Preview: The .45 Caliber M1911 Automatic Pistol

by
posted on January 7, 2024
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
The .45 Caliber M1911 Automatic Pistol

Longtime American Rifleman contributor Tom Laemlein has amassed an incredible array of period images illustrating the use of American military arms in war, peacetime and training.

Portrayal Press is now printing a selection of these images in a revised edition of Laemlein’s “American Firepower” series, beginning with The .45 Caliber M1911 Automatic Pistol.

“Compiling this book was by far the most difficult project I have ever taken on,” Laemlein said. “The difficulty arose from an overall lack of good quality photos of the pistol in action. In most combat situations, if you have to rely on your pistol, the time is long past for taking photographs!”

The comprehensive study, which contains more than 200 pictures across 167 pages, illustrates the remarkable longevity of the M1911 from its early combat use in 1914 until the end of its military service in the 1980s.

Other titles in the “American Firepower” series are also being revised, including The M1 Carbine, U.S. Bolt Action Rifles, The Browning Automatic Rifle and The M1 Garand.

MSRP is $30. For more information, visit portrayalpress.com.

Latest

Icarry DD H9 1
Icarry DD H9 1

I Carry: Daniel Defense H9 in an ANR Designs Holster

In our latest “I Carry” segment above, we’re taking a closer look at the Daniel Defense H9, a unique, striker-fired design that borrows popular features from several different handguns. 

A Surprising Conversation on Just How Far an Anti-Gun State Can Go

In Massachusetts this fall, ballot question 9 is an effort to repeal 2024 legislation known as “An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws,” a complex package of fees, red tape, training requirements, and other burdens placed on law-abiding gun owners. 

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 2, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Are Snub-Nose Revolvers Still Relevant?

In a world of micro-compact handguns, does the venerable snub-nose revolver still have a place? Here are four reasons why you might still consider carrying a snubby.

Behind Federal's 7 mm Backcountry Cartridge

In 2025, Federal Ammunition introduced its new 7 mm Backcountry cartridge, which operates at higher pressures than any previous commercial ammunition offering.

New for 2026: Beretta 94X Performance

The latest step in the evolution of Beretta's 90 series of handguns is the 94X Performance, a handgun that the company calls “the ultimate evolution of the Beretta competition pistol for IPSC and USPSA.”

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.