Guns In Movies: Springfield Armory M1911 A1

Guns In Movies: Springfield Armory M1911 A1 - TheArmsGuide.com

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Some of you may already know that I’m a movie junkie. I tend to gravitate largely toward action movies, with a little horror and suspense thrown in for good measure. Due to my cinematic preferences and my fondness for the shooting sports, I always end up playing one particular game, whether I’m watching the silver screen or popping on a Blu-Ray in the comfort of my own home: Name That Gun. In this article series, I invite you to join in on the fun.

To kick off Guns in Movies, I had to start with one of my favorite guns—the Springfield Armory M1911—from one of my favorite movies—Robert Rodriguez’s Sin City.

History

The original M1911 pistol design was a product of the prolific inventor John Moses Browning. JMB’s M1911 was an answer for the United States military’s desires for an auto-loading service pistol to replace the several revolvers in service. Since the firearm design’s inception in, you guessed it, 1911, Browning’s brainchild has spawned hundreds of variants, including the Springfield Armory M1911 A1.

Specs

Caliber: .45 ACP

Capacity: usually 7+1 or 8+1

Weight: approx. 2.4lbs

Frame material: steel

Slide material: steel

Barrel length: 5.0in

Price range: $750-$1,200

Where You’ve Seen It

This particular 1911 variant isn’t perhaps as common as, say, its Colt brethren, but it has made its way into several movies and television shows over the years. The Springfield Armory M1911 A1 is just about the star of Sin City, popping up multiple times in each story arch, wearing a variety of finishes, wielded by heroes (e.g., Marv) and “bad guys” (e.g., Det. Jack “Jackie Boy” Rafferty) alike. In various forms, this popular Springer has also made an appearance in the movies Batman Begins, Resident Evil, and is the sidearm of choice of characters Sydney Bristow (Alias) and Jax Teller (Sons of Anarchy).

Featured image of Marv’s Springfield Armory M1911 A1, Gladys, from Robert Rodriguez’s film, Sin City (2005).

About the Author

  • EricKmiecik

    Great article and 1911. Another great series of articles, that you only see on TAG.

  • Pro2AGuy

    Fellow “movie junkie” here as well. I like many different genres of film like comedies which is required viewing in this upside-down world in which we live–Of course, I like drama and particularly those that intertwine with fine weaponry (IMFDB is a must for ‘gun movie’ aficionados)–the most recent film I have seen along these lines would be “End of Watch” which coincidentally features a custom engraved nickel plated Colt MKIV Series 80 with pearl grips to boot.

  • Z0mb3hHunt3r

    I loved the Character Marv. If you are a big movie buff, try watching Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo (1961). The only gun in the movie is a Smith and Wesson Model 1, but it was copied word for word by Sergio Leone’s A Fistful of Dollars. It has a lot of action in it, and it is a Dark Comedy. Great movie and it’s in my Top 5 Foreign films, and top 5 of all time.

  • AlessioBaldi

    Gledys 😀

  • AlessioBaldi

    The 1911 that Sly uses in the movie “Cobra” xD With the badass grips 😛
    The last time a re-watched that movie, I noticed that the barrel is to narrow to be a 45. Scenic gun blooper, or 9mm 1911?

  • Z0mb3hHunt3r

    AlessioBaldi Sometimes they use barrels that will not fire a projectile, A real firearm converted to fire only blanks, so it could have been a Blank only barrel. Sometimes they do that if a firearm will not cycle blanks half-way reliably.

  • Z0mb3hHunt3r

    “This is blood for blood and by the gallons. These are the old days man, the bad days, the all-or-nothing days. They’re back! There’s no choices left. And I’m ready for war.” – Marv                    🙂

  • My favorite movie 1911 has to go to the Punisher’s 1911s.

  • Z0mb3hHunt3r

    TimU Those were pretty nice. My favorite is the AMT Hardballer Long-slide 1911 “With laser sighting” in Terminator.

  • Markknife1

    The 1911’s in anime that I have watched have been depicted very well considering it is only animation.
    Like . . .
    http://www.imfdb.org/images/9/93/Snapshot20091011015538.jpg
    Here: A Springfield Armory Loaded by the character.
    Or
    http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/1416/vlcsnap2011050211h14m43.png
    Here: Twin Springfield M1911A1 Champion pistols, both black with a glossy wood side cover on handle, and the http://aonoexorcist.wikia.com/wiki/True_Cross(An academy in that show) insignia engraved into the slide.

