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The traditional 1911 pistol is a single stack handgun with a magazine capacity, in .45 caliber, of seven or eight rounds. Since the 1980s, interest in modernized and high-capacity weapons based on the 1911 platform has steadily increased. One of the first companies to offer a 1911 with a double stack magazine was the Canadian manufacturer Para-Ordnance. 

The 2011 pistol continues that trend and represents a significant upgrade compared with the traditional 1911 pistol pattern. This new design features improvements in every category, from sights and ergonomics to controls.

The United States Army adopted the Colt-Browning .45 Automatic as the U.S. Pistol, Automatic, Caliber .45, Model 1911 on March 29, 1911. Between the date of its adoption and its official replacement in 1985, the M1911 served in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. 

While no longer the primary sidearm of the U.S. armed forces, 1911-pattern pistols remain popular among private citizens for self-defense, competitive target shooting, and collecting. 

In the modern era, polymer-framed and striker-fired handguns are the standard for self-defense. Glock, Smith & Wesson, Heckler & Koch, and Walther are among the most popular brands carried by private citizens, law-enforcement officers, and military personnel. 

However, the gun owner who wants to carry a hammer-fired, steel-framed handgun has options. The classic 1911 platform remains a practical choice for self-defense and has been modernized to improve its ergonomics and combat effectiveness. 

Favored for its reliability, ergonomics, accuracy, and history, the 1911 has maintained a loyal following despite being sold in more or less the same form for 110 years.