

This model saw extensive use during the First World War, and by 1917 more than 68,000 units had been supplied to the American military. Initially, only the Colt Firearms Company and the Springfield Armory produced them, but as demand skyrocketed, the work had to be contracted out to even more companies. The three Marines nearest the camera appear to be armed with Colt 1911s Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) participate in a live-fire exercise aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). The US had found the self-loading pistol it had been looking for, and in March of 1911, the weapon was officially adopted by the US military. Only one pistol was used, and no problems or malfunctions were reported. In 1910, this new firearm was tested over the course of two days, during which 6000 shots were fired. After years of work, the Colt M1911 was the culmination of their efforts. Among their top priorities, however, was the development of what would later become the first semi-automatic pistols. In America, the government was keen to arm the US military with the best possible technology, and in the 1890s alone they adopted numerous new pistols and rifles. In the late 19th Century, extensive research was being carried out in the weapons industry into the possibility of self-loading guns. The company has been renowned in their field for more than a century, and the M1911 pistol is a classic example of the high-quality firearms they have produced over the years. The Colt Firearms Company, which is a federally chartered non-profit corporation promoting firearms safety and training, hosts a number of marksmanship competitions across the country. If President Donald Trump approves the transfer, the weapons will be moved from the military to the CMP from 2018 to 2020.
