NOTE THAT THIS PUBLICATION IS IN FRENCH.
AN ENGLISH VERSION IS AVAILABLE.

Development of the .45 ACP caliber cartridge

• Adaptation of the Model 1902 “Military” in .45 caliber
• The weakness of the barrel links
• The question of the most suitable caliber for a military pistol
• The conclusions drawn from the experiments
• The essential features in a service handgun
  Colt pistol Model 1905 in .45 caliber
• The Colt Model 1905 specific features
• In early 1907, a new variation
• English official tests
• Variations & Serial numbers of the Colt Model 1905
  U.S. Army official tests of 1907
• Nine constructors submitted models
• Luger pistol in .45 ACP caliber
• Savage pistol in .45 ACP caliber
• A modified version of the Model 1905
• Several modifications of the Colt 1905 required
• A loaded chamber indicator and a grip safety
  Colt Model 1909
• Description of the Model 1909
• Phantom view of the Model 1909
• Operation of the Model 1909
• Experimental thumb safeties
• Phantom view of the Browning thumb safety
  Colt Model 1910
• Description of the Model 1910
• Salient features of the Model 1910
  Adoption of the Colt Model 1911
• Modification of the barrel locking lugs
• A first call for 30,262 pistols
• The right to produce the pistol at Springfield Armory
• The holster
  1912 changes and improvements
• Content and locations of the markings
• Major Walter G. Penfield
• “UNITED STATES PROPERTY” marking
• Checkering of the slide stop
• The head of the fastening screws of the grip plates
• Modifications of the magazine catch lock
• New design of the sear and safety spring
• Magazine modifications
• The magazine shell issue
• Magazine hardening and blueing
• Mainspring housing pin
• Recoil spring plug
• Marking changes
  1913 -1914 changes and improvements
• Rear Sight Changes
• Experimental Slide Stop
• Hammer modifications
• Modifications of the safety lever
• Changes in the slide markings
  1915 -1918 changes and improvements
• Differences between Colt made and Springfield made 1911’s
• The recoil spring guide
• The new mainspring
• The magazine lanyard loop
• N.R.A. Pistols
• The grip milling
• The firing pin retainer
• The Forward slide profile
• The safety lever
• Marking changes
• Ordnance department inspectors
• Sub-inspection markings
• Colt assembler’s markings
• Production board of the Model 1911 produced by Colt
  Springfield Armory & Remington
• Springfield Armory specific markings
• List of the “S” marked parts
• The Springfield magazine
• Board of Springfield Model 1911 production
• Remington-UMC contract
• Remington’s production of Models 1911
• Remington specific markings
• Inspection Markings at Remington
  Commercial production & British contracts
• The commercial version of the Model 1911
• The commercial serialization
• Board of the commercial production until 1923
• British contracts
• The J.P. Morgan business
• Main foreign countries who acquired Model 1911 prior to 1919
• Great Britain’s purchases of Model 1911
• Dispatching of the Models 1911 purchased by Great Britain
• The Model 1911 in caliber .455 Webley
• English markings
• Caliber .455 magazines
• English procurements of Colt Model 1911 in caliber .455
  Other foreign contracts
• Argentina was the largest purchaser in South America
• Canadian procurements of Model 1911 pistols
• Norwegian procurements and local production
• The Imperial Russia was the biggest foreign purchaser