The firearms industry has undergone tremendous technological advancements over the last two centuries. Among many innovations in powders, metallurgy, and projectiles, one product from the last century stands the test of time: the Colt’s patented, John Browning-designed Government Model 1911. This iconic handgun has seen action in two world wars and countless other battlefields since its invention. Today, nearly every major gun manufacturer produces some variation of it, making the 1911 a beloved and enduring firearm.

The Birth of the 1911

The story of the 1911 began in the 1890s. At that time, the U.S. military was using various revolvers as their common sidearm. With the recent adoption of new service rifles, the military felt the need for a new, self-loading pistol. Six manufacturers submitted designs, and Colt emerged victorious. The superior reliability of Colt’s design was put to the test in 1910, when 6,000 rounds were fired through one pistol. Even after being dunked in water to cool it off, the pistol never jammed. This remarkable performance earned the pistol its designation as the Colt Government Model 1911.

Evolution and Adaptation

Though the U.S. military has largely retired the 1911 model from service, many manufacturers continue to produce variations of it. The original design was chambered in .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) and the cartridge remains popular today. The platform has also been adapted to several calibers, with 9mm Luger being the second most common and 10mm gaining popularity.

Colt’s Ongoing Legacy

Colt still produces these beautiful handguns, albeit with a hefty price tag and advanced technology. While many enthusiasts dream of owning a Colt 1911, there are more affordable alternatives available that still offer excellent quality.

My Journey with the 1911

My fascination with the 1911 began in my childhood while watching war movies. Financial constraints prevented me from acquiring a Colt or Browning initially, but after opening Labascus Armory, I had the opportunity to explore various models firsthand. In 2019, I traded for a Rock Island Armory 1911, which, although popular, did not meet my expectations. I eventually sold it and decided to save up for a Colt.

In 2020, during the height of the pandemic when firearms were scarce, I purchased a little-known brand 1911, Tisas, a Turkish import. Despite my initial skepticism, the Tisas pistol exceeded my expectations. Though the original plastic grips were unattractive, replacing them with Altamont grips transformed the pistol’s appearance.

Performance and Reliability

After making the cosmetic upgrade, I tested the Tisas pistol and found it to be accurate and reliable. My son also acquired one, and we subjected these pistols to rigorous testing, using various types of ammunition. The Tisas pistols never jammed, proving their dependability. Although some enthusiasts discredit this brand due to its import status, my experience has shown that these are high-quality handguns at a fraction of the cost of a Colt.

Upgrades and Customization

Common upgrades for 1911 pistols include installing a Wilson Combat spring kit. For my Tisas, I opted for a simple trigger job, smoothing the sear to achieve a consistent five-pound trigger pull. This weight is suitable for carrying the pistol regularly while ensuring safety.

The 1911 in American Culture

The 1911 holds a special place in American culture and history. Many gun enthusiasts either own or desire to own a 1911. John Browning’s design has left an indelible mark on the firearms industry, and his other innovations continue to influence American culture.

Conclusion

The Colt Government Model 1911, conceived by John Browning over a century ago, remains a symbol of reliability, innovation, and American craftsmanship. Whether as a collector’s item, a personal defense weapon, or a piece of history, the 1911 continues to captivate enthusiasts around the world. Its timeless design and enduring legacy are a testament to the genius of John Browning and the lasting impact of his work on the firearms industry.

A friend came by with his new Ruger American gen 2, I had actually worked on it the weekend previous, The Ruger Gen 2 has a user adjustable trigger pull, but we did a little stone work to smooth the pull. We then put in the order for a set of Tally rings to mount his Burris scope.

As this build began to take shape, mounting the Burris Signature HD 5-25×50 scope then my friend had picked up some Hornady ammo, a couple boxes of 88 grain Hornady Match and then some 62 grain Hornady. Rounding out the build with a suppressor, we decided it was time to hit the range.

