We earlier predicted that 2023 would be the year in which the 1911 became relevant once again, due to the original Browning design being updated to drag it into the 21st century. By addressing its shortcomings of limited capacity and unnecessary bulk, the advantages of ergonomics and shootability due to its inherently excellent trigger can be fully realized, making it once again a viable option in comparison to the run-of-the-mill striker-fired, polymer-framed handguns that we all know and love.
One of the latest iterations of an updated 1911 design is from the upstart Oracle Arms. Once the hullabaloo of SHOT Show was over, we pried one of the Combat Elite prototype sample guns they took to range day away from their engineers, along with a preproduction version of the full-size Combat model, which was about 95-percent ready for prime time, requiring only a few more tweaks to bring it to market. Bottom line up front — both the full-size and Commander-sized
