Some 1911 Questions?

[DesertFox]

Thought this might be a good place to ask

 

1. When do you think the 1911 was first available on the civilian market? I am curious if it would be readily available in the 1920s and 1930s. Working on an RPG project and I want to give the character a 1911 because it seems to be the best pistol available during that time

2. When were extended magazines first available. I knew there were 9 round magazines available in the 1980s but were they availavle before then?

[Paul G.]

For law enforcement yes. Could have conceivably found it's way on to the street market.

 

Interesting example from the 1930s.

 

 

http://www.peashooter85.com/post/65003404862/the-baby-machine-guns-of-hyman-s-lehman-in

Edited September 9, 2015 by Paul G.

[BansheeOne]

I'm not sure if this counts as "civilian market", but per Wiki the 1911 was manufactured for NRA members starting in 1912.

[Panzermann]

NRA is a civilian organisation. So it fits. Interesting that the Army did not take all pistols of the first years of production, leaving nothing for civikian sales.

[Richard Lindquist]

NRA is a civilian organisation. So it fits. Interesting that the Army did not take all pistols of the first years of production, leaving nothing for civikian sales.

US Army budgets were pretty austere at the time.

[DesertFox]

For law enforcement yes. Could have conceivably found it's way on to the street market.

 

Interesting example from the 1930s.

 

 

http://www.peashooter85.com/post/65003404862/the-baby-machine-guns-of-hyman-s-lehman-in

 

Does that mean that any competent gun smith could make an extended 1911 gun magazine back then?

[bojan]

Yes, and that conversion was a work of one such gunsmith:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyman_S._Lehman

[D.E. Watters]

FWIW: The pistol in the photo is a prop from the movie "Public Enemies" mocked up to look like one of Lehman's conversions. One giveaway is the series of crimps at the rear of the magazine tube. Those crimps retain a spacer for the use of 9x19mm cartridges. Magazines for the .38 Super don't require a spacer.