Читать книгу Gun Digest 2011 онлайн

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Other companies made 1911s before the decade ended. Federal Ordnance made the Ranger, a basic GI-style 1911A1. Michigan Armament (distributed from, of all places, California) made somewhat fancier variants. Custom maker Ed Brown started business in 1988.

The Randall 45 was introduced in 1983 as “the only stainless steel fit for duty.” Gaining great publicity for its left-hand pistols, most of Randall production consisted of traditional right-hand 1911s. The company had financial problems and went out of business in 1985.

In spite of its labor problems, Colt was still active during this time. The 45-caliber Officers ACP was introduced in 1985. The new Colt compact pistol had a 3-1/2-inch barrel, weighed 34 ounces, and had a 6-shot magazine in a shortened frame. The 10mm Delta Elite variant of the full-size Government Model came out in 1987. By the end of the decade, the double-action stainless-steel Colt Double Eagle had become a production item, at least for a few years.

In 1988, Florida enacted a “shall issue” license-to-carry law that became a model for similar laws in other states. The growth of legal concealed carry across the country increased the demand for handguns of various types. The 1911 became even more popular among ordinary citizens for personal protection.