I’m sure you are aware that Colt Firearms has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Army to produce a new service pistol chambered for a rimless .45 caliber cartridge.

Sure they did—a century ago.

In the years since Americans first took up the 1911 .45 pistol, the republic has fought in two World Wars and countless smaller ones. In most of these engagements, the pistol of choice has been the Government Model, made by the original maker and reproduced by countless other firms. The demand for the gun continues to the present day, but now the demand is primarily from civilians for sporting and defensive use. Surprisingly, there are more factories now making 1911s than ever before and new versions join the lineup often. Remington began production of the R1911 just last year, and the latest bit of 1911 news is equally significant. The last major American handgun maker has just introduced a 1911 .45 called the Ruger SR1911.

In early December of 2010, I was privileged to attend a new product introduction at the Gunsite Academy, near Ruger's plant in Prescott, Ariz. Ruger was showing a nifty variation of their Model 77 rifle called the Ruger Gunsite Scout rifle. As well received as that arm certainly was, the bigger news, in my mind, was the advent of the Ruger SR1911 pistol. Over the course of three days, I had a chance to talk to the engineers who developed the gun, watch the production in progress and, most of all, shoot a production sample of the gun as much as I wanted. It was a good experience, to say the least.

The pistol is a very straightforward version of the classic pistol. It's real basic, with no superfluous bells and whistles like guide rods or ambidextrous safeties. The grips are classic double-diamond checkered in hard rubber, and the frame is stainless, with an investment cast receiver and a machined slide. Performance was 100 percent on my sample and I was particularly happy with the light trigger pull. Also, accuracy was very good and it looks like the new Ruger 1911 will group under 2 inches in the Ransom Rest. It was a solid first showing and all that you might expect from a major player like Ruger.