USMC Orders a Bunch of 1911s

[Gewehr98]

The Mk23 weighs 1100 grams. The 1911 weighs 1080 grams. Damn near identical.

Loaded or empty?

[Blakenzy]

I don't know, the selection of a $1800+, century old design like this seems a lot like a luxury, status item intertwined with tradition. No doubt a capable, very choice item that anyone would drool over, but still was their motivation entirely "the best tool for the job", or was there a little bit of "the best killing accessory that will make a fashion statement" involved?

I mean they willfully disregarded a heap of pistol design advances...

[zahc]

Forget the SOCOM and other such guns. The XDM grips are barely any bigger than a 1911. I agree that the HK guns are huge and brick-like--I have large hands and even I can't reach the mag release on the HK USP45. But the XDM and M&P 45s have very reasonable grip sizes.

[AZRedhawk44]

There's also the backstock of 1911 magazines to support this choice, and the various mag pouches and LBE already configured for single stack .45 mags, and all the marines that already know the manual of arms of a 1911 and won't have to be retrained on something new and different.

I don't have a problem with front-line regular old marines/sailors/soldiers having a $750 pistol.

I don't have a problem with special forces having a $1500 pistol, or using AMU as a resource to build custom quality handguns (even more expensive).

Frankly, this pistol sounds like it's built for a demanding environment and to perform well in it.  It costs more than a Glock or Beretta because it's a quality precision handgun that won't rust and will match existing camouflage patterns, will kill better than 9mm, and will not require extensive retraining of all the armorers that will see this firearm.

I think Colt could sell these for $1200 and still make a good profit off it, and they're padding the bottom line due to the man-hours involved in training and logistics for the Corps... but so be it.  The product is worth it to the Marines, so they'll take it rather than screwing with something new.

[roo_ster]

I mean they willfully disregarded a heap of pistol design advances...

Some folk don't see them as advances...

...especially scrunchy DA triggers.

[brimic]

Forget the SOCOM and other such guns. The XDM grips are barely any bigger than a 1911. I agree that the HK guns are huge and brick-like--I have large hands and even I can't reach the mag release on the HK USP45. But the XDM and M&P 45s have very reasonable grip sizes.

None of them are Colts. Follow the money.

[BlueStarLizzard]

There's also the backstock of 1911 magazines to support this choice, and the various mag pouches and LBE already configured for single stack .45 mags, and all the marines that already know the manual of arms of a 1911 and won't have to be retrained on something new and different.

I don't have a problem with front-line regular old marines/sailors/soldiers having a $750 pistol.

I don't have a problem with special forces having a $1500 pistol, or using AMU as a resource to build custom quality handguns (even more expensive).

Frankly, this pistol sounds like it's built for a demanding environment and to perform well in it.  It costs more than a Glock or Beretta because it's a quality precision handgun that won't rust and will match existing camouflage patterns, will kill better than 9mm, and will not require extensive retraining of all the armorers that will see this firearm.

I think Colt could sell these for $1200 and still make a good profit off it, and they're padding the bottom line due to the man-hours involved in training and logistics for the Corps... but so be it.  The product is worth it to the Marines, so they'll take it rather than screwing with something new.

What he said.

[Gewehr98]

If Colt offered a commercial version of same, I'd probably grab one.

(And then rip the Series 80 monkey motion bits out of it...)

[MechAg94]

Do Marine armorers still work on 1911's?

[Jamisjockey]

Do Marine armorers still work on 1911's?

Yep.

[Perd Hapley]

Do Marine armorers still work on 1911's?

Well, they still have them...

[RoadKingLarry]

All Glock bashing aside.

Just how long term durable are the polymers used in all the fancy Tupperware pop guns?
As late as 1992 we still carried 50 year old 1911s in the small arms locker on the boat I was on. The steel in those was still pretty much physically and chemically unchanged from the day it was machined. Are there any 50+ year old plastic frame arms in service? How will the plastics hold up for the long term, 50-100 years?
Another thought, I have a couple of 100+ year old rifles in my safe and the wooden stocks are still perfectly serviceable today.

[seeker_two]

Gen1 Glocks & HK VP-70's are still being used with no ill effects. Even the old Nylon 77's are still to be had.

[Battle Monkey of Zardoz]

If Colt offered a commercial version of same, I'd probably grab one.

(And then rip the Series 80 monkey motion bits out of it...)

You can get one without the series 80 crap. It will be a Springfield Armory MC Operator.