Progress: A Farewell to Arms

While trying to quash a revolt in the Philippines in 1904, American troops discovered that their .38-cal. revolvers were not very effective against the frenzied attacks of Moro tribesmen. The call went out for a handgun with "stopping power," and in 1911, the U.S. issued the Colt .45-cal. automatic to its men. Now, after 70 years of service, the Army plans to retire the legendary .45--as well as the .38-cal. revolver --and replace them both with a new 9-mm model.

The .45 may go unmourned. Hefty (3 lbs. when fully loaded) and cursed with a nasty recoil, the pistol was as easy to handle as a howitzer. For decades Army instructors would joke: "Fire seven rounds and if the enemy is still coming, throw it at him " On the other hand, it rarely jammed and, if you did manage to hit something there would not be much left of it. Carried mostly by officers, aviators and military police the weapon has proved so durable that the Army still draws upon its cache of 1.9 million .45s bought by the end of World War II. The Pentagon has decided to switch to the 9-mm because it will use ammunition standard among other NATO countries, will be lighter (roughly 2 1/2 lbs.) than the .45 and pack nearly the same wallop. One other attraction cited by the Pentagon: the 9-mm will be "easier for women to deal with." The .45, which cost $25 in 1911, sold for $45 during World War II. Since the 9-mm model has yet to be chosen, and competitive bidding is still open, the Army does not have a price tag on its initial order of 220,000 The Pentagon will replace its 418,000 aging .45s and 136,000 surviving .38s over the next ten years. But the pistols, unlike old soldiers, will not fade away; they will be stored, sold overseas or donated to, well, marksmanship clubs.

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