    Ah, I Really like discussions towards firearm references (Like the 1911’s) in different mediums of entertainment.(Like in Movies, TV Shows, Anime, Manga) The problem is that I could only find one website(a very good site that I may add) that have Firearms enthusiasts, in all of those mediums.(http://www.imfdb.org/g)
    I do wonder though in when firearms enthusiasts and Otaku can finally have open discussions on these topics.(Or If there were. . . Why can’t I find any?)

    Maybe I’m just dreaming right now. . . . .

  • Z0mb3hHunt3r

    Markknife1 I work alone too. Feel free to speak openly. I do not hold my thoughts back. My personal favorite out of the Springfield Armory Line-up is the Operator. You sure did find the right websites to commentate about firearms in the entertainment industry.

  • Markknife1

    Z0mb3hHunt3r Markknife1 Oh man, I was actually cringing the whole time I wrote that opinion.(Since I was crossing my comfort zones in my hobbies there)
    I’m glad that you guys are very open about these topics.

  • Z0mb3hHunt3r

    Markknife1 Z0mb3hHunt3r From observation of the comments section on Youtube, the only thing I have seen members of the Gun community go into Lynch mob mode over was the mentioning of video games and firearms. Made me really glad I was born in the Era of the NES, the closest thing to firearms in games we had then was the Beretta M9 pistol in Metal Gear, and the pistol controller for Duck Hunt.  Generally we love chatting about firearms in movies, and mistakes involving firearms in movies. Did you know that Bruce Willis used his Smith and Wesson Model 29, and Nancy’s Ruger Blackhawk right handed as a nod to the Dirty Harry films, despite being a south-paw in real life. Common information due to commentary, but Bruce Willis is Pro-Second Amendment in his beliefs. I thought it was neat.

  • AlessioBaldi

    Z0mb3hHunt3r AlessioBaldi  Hollywood I guess. Anyhow, http://www.imfdb.org/ came in my help xD 
    “Lt. Marion ‘Cobra’ Cobretti (http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Sylvester_Stallone) carries a special order http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/M1911_pistol_series built by Colt in 9mm for Stembridge Gun Rental as his sidearm throughout the film.”

  • AlessioBaldi

    Z0mb3hHunt3r Never watched, I’ll give it a look. Of Kurosawa I really enjoined Dersu Uzala.

  • AlessioBaldi

    Anyone noticed that there is the Colt horse logo on the grips? Instead of the crossed cannons of SA?

  • Z0mb3hHunt3r

    AlessioBaldi Yeah, it does have the Rampart Colt on the grips. Odd, Thanks for pointing it out.

  • Z0mb3hHunt3r

    AlessioBaldi Z0mb3hHunt3r Seven Samurai was my favorite, followed by Yojimbo, Sanjuro, the Hidden Fortress, Ran, just about all of the ones involving Samurai.

  • Markknife1

    Z0mb3hHunt3r Markknife1 Ah yes. I noticed that a lot when I browse firearms videos in youtube. It’s alright to lynch those people since they annoy the rest of us and we in the end lynch them out too.
    Wow. I did not notice that. And now a man who is true to his word from the set to real life. No wonder I felt something pure in him. not like other anti-gun actors who practice the hypocrisy in their films.

  • EricKmiecik Much obliged, my friend. Glad you enjoyed it ;]

  • Pro2AGuy Awesome! And yep, I am a frequenter of that site ;]

  • Z0mb3hHunt3r Same here! I’ve heard the reverse notion about Yojimbo (1961) and Fistful of Dollars (1964), but I have yet to see either. They’re on my list, though!

  • AlessioBaldi Purdy little pistol, no?

  • AlessioBaldi I’ve never seen that movie… I’ve not seen a number of Stallone flicks. o.0

  • Z0mb3hHunt3r My favorite movie quote:
    “Worth dying for. Worth killing for. Worth going to hell for. Amen.”
    The one you mentioned is a close second, though ;]

  • TimU Those are Colts, no? 😀

  • Markknife1 I’m a crossover :] I don’t watch as much anime or read as many mangas as I did a few years ago, but I still enjoy them.

  • AlessioBaldi I did, indeed. Funny, especially considering you can read “Springfield Armory” on the slide so clearly.

