{"product_id":"colt-m1911-war-design-service-and-the-story-of-americas-iconic-sidearm-paperback","title":"Colt M1911: War, Design, Service, and the Story of America's Iconic Sidearm - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eDick Riley\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSome machines become unforgettable because they carry more than function: they carry the memory of conflict, design, industry, and the people who lived through the century they helped define.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eHandgun Legends, Vol. 1: Colt M1911\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e is a concise documentary history of one of the most recognizable sidearms ever made. From John Browning's design work and the U.S. military trials to World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, civilian ownership, custom culture, and collector fascination, this volume follows the Colt M1911 across more than a century of service and symbolism.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWritten in a polished, collector-focused style, this book gives readers a clear and rewarding journey through the origins, evolution, wartime role, and lasting legacy of the M1911. It explores how a steel-framed service pistol became a landmark of \u003cstrong\u003eAmerican military history\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eindustrial design\u003c\/strong\u003e, and \u003cstrong\u003epopular memory\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInside, readers will discover: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe birth of the M1911\u003c\/strong\u003e - from military need and Browning's design genius to official U.S. adoption\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIts wartime identity\u003c\/strong\u003e - through World War I, World War II, and decades of continued service\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe M1911A1 and production story\u003c\/strong\u003e - including refinement, manufacturers, and wartime scale\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIts collector and cultural legacy\u003c\/strong\u003e - from surplus pistol to enduring American icon\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eElegant, focused, and historically rich, \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eColt M1911\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e offers the experience of understanding why this handgun became far more than a military sidearm: it became a lasting object of history, design, and legend.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 146\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.31 x 9 x 6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e July 12, 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41493850914880,"sku":"9781809270412","price":28.58,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0596\/3399\/1744\/files\/p3h57U30099781809270412.webp?v=1794390624","url":"https:\/\/booksandbeyond.shop\/products\/colt-m1911-war-design-service-and-the-story-of-americas-iconic-sidearm-paperback","provider":"Books and Beyond","version":"1.0","type":"link"}