The M1911 pistol is a semi-automatic, single-action handgun designed by John Moses Browning and first adopted by the United States Army in 1911. The M1911 has since become one of the most widely used handguns in the world, with various versions still in production over a century after its introduction.

In the late 1800s, the U.S. Army was seeking a new service pistol to replace the outdated revolvers it was using at the time. John Browning, a prolific firearms designer, was approached to develop a new pistol for the Army. Browning's design was based on the recoil-operated system he had previously used in his successful Colt M1895 machine gun.

Browning's design was initially chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge, which had been specifically developed for the new pistol. The pistol itself featured a single-stack magazine, a grip safety, and a slide stop to hold the slide open after the last round was fired.

After extensive testing, the U.S. Army adopted the M1911 pistol as its standard sidearm in 1911. The pistol saw its first military action during the Punitive Expedition against Pancho Villa in 1916 and went on to see extensive use in both World War I and World War II.

The M1911 remained the standard issue sidearm for the U.S. military until it was replaced by the Beretta M9 in the 1980s. However, the M1911 remains popular with civilian shooters and law enforcement agencies around the world, with many manufacturers continuing to produce updated versions of the classic design.

Today, the M1911 is considered a classic and is celebrated for its reliability, accuracy, and iconic design. It has become a symbol of American military might and is revered by gun enthusiasts around the world.