Editing M1911 pistol (section)

== Legacy ==
The M1911A1 is popular among the general public in the U.S. for practical and recreational purposes.

=== Civilian use ===
The M1911 is commonly used for [[concealed carry in the United States|concealed carry]] thanks in part to a single-stack magazine (which makes for a thinner pistol that is, therefore, easier to conceal), personal defense, target shooting, and competition as well as collections. 

There are a growing number of manufacturers of M1911-style pistols and the model continues to be quite popular for its reliability, simplicity, and patriotic appeal. 

The M1911 is popular with civilian shooters in competitive events such as the [[International Defensive Pistol Association]] and [[International Practical Shooting Confederation]],<ref>{{cite book |last=Ayoob |first=Massad |author-link=Massad Ayoob |title=The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery |publisher=Gun Digest Books |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-89689-525-6 |page=7}}</ref> showing no signs of decreasing popularity.<ref name="AMU" />

=== State firearm ===
On March 18, 2011, the U.S. state of [[Utah]]—as a way of honoring M1911 designer [[John Browning]], who was born and raised in the state—adopted the Browning M1911 as the "[[List of U.S. state firearms|official firearm]] of Utah".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/03/18/utah.state.firearm/index.html |first=Michael |last=Martinez |publisher=CNN |title=Add this to Utah's list of state symbols: an official firearm |date=2011-03-19 |access-date=2011-03-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024024354/http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/03/18/utah.state.firearm/index.html |archive-date=2012-10-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Military and law enforcement ===
The M1911 served as the standard-issue [[Sidearm (weapon)|sidearm]] for the [[United States Armed Forces]] from 1911 to 1985.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.vickersguide.com/purchase/1911-2nd-vol-1 | title=Vickers Guide: 1911, Volume 1 (Standard Edition) }}</ref> 

It was widely used in [[World War I]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.guns.com/news/2015/09/14/5-experimental-1911s-youve-probably-never-heard-of | title=5 Experimental 1911s you've probably never heard of |author-last1=Eger|author-first1=Chris|date=14 September 2015}}</ref> [[World War II]], the [[Korean War]] and the [[Vietnam War]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Model 1911 in Vietnam |url=https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2020/9/11/the-model-1911-in-vietnam |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916055142/https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2020/9/11/the-model-1911-in-vietnam |archive-date=September 16, 2020 |access-date=2021-05-15 |website=[[American Rifleman]] |language=en}}</ref> It also has seen service in the [[Desert Storm]], [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] and [[Operation Enduring Freedom]], albeit to a different extent.<ref name="Campbell" />

Many military and law enforcement organizations in the U.S. and other countries continue to use (often modified) M1911A1 pistols, notably [[Los Angeles Police Department]] [[SWAT]]., the [[FBI Hostage Rescue Team]],<ref>{{cite book |title=Us FBI Academy Handbook |publisher=International Business Publications |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-7397-3185-7 |page=17}}</ref> and [[Delta Force]].