We used my boresighter to reduce the amount of rounds of we would need to get it sighted in and started shooting. The 25 yard target was the first stop, three rounds of the 88 grain Hornady Match and we were putting rounds at 2” high. Making minor adjustments to the windage, it was time to reach out a little further and the 100 yard target was next stop. Performance at 100 yards was right where we’d expected, we wondered if we needed to let the barrel cool after a few rounds especially since none of us were familiar with suppressors, though the temperature was about 60 degrees outside, I guess we were taking our time between shots because barrel temperature was not a problem. It was at that point we broke away from the paper targets and began to take aim at the steel targets, steadily walking out the range 200 yard ringer then with a little adjustment to the elevation while learning to use the turrets on the Burris scope run the 400 yard target.

I’d like to thank my friend for allowing me to write, take photos, and letting me help get it zeroed. I know some get to play with new toys that are supplied to them to test out and write or make videos about them, maybe someday I’ll be as fortunate but I appreciate my friends, family, and loyal customers for letting me write/make videos and such of their new equipment. I appreciate you more than you know.

Chad Davenport

I am a devoted family man, a Hunters Safety Education instructor, and a Kentucky CCDW instructor with a deep passion for conservation, hunting, and the great outdoors. As the owner of Labascus Armory, I take pride in providing quality firearms and training to my community while promoting responsible gun ownership and outdoor heritage. My love for wildlife conservation drives me to actively manage food plots and habitats on my land, ensuring future generations can enjoy the same traditions. Whether teaching firearm safety, working in my shop, or spending time in the woods, I am committed to preserving our outdoor way of life.

Smooth action as expected from any Henry product.

I’ve finally had the opportunity to take a Mare’s Leg out and fire a few rounds this week; it was a great time to finally put some rounds down range with this pistol.

The lever, the action, and the accuracy are second to none.

Seeing this type of pistol and wondering just what they purpose was for this led me to do some research on it, learning more about them in a couple hours than I thought I could.

The Wild West cowboys and lawmen, in the days when horse transportation reigned supreme, everyone carried firearms. Most carried a sidearm revolver and some sort of long gun at the minimum. The problem with the long gun was that carrying a full length rifle was hard to access quickly.

Cowboys and Lawmen alike cut length from their rifles to make the easier to access from horseback.

The cowboys and lawmen began to cut some length from the stock and the barrel so that the firearm could be carried in a scabbard ahead of the saddle and more accessible, this scabbard would hang lengthwise of the horses front leg in order for the rider to draw the firearm quickly if needed. The term “Mare’s Leg” was soon coined and it didn’t take long for it to stick.

While in today’s world cowboys still ride horses but it isn’t like it was in the days of old. Many ranchers and farmers have moved to other modes of transportation such as UTV’s, pickup trucks, and tractors, the idea of the cowboys riding the trail and sleeping out under the stars every night carries a romanticized idea of the old west. This still happens in parts of the country, but isn’t nearly as prevalent as it once was. I admit when I sold the first Mare’s Leg, I thought they were being purchased as a novelty item, something neat to have in the collection and maybe fun to get out and shoot once in a while. I held the notion that they weren’t really a useful tool to be taken seriously, but after spending a few days carrying one, I can see that they are certainly fun to shoot, accurate (if taking time to aim) they are also a very versatile tool that can be used by farmers and ranchers in their operations in the defense of their livestock from predators and varmints.

I use the terms predators and varmints because the Mare’s Leg is manufactured in the rimfire calibers of .22 S/L/LR the .22WMR (.22 magnum) and three popular handgun rounds, the .45 LC, .357Mag, and .44Mag.and for anyone with questions, the Henry engineering allows the use of the three .22 calibers, the .22 short, .22 long, and the most popular .22 Long Rifle.

Without boring you, these rounds are the same diameter but have different case lengths, most lever actions or .22’s with tube magazines are designed to cycle the .22LR but they don’t cycle the shorter cased rounds. The same principles apply to the .357Mag it will also fire the .38 special. Likewise, the .44Mag will also fire the .44 special rounds. I didn’t intend to go on a tangent about caliber specifications.

Concealed Carry firearms aren’t always easy to access when operating tractors or UTV’s

For years I’ve had my CCDW (Carry Concealed Deadly Weapon) license, and I’m pretty much always packin’ but, what I have found is that a concealed firearm isn’t always easy to access depending on how it is carried. With my family, we have a few head of cattle and work throughout the year to keep them fat and sassy. We produce our own hay so we spend some time on tractors while doing this, I’ve found carrying a long gun on a tractor is much more practical than a pistol. While the Mare’s Leg is technically a pistol, designated by the ATF as such, these are very versatile to carry on a tractor, or on a UTV, in a truck, and of course, on a horse.

