Editing M1911 pistol (section)

===Early history and adaptations===
The M1911 pistol originated in the late 1890s as the result of a search for a suitable self-loading (or semi-automatic) pistol to replace the variety of revolvers in service at the time.<ref name="Taylor">{{cite book |last=Taylor |first=Chuck |title=Complete Book Of Combat Handgunning |publisher=Paladin Press |year=1981 |location=Boulder, CO |page=200 |isbn=978-0-87364-327-6}}</ref> The United States was adopting new firearms at a phenomenal rate; several new pistols and two all-new service rifles ([[Springfield Model 1892-99|M1892/96/98 Krag]] and [[M1895 Navy Lee]]), as well as a series of revolvers by [[Colt's Manufacturing Company|Colt]] and [[Smith & Wesson]] for the Army and Navy, were adopted just in that decade.

The next decade would see a similar pace, including the adoption of several more revolvers and an intensive search for a self-loading pistol that would culminate in the official adoption of the M1911 after the turn of the decade. [[Hiram Stevens Maxim|Hiram S. Maxim]] had designed a self-loading [[rifle]] in the 1880s, but was preoccupied with [[machine gun]]s. Nevertheless, the application of his principle of using cartridge energy to reload led to several self-loading pistols in 1896. The designs caught the attention of various militaries, each of which began programs to find a suitable one for their forces. In the U.S., such a program would lead to a formal test at the turn of the 20th century.{{sfn|Hogg|Walter|2004|p=225}}

[[File:JOHN M. BROWNING.jpg|thumb|left|upright|M1911 designer [[John Browning]]]]
During the end of 1899 and into 1900, a test of self-loading pistols was conducted, including entries from [[Mauser]] ([[Mauser C96|C96 "Broomhandle"]]), Mannlicher ([[Mannlicher M1894]]), and Colt ([[Colt M1900]]).<ref name="Taylor"/> This led to a purchase of 1,000 [[Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken|DWM]] [[Luger pistol]]s, chambered in [[7.65mm Luger]].  During field trials, these ran into some problems, especially with [[stopping power]]. Other governments had made similar complaints.  Consequently, DWM produced an enlarged version of the round, the [[9×19mm Parabellum]] with fifty weapons chambered for it tested by the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] in 1903.{{sfn|Hogg|Walter|2004|p=98}}

American units fighting [[Tausūg people|Tausūg]] guerrillas in the [[Moro Rebellion]] in Sulu during the [[Philippine–American War]] using the then-standard [[Colt M1892]] revolver, [[.38 Long Colt]], found it to be unsuitable for the rigors of [[jungle warfare]], particularly in terms of [[stopping power]], as the Moros had high battle morale and often used drugs to inhibit the sensation of pain.<ref>[[Brian McAllister Linn|Linn, Brian McAllister]]. ''The Philippine War, 1899–1902'' (Modern War Studies (Paperback)). University Press of Kansas. {{ISBN|978-0-7006-1225-3}}.</ref> 

The U.S. Army briefly reverted to using the [[Colt Single Action Army|M1873 single-action revolver]] in [[.45 Colt]] caliber, which had been standard during the late 19th century; the heavier bullet was found to be more effective against charging tribesmen.<ref name="Poyer">{{cite book |last=Poyer|first=Joseph |author2=Craig Riesch|author3=Karl Karash|title=The Model 1911 and Model 1911A1 Military and Commercial Pistols |year=2008|publisher=North Cape Publications|page=544|isbn=978-1-882391-46-2}}</ref> Problems prompted General [[William Crozier (artillerist)|William Crozier]], the [[Chief of Ordnance]], to authorize further testing for a new service pistol.<ref name="Poyer" />

Following the 1904 [[Thompson-LaGarde Tests|Thompson-LaGarde]] pistol round effectiveness tests, Colonel [[John T. Thompson]] stated that the new pistol "should not be of less than .45 caliber" and would preferably be semi-automatic in operation.<ref name="Poyer" /> This led to the 1906 trials of pistols from six firearms manufacturing companies (namely, [[Colt's Manufacturing Company|Colt]], [[Theodor Bergmann|Bergmann]], [[Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken]] (DWM), [[Savage Arms]], Knoble, [[Webley & Scott|Webley]], and White-Merrill).<ref name="Poyer" />

Of the six designs submitted, three were eliminated early on, leaving only the [[Savage Model 1907|Savage]], Colt, and [[Luger P08 pistol|DWM]] designs chambered in the new [[.45 ACP]] (Automatic Colt Pistol) cartridge.<ref name="Poyer" />  These three still had issues that needed correction, but only Colt and Savage resubmitted their designs. 

There is some debate over the reasons for DWM's withdrawal—some say they felt there was bias and that the DWM design was being used primarily as a "[[whipping boy]]" for the Savage and Colt pistols,<ref name="dmwwithdrawal">Hallock, Kenneth R. (1980), ''Hallock's .45 Auto Handbook''.</ref> though this does not fit well with the earlier 1900 purchase of the DWM design over the Colt and Steyr entries. In any case, a series of field tests from 1907 to 1911 were held to decide between the Savage and Colt designs.<ref name="Poyer" />  Both designs were improved between each round of testing, leading up to the final test before adoption.<ref name="Poyer" />

Among the areas of success for the Colt was a test at the end of 1910 attended by its designer, John Browning. Six thousand rounds were fired from a single pistol over the course of two days. When the gun began to grow hot, it was simply immersed in water to cool it. The Colt gun passed with no reported malfunctions, while the Savage designs had 37.<ref name="Poyer" />