Back To The Future

I just read an article in a military magazine that describes the US Military's recent request for quote for a new battle pistol. This pistol must have better "one shot knock-down power" than the current M9, 9mm Beretta. What? Excuse me...did I read that right? Holy-Hand Grenades, this can't be happening.

In 1985, the same military decided to replace the currently deployed CQB (Close Quarters Battle) Pistol, the much vaunted M1911 and subsequent M1911A1. It had "one shot knock-down power", and had been used successfully in four fairly large conflicts (Browning designed and redesigned it in the early years of the 1900's and up to 1910, with the intent to have something that would have dropped the Moro tribesmen that had been jacked-up on the local pain-killing chew during the Philippine-American war of 1899-1902). The Berretta won that 1985 contract because it was good, it used standard NATO 9mm ammo, and the price was right. The M1911A1 was then mothballed.

Fast forward nearly 30 years. Now, today, they want what the M1911A1 had delivered for 80 plus years. I need to put a cold compress on my aching head. These guys in the defense brain trust want a complete new platform. That's pistol, ammo, holsters, mag pouches, and accessories (suppressors, sights, special loads, etc). If any of you reading this pay taxes, I should think this might get a bit of your dander up.

I'm no Einstein, but hey! fellas, we already have the gun; and it's no "plastic fantastic" striker fired handgun. There are many, many manufacturers already tooled up to produce a new variant of Browning's Battle Pistol if that's really what you want. In addition, many 1911 pistols currently reside in military warehouses in storage crates. Did you know it's nearly impossible to get rid of anything that is stamped "United States Property" if it is still under military control. Lightning strike is about the only way I know of. Any WWI through Vietnam era pistols out on the market today were brought home by GI's. A good portion of them, against regulations. The Pentagon must have tiptoed lightly past this infringement, and let the former personnel keep their "equipment".

This is very troubling. I must digest this information further, and research the topic a bit more. I mean, I just ordered a 1911 in 10mm. Man-Oh-Man, that, is knock down power. I will post further on this when I am more enlightened on this seeming stupidity.

Shoot straight and do the right thing.

Gaff