45 ACP, looks like a classic 1911 design, but with a twist. Recently, when Para opted to build a single column frame, it surprised everyone by delivering one with an LDA action. The first LDAs were high-capacity frames. This abruptly brought the 1911 into the 21st Century and litigation-sensitive law enforcement administrators seemed more open to the idea of a 1911, if it had the LDA feature. Then, in 1999, the company introduced its Light Double Action (LDA) series. Some early teething problems were overcome and Para continued to update products to meet the demands of the market. In 1988 Para-Ordnance brought out its first complete pistol to the welcoming arms of the shooting and law enforcement fraternity. Soon, Para's frames ruled the competition circuit, but company owner Ted Szabo was unhappy with some of the results of his frame being mated with sub-par uppers.

Using an existing 'upper' slide assembly, a shooter could convert a 1911 into a 15-shot. Established as a paintball gun manufacturer, it introduced a wide-body frame conversion for the 1911 pistol. In the 1970s, Larry Seecamp developed a double-action conversion for the 1911, but the design never caught hold.Įnter a bold, Canadian company called Para-Ordnance. This begat an unwarranted knee-jerk fear of the 'scary' single action, cocked-and-locked carry mode of the 1911. Time passed and the double-action auto pistol began to see the light of day. From custom sights to wildcat cartridges, the 1911 reigns supreme as the most versatile auto pistol in history. Just as Americans love to customize their cars, the 1911 is often the basic platform-the Model A Ford, if you will-of the handgunner. Since then, 'Old Slabsides' has become the darling of American shooters. It's doubtful Browning realized the impact his design was to have as he filed that last part on that first 1911.

World War II showed the 1911 to be as tough as Browning said it was and the rest is, well.history. Suddenly, other makers were scrambling as Colt began to build the big pistol. For a turn-of-the-century gunsmith, the development of the 1911 auto pistol was the equivalent of today's aeronautical engineers inventing warp drive. Its elegant simplicity, power, and performance raised the bar on auto pistol design. Browning put the final period on the design of the original 1911 series pistol, he must surely have sat back and smiled.

Federal ordnance 1911 history