The Colt M1911 Government was an American semi-automatic military pistol chambered for the .45 ACPcartridge which it took from a 7-round magazine. The Colt M1911 was patented in 1907 and first produced in 1911 and was famous for it's reliability and comfort of use and spawned many variations and copies, including a 'RAF' model produced for the British Royal Air Force and chambered for the .455 Webley and Scottcartridge. Research Colt M1911