Читать книгу Gun Digest 2011 онлайн

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The popularity of the 1911 design grew. Other names were added to the list of companies offering 1911 pistols: McMillan (1992), STI (1993), Rocky Mountain Arms (1993 – trying a third time for the left-hand market), and Mitchell (1994). Because Para-Ordnance high-capacity pistols were gaining popularity, Mitchell’s new 45s were offered in double-column configuration — 13+1 — as well as the traditional single-column style. Springfield and Llama also offered large-capacity 13+1 pistols that same year.

1994 was a poor time to offer large-capacity pistols. In that year, the so-called “Assault Weapons Ban” was passed into law.

Among other absurd restrictions, the ban limited magazine capacity of all detachable magazines to 10 rounds or less. High-capacity staggered-column .45 magazines could no longer be made. Obviously, no other pistols of other calibers could have magazines of greater than 10 rounds, either. The high-capacity “wondernine” magazines, holding up to 19 rounds, were no longer legal to make. Compared to a 10-round 9mm, a traditional 1911 .45 holding seven or eight rounds began to look a much better choice. 45-caliber pistols became more popular. As firearms authority J. B. Wood wryly noted, “If you can’t make as many holes, make bigger ones.” Interest in the .45, and in particular, the 1911, boomed.