The modern 1911 incorporates many of the same features that more modern DA pistols have. These include such things as accessory rails, high-tech finishes and polymer frames.

In the second century of its existence, the 1911 pistol is enjoying a level of popularity unlike any time in its long history. The reasons for this are legion, not just that it is chambered for the powerful .45 ACP cartridge, as many believe. The truth is, the 21st century 1911 pistol is available in a number of calibers, including .45, .40 S&W and 9mm. Regardless of what you may have heard, all of these loads are still popular in police circles, and all are available in a variety of 1911 frame sizes and styles, including several that fit snugly in the palm of an adult-size hand.

1911-style pistols can be purchased with a solid all-steel frame that makes them quite pleasant to shoot even with the most powerful loads or space-age featherweights that incorporate space-age alloys and polymers. The gun can be purchased in the traditional single-stack configuration or as a fat-gripped double column that can offer as many as 14 rounds in the magazine.

Small, large, light, heavy, fixed sights, target sights, blue or stainless steel, slim line or high capacity--even "plastic" models--the 1911 offers many of the same features and advancements found in the new generation of double-action pistols.

With all that the 1911 has going for it, one would think it would be more popular with American law enforcement officers. I believe the answer to this is the misunderstanding of the cocked hammer that is a required part of the single-action design.

For the 1911 to be carried in a "fighting ready" configuration, it must be kept cocked and locked--with the hammer back and the thumb safety engaged. The average observer sees this gun cocked and in the holster, and since many citizens gain their limited firearms knowledge from television, they see this as a gun on a "hair trigger" and ready to go off.

They simply do not understand what is really required to shoot the gun, and the thought of officers carrying a cocked gun is just too much for many American law enforcement chiefs and sheriffs as well. Some of these people are more knowledgeable about administration than they are about guns. They, too, see the gun just a breath away from going off, and since these administrators are greatly concerned about public perception, there is just no way they are going to let their officers carry a cocked gun.

But those who take this view don't understand the design of the gun or what is required to fire it. In order to drop the hammer of a cocked 1911, three things must occur.

First, the grip safety must be depressed. Second, the thumb safety must be disengaged. Finally, the trigger must be pulled to the rear. While it is true all of these actions can be accomplished in quick succession, each is an individual action that must be completed before the weapon will discharge. Just because the gun is cocked does not mean that it is an accident waiting to happen.

An argument can actually be made that 1911 is in reality "safer" than some of the pistols that are currently popular in law enforcement circles. There are several striker-fired designs--exceptional guns whose popularity is well deserved--that require less effort and hand manipulation to shoot than does the 1911.