In 1986, the Falcon Portsider was introduced, a left-handed pistol made to enter the niche abandoned when Randall went out of business. Falcon made only a small number of pistols, and was gone by 1990.
About 1988, Para-Ordnance, a Canadian company making “non-gun” dye-marking guns, introduced a sideline of large-capacity frames and magazines for the 1911. Standard 1911 parts could be fitted to the frames to create the first large-capacity 1911-type 45s. Soon, in 1990, the company began making complete pistols. Para-Ordnance, today simply called Para, grew to become a major supplier of 1911 pistols.
Other companies made 1911s before the decade ended. Federal Ordnance made the Ranger, a basic GI-style 1911A1. Michigan Armament (distributed from, of all places, California) made somewhat fancier variants. Custom maker Ed Brown started business in 1988.
The Randall 45 was introduced in 1983 as “the only stainless steel fit for duty.” Gaining great publicity for its left-hand pistols, most of Randall production consisted of traditional right-hand 1911s. The company had financial problems and went out of business in 1985.
In spite of its labor problems, Colt was still active during this time. The 45-caliber Officers ACP was introduced in 1985. The new Colt compact pistol had a 3-1/2-inch barrel, weighed 34 ounces, and had a 6-shot magazine in a shortened frame. The 10mm Delta Elite variant of the full-size Government Model came out in 1987. By the end of the decade, the double-action stainless-steel Colt Double Eagle had become a production item, at least for a few years.
In 1988, Florida enacted a “shall issue” license-to-carry law that became a model for similar laws in other states. The growth of legal concealed carry across the country increased the demand for handguns of various types. The 1911 became even more popular among ordinary citizens for personal protection.
THE 1990S
If interest in the 1911 had increased in the 1980s, it can be said to have exploded in the 1990s.
At the beginning of the decade, Colt carried out a plan to get back into the basic 1911 market. Its enhanced offerings had become fancier, and the market for basic “wartime” pistols had grown. By 1991, the Colt 1991 A1 was introduced, actually continuing the serial number range of the company’s 1911 A1 pistols of World War II. With a matte finish and simple features, the new Colt was competitive in its niche. Commander (4-1/2-inch) and Compact (3-1/2-inch) variants were offered in 1993.
By 1998, Colt introduced an even smaller pistol with a 3-inch barrel, the Defender. The 23-ounce .45 used a cone-barrel system to orient the barrel in the slide.
Early in the decade, in 1991, a new name, Norinco, was added to the list of 1911 companies. The Chinese entity made a surprisingly good copy of a 1911. The Norinco got good reviews until president William J. Clinton prohibited importation of firearms from China in 1995.
The popularity of the 1911 design grew. Other names were added to the list of companies offering 1911 pistols: McMillan (1992), STI (1993), Rocky Mountain Arms (1993 – trying a third time for the left-hand market), and Mitchell (1994). Because Para-Ordnance high-capacity pistols were gaining popularity, Mitchell’s new 45s were offered in double-column configuration — 13+1 — as well as the traditional single-column style. Springfield and Llama also offered large-capacity 13+1 pistols that same year.
1994 was a poor time to offer large-capacity pistols. In that year, the so-called “Assault Weapons Ban” was passed into law.
Among other absurd restrictions, the ban limited magazine capacity of all detachable magazines to 10 rounds or less. High-capacity staggered-column .45 magazines could no longer be made. Obviously, no other pistols of other calibers could have magazines of greater than 10 rounds, either. The high-capacity “wondernine” magazines, holding up to 19 rounds, were no longer legal to make. Compared to a 10-round 9mm, a traditional 1911 .45 holding seven or eight rounds began to look a much better choice. 45-caliber pistols became more popular. As firearms authority J. B. Wood wryly noted, “If you can’t make as many holes, make bigger ones.” Interest in the .45, and in particular, the 1911, boomed.
From the midpoint of the 1990s, the demand for, and production of, 1911 pistols grew. In 1995, Ithaca brought out a 50th Anniversary edition of its WWII .45. Even more new names appeared: Brolin (1995), Kimber (1995), BUL and GAL (both imported from Israel in 1996), Armscor (imported from the Philippines by KBI in 1996), Griffon (1997, South Africa), Entreprise Arms (1997), Rock River’s first 1911 (1998), Valtro (1998, from Italy), and Shooters Arms Manufacturers, “S.A.M” (1999, from the Philippines). The Charles Daly name, formerly associated with shotguns, was introduced on a pistol for the first time in 1998, when KBI used the name on its 45-caliber 1911.
In 1999, Auto-Ordnance was acquired by Kahr Arms. Kahr rejuvenated the Auto-Ordnance/Thompson 1911 pistol line. Galena industries acquired the right to produce the AMT 1911 line and some other AMT pistols (but sadly went out of production by 2002).
For decades, gunsmiths had been making custom-built pistols based on the 1911. Such guns started as oneof-a-kind handguns. With time, it was realized that many customers wanted similar features. A relatively small number of different customized pistols would satisfy the majority of customers. By the end of the 1990s, this making of “production custom” 1911s was a booming business. Companies such as (alphabetically) Briley, Ed Brown, Les Baer, Nowlin, STI, Strayer-Voigt, Wilson and others had offered such special 1911s.
Smith & Wesson entered the 1911 field in 2003 and markets an extensive line, including variants of the full-size SW1911.
THE NEW CENTURY
With the flurry of interest in the 1911 that had exploded in the closing decades at the end of the 20th century, the production of 1911-style pistols had been spread among a large and growing number of different companies Colt was no longer the primary producer. Three relatively new companies — Kimber, Springfield and Para-Ordnance — vied for that position. Kimber advertised their company as “first in the number of 1911 pistols made and sold.” Not to be outdone, Springfield claimed “the greatest selection of 1911 pistols.” Para-Ordnance introduced features that set its offerings apart.
As the new century began, Colt again fell on hard times. In the year 2000, the company discontinued most of its handgun line. Only the Single Action Army and the 1911 were left. The 1911 was offered in 45 caliber only. Within a few years, however, Colt’s fortunes improved.
Not everyone had liked the Series ’80 firing pin safety. Colt decided to go back to its roots with new 1911 offerings. The Series ’80 continued in the line, but by 2002, Colt had reintroduced its Series ’70 pistol, without the firing pin safety. Actually, it could have been considered a “pre ’70” Government Model, as it also did not have the fingered barrel bushing. The “new” Series ’70 has modern higher sights, and improved barrel ramping.
Reception was good, and in 2003, the original WWI-era Model 1911 was reintroduced. The pistol was a faithful recreation of the .45 as made around the year 1918.
Colt remained a 1911 manufacturer in an increasingly large group of 1911 manufacturers.
New names continued to enter the world of the 1911. New companies appeared to offer their versions of the 1911. In the first few years of the 21st century, one could see new 1911 pistols bearing the names of Dan Wesson (a revolver company making its first autoloaders), High Standard (the resurrected company expanding its product line), Peters Stahl, Rock River, Century, Firestorm, Casull, Pacific Armament, DPMS (prototype only), Bond Arms, Lone Star, Ed Brown, Guncrafter, Uselton and Detonics USA (the latest incarnation of the original Detonics).
In 2003, the familiar old name of Smith & Wesson was also added. Apparently figuring “if you can’t beat them, join them,” S&W introduced the SW1911, and plunged into an extensive line of 1911-design pistols within a few years. A year