A miniature model of the original Colt М 1911 A1 Pistol, gold-plated.

Application for a design patent was submitted by John Moses Browning as early as the turn of 19^th — 20^th centuries. Colt was the developer.
The pistol was introduced into service with the U.S. Armed Forces on March 29, 1911 and remained as such for 75 years, as slightly modified from time to time, until 1986. The U.S. Army purchased only 56 732 such pistols before the end of 1941 against 1 936 880 pieces purchased between 1942 and 1945.
Colt М 1911 pistol was the most favorite weapon of American general George Patton.