ARTICLE BY: NICK JACOBELLIS
The Springfield Armory Mil Spec Model 1911 is clearly an ungraded version of the original “plain Jane” design. Unlike the original G.I or Government issue 1911, the Mil Spec Model is fitted
with a Match Grade stainless steel five inch barrel and a set of high visibility Fixed Combat Three Dot
White Dot Sights. In keeping with the design features of the original 1911, the Springfield Mil Spec
model has an Arched Mainspring Housing, all steel construction and a short military combat trigger.
The Mil Spec Model also has an expertly applied Parkerized Finish. This finish is one of the key
features of World War II era 1911s.
BACK IN THE DAY
The first 1911 I purchased was a Colt Lightweight Commander in .45 ACP caliber that I had Teflon coated. I had this coating applied to protect this pistol from corrosion. I adopted this pistol
because the shorter slide with the four inch barrel and the lightweight frame made the Lightweight
Commander Model a little easier to carry concealed.
Later on in my law enforcement career, when I served with U.S. Customs Service, I carried a brand new (government issued) all steel Colt Series 70 Government Model 1911 in .45 ACP. This was
during The Miami Vice Era of the Drug War, when I flew drug interdiction missions in South Florida
and throughout the Caribbean. Even though I was always armed with a Colt CAR 15, a 9mm
submachine gun, or a Parkerized Remington 870 pump action shotgun, I always carried two
handguns and plenty of spare ammunition. I did so, because we never knew when we would be forced
to engage superior numbers of smugglers during an interdiction mission in a remote area.
THE MIL SPEC 1911 HIGH VISIBILITY FIXED COMBAT THREE DOT SIGHTS
VS THE ORIGINAL LOW PROFILE FIXED SIGHTS
Even though I have a great deal of respect for the Mr. John Browning, if I could go back in time the only question I would ask this incredibly famous firearms inventor, is what possessed him to design
the 1911, the 9mm Browning Hi Power and the Colt Pocket Auto aka the 1903/1908 Pocket
Hammerless series of pistols with the lowest profile set of fixed iron sights imaginable? After all, it
isn’t like people back then had better eye sight than those of us who came later on.
While I have never had a problem maintaining proficiency with a “plain Jane” 1911, that was equipped with a set of low profile fixed sights, I fully admit that shooting any pistol with more
modern high profile three (white) dot sights and or night sights makes it even easier to maintain
proficiency. This becomes evident when you train with the Springfield Armory Mil Spec Model 1911
and it becomes considerably easier to shoot this pistol with tremendous precision. This is made possible
because of a combination of features, that include excellent ergonomics, all steel construction, the use
of a match grade stainless barrel, excellent sights and a very user friendly Single Action trigger. The
fact that the Springfield Armory Mil Spec Model 1911 has a superbly applied corrosion resistant
Parkerized Finish is another enhancement, that makes this .45 ACP caliber pistol ready for use in
adverse operating conditions.
SHOTS FIRED
The following ammunition was used while field testing the Springfield Armory Mil Spec (Government Model) 1911: Hornady 185 grain Critical Defense, 230 grain Winchester SXT hollow-
point ammunition, 230 grain Federal HST hollow-point ammunition, 185 grain Remington FMJ
ammunition and 230 grain Remington FMJ ammunition. As someone who has traditionally used
heavier 230 grain Federal and Winchester hollow-point ammunition, I was very impressed with the
way the Springfield Armory Mil Spec Model 1911 performed, when I tested this pistol with the 185
grain Hornady Critical Defense load.
CLOSING REMARKS
In this day and age when polymer framed pistols reign supreme, a well made 1911 is still a highly effective Personal Defense Weapon. If you agree and you are interested in purchasing a
flawlessly reliable reasonably priced, incredibly well made 1911, I strongly advise that you consider
purchasing a Springfield Armory Mil Spec Model.
Nick Jacobellis is a Medically Retired U.S. Customs Agent and a former NY police officer who was physically disabled in the line of duty while working undercover as a federal agent. To date, the author has published over 205 magazine articles and nine action-packed nonfiction, historical fiction, and fiction books: Controlled Delivery Books One and Two, The Frontline Fugitives Books I, II, III, and IV, Buck Banderas U.S. Marshal Books One and Two and A Special Kind of Hero. These books have received 5 Star reviews and are available on Amazon.com (US), and (UK). He was born and raised in Flatbush section of Brooklyn NY and has an BS Degree in Police Science from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
