The
truth be told, there is no objectively perfect 1911 pistol. It is
unlikely there ever will be one that is actually perfect by the
definition of perfect. That
is not to say there are not any excellent ones but rather that the 1911
design does not lend itself to being perfected but rather to being
modified to fit varying objectives. Most things that we can produce are
like that. The proof of that is the fact that not only a multitude of
individual owners seek to modify them with perfection in mind but that
many gun manufacturing companies constantly try to perfect the design
and evidently none have succeeded to date. If they had been successful,
no other modifications would be needed or even wanted; yet, 1911
aficionados and manufacturers strive to improve them almost constantly.
While
being modifiable can be a very good thing, to a certain point, it
simply is never to the point of perfection. That is because true
perfection (which is an absolute) would completely eliminate the need
for any modifications. Perfection is pretty much an unobtainable fantasy
when it comes to most manufactured items. That is so if only because
human nature rarely allows us, that is every one of us, to accept and
agree upon anything as being perfect
or in other words flawless, without fault and meeting all desired
requirements. Heck, we cannot even agree upon what objectives would
constitute a perfect firearm let alone agreeing upon whether or not the
finished product has achieved those goals.
As
for myself, I find it quite desirable that no one, not even Glock
despite their logo, has ever achieved perfection when it comes to making
guns. Where would the interest, fun, ingenuity, change and productivity
be relative to firearms if even just one gun designer reached true
perfection with his/her creation? I am quite happy that gun designers
constantly strive to make the better mouse trap (so to speak) because it
assures a wide variety of new and sometimes improved guns.
All
that said, I am not attempting to denigrate the design of the 1911 nor
to dissuade those who find the 1911 design very appealing. Although the
design certainly has its less than desirable aspects, it also has its
high points (no pun intended) and it is still desirable enough for me to
own a few of them as well as for many others to adore them.
Subjectively speaking, the perfect 1911 for me would be the one that
comes out if the box as perfect and that requires no modifications to
better it nor that even encourages the desire to modify it. I do not
think I will ever find one like that but who knows - sometimes faerie
tales do come true.
Right
now, I own three pistols based on the 1911 design: A Remington R1 1911,
a Rock Island Armory 1911 A1 FS and an Argentine Systema Colt 1927. I
like them all but if I was to make one my carry gun, it probably would
be the RIA model; it is more reliable than the Remington as to feeding,
firing, extracting & ejecting and has less wear and tear than does
the System Colt 1927. Then again, I doubt I would ever make a 1911 my
carry pistol - that due to personal preference as to what I carry.
All the best,
Glenn B
