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From the midpoint of the 1990s, the demand for, and production of, 1911 pistols grew. In 1995, Ithaca brought out a 50th Anniversary edition of its WWII .45. Even more new names appeared: Brolin (1995), Kimber (1995), BUL and GAL (both imported from Israel in 1996), Armscor (imported from the Philippines by KBI in 1996), Griffon (1997, South Africa), Entreprise Arms (1997), Rock River’s first 1911 (1998), Valtro (1998, from Italy), and Shooters Arms Manufacturers, “S.A.M” (1999, from the Philippines). The Charles Daly name, formerly associated with shotguns, was introduced on a pistol for the first time in 1998, when KBI used the name on its 45-caliber 1911.

In 1999, Auto-Ordnance was acquired by Kahr Arms. Kahr rejuvenated the Auto-Ordnance/Thompson 1911 pistol line. Galena industries acquired the right to produce the AMT 1911 line and some other AMT pistols (but sadly went out of production by 2002).

For decades, gunsmiths had been making custom-built pistols based on the 1911. Such guns started as oneof-a-kind handguns. With time, it was realized that many customers wanted similar features. A relatively small number of different customized pistols would satisfy the majority of customers. By the end of the 1990s, this making of “production custom” 1911s was a booming business. Companies such as (alphabetically) Briley, Ed Brown, Les Baer, Nowlin, STI, Strayer-Voigt, Wilson and others had offered such special 1911s.