The Marines grabbed plenty of headlines and Colt made some new friends with USMC Generals, in their decision to obtain more 1911 models.
What everyone fails to understand is the amount of upkeep required for 1911 pistols. In the CONUS firing ranges, armorers are just a few minutes away. Over in the sand box, a lot of cleaning is required of the pistols.
Repairs are not as simple as a couple of pins and some springs, the real 1911s are still a hand fitted pistol. The extractor is a prime example.
The move to Glocks is likely more to do with cost, than anything. The Glocks are simple to repair, plus the minimal cost the Big Gubmint pays is nominal compared to what a civilian would pay. Many of the partnership nations also run Glock pistols.
What I thought would have been a better move would have been S&W M&P 9, as they have received very high marks. Not to mention it is an American designed and manufactured weapon. They also have the M&P 45, which shares the major dimensions with the 9, except for length. The grip angle on the M&P is that of the 1911, plus they can be had with a manual thumb safety, a la 1911.
There likely may be some cool factor involved, as well, since the Real SF is playing with Glocks, the MARSOC fellas want to look just as cool.
