The M1911 .45 ACP was put to some uses beyond the scope of what the designers intended. Few other pistols can make such bragging rights...

Stops an armor column (okay, it says 3 tanks, but armor column sounds better)
http://www.nytimes.com/1983/02/03/world/a-marine-pistol-drawn-stops-3-israeli-tanks.html?mcubz=0

Shot down a Japanese Zero
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owen_J._Baggett

Two dudes in a Piper Cub shoot down a German Storch, then land and take the crew prisoner!!!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duane_Francies#Military_Service


There are probably more great stories, but these are three of the greatest.

Even without those bragging rights the 1911 is one of my all time favorite firearms.

Definitely a timeless classic. I love mine.

I have several, and like them. I don't often carry one for CCW though.

And an FN M 1910 was used one June day, which resulted in the deaths of over 18 Million.

And who didn't already know the 1911 handgun kicks azz?

the gun aficionado's still love them and wax poetic over their virtues, while the hoi pol·loi with their bourgeois tastes cling to their soul less plastic pistols.

I have fallen into the "meh" category,and have given up fondling pistols and imagining I am Sgt. York for the practicality of high capacity plastic.

The 1911 can also boast that it won't feed hollow-point bullets reliably for sheet unless it has been worked over really well.

This.

My Sig runs them just fine right out of the box.

Yep, deadliest handgun ever!!!

Bullchit!!!
Colt's have been feeding JHP's reliably out of the box since the '80's. Same for Springfield.

Another impressive feat with a pistol.

Sky Marshall Mordechai Rachamim took down three terrorists, one throwing grenades, the other two armed with AK's. Rachamim killed one, and injured the other two. And what did he use as his weapon of choice? A Beretta Model 71 in .22lr!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Al_Flight_432_attack
http://www.tactical-life.com/firearms/israeli-mossad-22-lrs/#mossad-22-lsr-beretta-70

I don't believe that has been a problem since the 1970s. Most are made, since the 1980s, so that they can handle hollow points right out of the box. Heck, my unmodified, early 1960s, Colt Government Model handles them just fine (never has jammed on one), so long as they are 230 grain and conform closely to the proper shape of a .45 ACP bullet.

The poor Archduke. Killed by a Free Mason using the 1910, sparking WWI.

GunGeek, thank you.

I still love them and think they are the sexiest pistol ever made but I don't carry one for SD anymore,nor do I think they are the best choice for most people for SD.

So what is a good quality 1911 style pistol for someone who doesn't have one? And what's the difference between a 1991 and 70-series 1911?

The 1991 has the internal firing pin safety while the 1911 doesn't. Springfield Armory and Colt make good 1911s. If you don't want the internal safety Colt, buy the "Series 70" versions.

How does the internal fireing pin safety work ?

There's a mechanical block on the forward movement of the firing pin that's only released in one of two ways (I can't remember which), either the pull of the trigger or the depression of the grip safety. I think the Colts use the trigger version. I believe S&W uses the grip safety version.