To this day, the 1911A1 is still in service with some Special Forces units of the Army, Navy and the Marine Corps, in part because of to its popularity among the troops.ĭuring the past 100-plus years, many manufacturers have made 1911-style pistols, but most of the collector interest is with Colt, where it all began. military sidearm from 1911 to 1986 - through WWI and WWII, and the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Without a doubt, it’s the most popular handgun design in the United States and in many other parts of the world. More has probably been written about the Colt 1911 series of pistols than any other handgun.