The 1911 is a durable handgun, with a strong metal frame. It will fire round after round after round for years to come. A well cared for Springfield 1911 that was produced in the year 1911 can still be used today, and most people wouldn’t even notice age of the gun. The 1911 also features an innovative safety, located on the back of the pistol grip. When the gun is held normally, the grip safety is automatically disengaged, and the gun can be fired. When the gun is not being gripped by the shooter, they safety is automatically engaged, and the 1911 cannot be fired. This unobtrusive safety can go a long way to prevent unintentional discharges of the gun.