Some folks call it a "professional's pistol." It is, but that's not because it takes a professional to operate it; it's just often the choice of professionals. Some say it's too much gun and too hard to learn for new shooters. That's not true either. When new shooters are given a chance to try it, they find it controllable and comfortable. They also discover the thumb safety is kind of like a common-sense switch and the grip safety makes them obtain a good firing grip on the handgun.

You won't find a better-balanced handgun. If you weigh the barrel and slide of a 1911 you'll find it weighs about the same as the frame. The frames of most modern plastic pistols are much lighter than the barrel and slide, making them top-heavy. It makes their recoil impulse much more intense. True, plastic guns are lighter, but lighter guns kick harder. Click here and you'll see that it's a great gun for a woman, too.

And then there's the trigger. No other handgun has a trigger that you pull straight back. Other triggers pivot and work like a lever. Some modern handgun triggers even have a built-in safety lever. How does this make sense? A safety you deactivate by pulling the trigger? Where's the common sense in that?

Is the 1911 old? Well, yeah it's old—over 100 years old. Do you think it's been around for more than a century just because it's affordable to make, or simply because it looks cool? No. The 1911 has seen 10 decades of uninterrupted production because it lives in the free market where a product has to perform to survive. There's a reason the Ford Pinto isn't still in production, why Pac Man is no longer the most-played video game, and why folks still listen to Elvis. What works lasts, and things that don't work or folks don't like fade away.

There's a reason the U.S. Marines just placed a $22.5 million order for Colt 1911s! It doesn't have anything to do with plastic, Hollywood or pop culture. It has everything to do with what works and what doesn't. Bottom line: It's all about performance.

Today, the 1911 is better than ever. Smart gun guys have been tweaking this handgun to perfection since its birth. It comes in many sizes and is chambered for the two most popular defensive-handgun cartridges ever: the 9mm Luger and the .45 ACP. If you think the 1911 is just "old school," consider that both the 9mm and the .45 ACP are, too. Again, such things survive for a reason.

Which 1911 should you buy? There are many to choose from ... just pick your favorite flavor. But don't wait another 100 years—you'll be dead—to get your copy of the best defensive handgun ever made.