This Mare’s Leg sells for $469.99 and we would be happy to sell this one, field tested, ready for work, or we would be more than happy to order in another one that has not been fired or field tested by us.

Shop Mare’s Leg Pistols

short video Matthew and I filmed the other day. Not the best video, but it was fun.

These firearms are great to own, whether something to add to a collection or something to put to work, these firearms are exactly what you would expect from a brand like Henry. While other brands produce similar products, nothing comes close to the operation, the reputation, and the reliability of Henry.

Here at Labascus Armory, we are proud to be list as a HenryUSA gold dealer and we would be overjoyed to help in the acquisition of your next Henry product. Come by the shop for a free Henry Catalog, or order a catalog direct from Henry here.

Chad Davenport

To say that this revolver is as good as any other large caliber revolver would not do proper justice to Henry. This revolver, like most other Henry products, is a cut above the competition

As Henry Repeating Arms made their handgun debut a little over a year ago, I have not had the opportunity to get my hands on one until now, and satisfaction is a word I would use.

Admittedly, when Henry made the announcement that they were getting into the realm of handguns, I was skeptical. The first photographs released in my mind were a vain attempt to break into the handgun world by making another revolver reminiscent of Heritage Manufacturing or the older models of Iver Johnson revolvers. I’m not trying to belittle either brand, but they are known for being cheap revolvers. Therefore, I expected that Henry had taken a concept from those styles and put their name on it in order to sell it at a Henry-style price. I was certainly wrong.

To set the scene, I took a firearm transfer around Christmas 2023 for a customer whom I was unable to produce one of these revolvers for on my own abilities. I did have the opportunity to see and feel this new product, but I was not able to put it through any tests of my own. While I was quick to realize Henry had done a good job in building this revolver, I was still not sold on its quality.

Now, it is the day after Christmas 2024, and I have finally been able to receive one of these revolvers from one of my distributors. The first look was certainly satisfactory, as Henry always produces a good-looking firearm. The Henry Repeating Arms H017GDM is the .357 Magnum version, which also accepts .38 Special cartridges, with what they are calling the “gunfighter grips,” as I like this style better than the “birdshead” grip myself. This was most certainly a well-built firearm to match the sleek look of it.

Once the initial phase of inspection was over, the real tests began. I pulled back the hammer, and with a smooth, gentle pull of the trigger, I released the hammer while holding it, careful not to let it fall on an empty chamber. Again, this action was so smooth. What does the inside look like? I can tell again that this is very well made. I didn’t take this revolver completely apart, but I took the grips off to look around a little bit, and I was happy with my findings. For point of reference, I did get out my trigger pull gauge. This revolver holds a very consistent four-pound trigger pull in single-action mode. I decided there was no reason to test it in double action, but this is a very smooth operating handgun used either way.

Finally, the moment of truth has arrived. After a couple of hours of looking at this gun and putting it through all these tests, it was time to do what I had been wanting to do for over a year: test fire it. I dragged out my target stands that we use for the Concealed Carry Courses and put a silhouette target on it, setting the target at the CCDW qualifying distance of seven yards, and then I began to fire. The first shot hit paper right where I was aiming. The smooth action of this revolver right out of the box is something I’ve never experienced. The second shot landed about four inches to the left, and I take all responsibility for it. It was a double-action shot, and I was not prepared for this gun to operate so smoothly when fired in the double-action fashion. The last four shots left a grouping on this paper target of about three inches, which for me, with a handgun, is very good shooting.

To say that this revolver is as good as any other large caliber revolver would not do proper justice to Henry. This revolver, like most other Henry products, is a cut above the competition and can be obtained at a lower price compared to some other brands. The MSRP on these revolvers is $928, which is well worth the price for the quality and workmanship. Though it is several months from the Whitetail season in Kentucky, I fully intend that when it comes around again, I will have a Henry revolver sitting in my chest rig holster as I’m walking in and out of the woods.

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