  • Z0mb3hHunt3r

    FateofDestinee Z0mb3hHunt3r Yojimbo was on Netflix a few years ago, but the only place I can watch it now is on Hulu plus. For the time, it was a late black and white movie, as the Zatoichi films were coming out and being filmed in excellent color. If you can get past the subtitles (For some reason I love them) it is an excellent watch. Kurosawa’s The Hidden Fortress inspired George Lucas in creating the Star Wars franchise.  Yojimbo, Seven Samurai, Sanjuro, and the Zatoichi films feel very much like Westerns. The Anti-hero badass who feels for a cause fights for it, with swords instead of Firearms.

  • Z0mb3hHunt3r

    FateofDestinee Z0mb3hHunt3r Oh man, There are so many excellent quotes in that movie. I cannot wait for “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For” to come out. I cannot get enough of Marv. The part of the film where the quote you mentioned was said is really well done and it adds a lot of meaning and character to the quote. That is one of the few Rodriguez films I adore.

  • Z0mb3hHunt3r

    FateofDestinee Z0mb3hHunt3r Also, I just noticed in Aaargo Jay’s Training Day Ft Coastie Mike video you have Red Converse shoes on, Nice choice 😀

  • AlessioBaldi

    FateofDestinee AlessioBaldi oh you should, you’d make huge laughs 😀 It has everything: unlimited ammo magazines, shotguns that are racked at least 2 times before shooting, tons of badass liners 😀

  • Z0mb3hHunt3r FateofDestinee Omg I know, right? I’ve been waiting for it for freakin’ six years now x.x

  • Z0mb3hHunt3r FateofDestinee I got them in part because of Dwight ;] …also in part because of the 11th Doctor …and also because I just love Converse high tops. I think I’m up to 4 pairs now (not enough).

  • Z0mb3hHunt3r

    FateofDestinee Z0mb3hHunt3r I have a pair of Batman High tops, a Green/Red pair, and a black pair, all High tops. I always wanted a straight red pair though. It is going to be weird seeing Josh Brolin as Dwight instead of Clive Owen in the new film. One of my buddies had a leather pair in high school, if his feet weren’t way bigger than mine, he would have lost them.

  • Z0mb3hHunt3r FateofDestinee I have two Batman pairs, the red pair, and a Union Jack pair. I guess you could say I’m a bit of an anglophile, on top of my other geekery lol Ooh, a leather pair like the ones Will Smith wears in I, Robot? I love those! They’re on my list, too. lol

  • Z0mb3hHunt3r

    FateofDestinee Z0mb3hHunt3r They were the same model that Will Smith used in it. The only firearms I actually “collect” are ones that I like in movies, like the Glock 34 because of Man on Fire and End of Days, The H&K MK23 because of Metal Gear Solid, and the firearms used in the Death Wish series. Other than that I collect old Smith and Wesson Revolvers. All of my other firearms were obtained for defensive purposes, like my M70AB2 for offense, 870 and my Glock 17 for defense. I am a huge geek as well, but I turned my one track mind to an obsession of firearms and it is almost all I talk and think about. Firearm culture is a big part of the Film Industry and it works great seeing as I love movies and I can tie them together in a conversation easily. How are we not friends?!

  • Markknife1

    FateofDestinee Markknife1 Oh? A Casual fan, No Problem. Everyone is welcome in this lovely little hobby. So anyway, what anime have you watched?
    Would you like to have recommendations for anime to watch on those off-seasons?
    Oh dear, sorry for the over enthusiasm. I am just so happy to find someone here with interest in the same hobbies. (^.^)

  • Z0mb3hHunt3r

    Markknife1 FateofDestinee I was really into Rurouni Kenshin and Samurai X when I was growing up. It used to come on Toonami at 5 PM when I was in school. I miss it, I recently watched the whole series online last year and now I have been scouring for DVD’s of it. I also got into Samurai Champloo and Cowboy Bebop. High School of the Dead is a recent one I started watching, it is alright.

  • Markknife1

    Z0mb3hHunt3r Markknife1 FateofDestinee OOH! There is a bustling online 2nd hand market for all that you need. Here try http://www.figure.fm (they may have DVD sets in the for sale posts)
    Oh, and I really recommend you guys watch “Upotte” and “Blue Exorcist”

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