Colt Officer's ACP
Encyclopedia
The Colt Officer's ACP or Colt Officer's Model is a single-action, semi-automatic, magazine-fed, and recoil-operated handgun
based on the John M. Browning
designed M1911
. It was introduced in 1985 as a response from Colt to numerous aftermarket companies making smaller versions of the M1911 pistol.
developed a compact 1911 it called the "General Officer's Model Pistol" for issue to general officers of the US Army and Air Force, but the pistol was unavailable for sale to the general public. The following year, Pat Yates of Detonics
had introduced his compact "Combat Master", a chopped down 1911, with 3.5" barrel and a shortened grip frame. Seeing the popularity of these compact pistols, other pistolsmiths began offering similar conversions on customers' 1911s.
In 1985, Colt developed their own in-house version and named it the "Colt Officer's ACP", the following year they introduced a lighter version with an aluminium frame known as the Lightweight Officer's ACP which weighed 10 ounces less (24 ounces). When Colt introduced the 1991 platform (a parkerized version of the 1911, with the series 80 firing pin safety) it included a pistol of the same dimensions as the Officer's ACP.
Although praised for its compact size, the Colt Officer's ACP has drawn criticism for being finicky with ammunition and the sharp recoil from the short barrel. Firearms Author, Frank James, writes that the decreased velocity from the shorter barrel causes performance of the round to be less than optimal when used in a defensive situation.
Handgun
A handgun is a firearm designed to be held and operated by one hand. This characteristic differentiates handguns as a general class of firearms from long guns such as rifles and shotguns ....
based on the John M. Browning
John Browning
John Moses Browning , born in Ogden, Utah, was an American firearms designer who developed many varieties of military and civilian firearms, cartridges, and gun mechanisms, many of which are still in use around the world...
designed M1911
M1911
The M1911 is a single-action, semi-automatic, magazine-fed, and recoil-operated handgun chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge. John M. Browning designed the firearm which was the standard-issue side arm for the United States armed forces from 1911 to 1985. The M1911 is still carried by some U.S....
. It was introduced in 1985 as a response from Colt to numerous aftermarket companies making smaller versions of the M1911 pistol.
History
In 1975, Rock Island ArsenalRock Island Arsenal
The Rock Island Arsenal comprises , located on Arsenal Island, originally known as Rock Island, on the Mississippi River between the cities of Davenport, Iowa, and Rock Island, Illinois. It lies within the state of Illinois. The island was originally established as a government site in 1816, with...
developed a compact 1911 it called the "General Officer's Model Pistol" for issue to general officers of the US Army and Air Force, but the pistol was unavailable for sale to the general public. The following year, Pat Yates of Detonics
Detonics
Detonics is a firearm manufacturing company based in Millstadt, Illinois, USA. Detonics is most notably known for its innovative design of compact 1911-style pistols, such as the Combat Master.-Company history:...
had introduced his compact "Combat Master", a chopped down 1911, with 3.5" barrel and a shortened grip frame. Seeing the popularity of these compact pistols, other pistolsmiths began offering similar conversions on customers' 1911s.
In 1985, Colt developed their own in-house version and named it the "Colt Officer's ACP", the following year they introduced a lighter version with an aluminium frame known as the Lightweight Officer's ACP which weighed 10 ounces less (24 ounces). When Colt introduced the 1991 platform (a parkerized version of the 1911, with the series 80 firing pin safety) it included a pistol of the same dimensions as the Officer's ACP.
Although praised for its compact size, the Colt Officer's ACP has drawn criticism for being finicky with ammunition and the sharp recoil from the short barrel. Firearms Author, Frank James, writes that the decreased velocity from the shorter barrel causes performance of the round to be less than optimal when used in a defensive situation.