts at work and I ended up on call 24/7.

I need to get it out and shoot it now that things have calmed down.

 

I know hammerless was in there names, but did they not in fact have a hammer, just a hidden/snag less design?

 

Correct.

Just like "hammerless" revolvers are simply bobbed and shrouded.
No, we didn't have striker-fired handguns in 1910

 

That's what I was thinking. I handled one (the '08 in .380) at a show a few years ago, seems like the fellow gave a quick run down.

 

Added a magwell to my little Springfield. Hoping to add another 1911 to the family.

 

Found the manual...