RE: M1911 in military service
In the early 1980’s the Military began looking for a new sidearm to replace the inventory of over 25 different pistols and revolvers then in service with the military. Chief among the inventory of pistols to be replaced was the 1911 handgun that had been in service for 70 years. According to a Comptroller General’s report dated 3-8-82, the military had 417,448 .45 caliber pistols in inventory. The plan began to run into opposition when it was announced that the new sidearm would be chambered in the NATO standard 9mm cartridge. Many saw the move to a smaller caliber as a step in the wrong direction. Still others questioned the need for the adoption of a new pistol at all. The testing was considered questionable at best by most but we all know what happened, the M-9 was born.