Browning Model M1911

The legislature in Utah has designated that wonderful old blunderbuss, the .45 caliber Browning semi-automatic Model M1911, as the state firearm. It was adopted by the Army 100 years ago to replace the .38 revolvers then carried by officers. Go here to see a Reuters story about Utah's action.

I fired one several times as a young man when I had excellent eyesight. The bullet traveled so slowly that, if the light was right, I could actually see the bullet arcing away from me. On the other hand, that .45 round put down whatever it hit, meeting its design criteria.