(Here's a piece I wrote some years ago. Please note that a few things have changed since then; for example a base model 1911 currently costs more than a Glock.)
Here’s a brief comparison of my opinions of the Glock versus the 1911 and why I believe the Glock is a slightly superior pistol. When I use the term 1911 I’m going to be referring to the refined commercial models of the 1911-A1 model such as the 1911-A2 or 1911-A1 Plus, etc. Refinements include throated barrels and higher profile sights.
Reliability
The 1911 with 230 grain full-load hardball ammo and the original generous clearances is very nearly 100% reliable. Most complaints about the reliability of the 1911 come from attempting to feed exotic ammunition or from incompetently accurized pistols.
I have to give the Glock the nod for general reliability. The old loose GI 1911s would shrug off most anything you could throw at them and still keep going; the tighter commercial models give up very little in the way of reliability. However, the Glocks seem pretty much immune to neglect, abuse, and environmental factors. The difference is minor.
For straight mechanical reliability, the Glock is superior. The Glock has overall fewer moving parts. The 1911 utilizes leaf springs for the trigger return, grip safety, sear spring, and the extractor which is essentially a leaf spring. Leaf springs are an inherent weak point in any pistol design and are more prone to breakage than correctly constructed coil springs. Many of the 1911 parts are prone to misadjustment at the time of manufacture or when being replaced. Note that John Browning simplified much of the 1911 design in the P35.
The Glock is the more durable of the two pistols. Similar superior materials could be used to construct the 1911. A 1911 will stand up to many hundreds of thousands rounds with any reasonable maintenance but the Glock will stand up to the same use while being totally neglected. Not that I recommend neglecting your pistol. Glocks simply wear better. The factory plastic sights on the Glock should be replaced with steel as they are subject to rapid wear.
Once again due to superior materials and finishes, the Glock is more corrosion resistant. Even the aluminum alloy frames don’t resist corrosion as well as the polymer frame. Aftermarket finishes are available for the 1911 but are unnecessary on the Glock.
I find the Glock to be much less ammunition sensitive than the 1911. Unmodified Glocks feed a wider range of bullet profiles and cycle with a larger spread of muzzle velocities. Even modified 1911s don’t feed as many different bullet profiles as the Glock. Spring rates on either pistol can be adjusted to handle light loads.
The 1911 wins in one respect- the Glock can fire when the slide is out of battery. That’s not a good thing especially with high pressure rounds like the .40 S&W.
Ergonomics
Ergonomics are mostly subjective. If 99% of the population thinks that one pistol is the greatest but you’re in the remaining 1%, then that pistol isn’t the greatest for you. When I’m talking ergonomic, I’m mostly talking about my personal opinions.
Of the two I prefer the handling characteristics of the smaller Glocks. The 10mm and .45 were almost as good as the 1911 until Glock added some silly finger grooves. I find the new large frame glocks to be uncomfortable. In the .45 I prefer the 1911 and in the smaller calibers, the Glock. The single-column Glock .45 is too short in the slide and frame for my tastes but feels similar to the 1911 for circumference. Some large-handed individuals will prefer the larger frame of the big Glock .45.
The function of the Glock is simpler in that there’s no thumb or grip safety to disengage. The slide stop is much easier to operate on the 1911 but I agree with Ray Chapman that the slide should be manipulated in an emergency rather than the slide stop.
The trigger pull on the 1911 is superior to even the best Glock triggers. I question the safety of the very light aftermarket Glock triggers.
The Glock is a large pistol. Even the small frame Glock is larger around the grip-frame than the 1911. The trigger reach is longer on the Glock as well. The 1911 will fit more hands comfortably than the Glock. The 1911 is also slimmer overall which is handy in a carry gun.
Weight is a consideration in a carry gun. The Glock is a light pistol; lighter even than the alloy framed 1911s. Despite the lighter weight, the Glock has less felt recoil (for most people) due to the superior grip angle and the barrel that sits lower and more in line with the hand. The Glock is supposedly more prone to limp-wristing. The light frame means a high, firm grip must be maintained but I have difficulty believing that the Glock is actually more prone to limp-wristing than an alloy frame 1911. Reports seem to give the 1911 an edge against limp-wristing.
The Glock comes from the factory happily edge free. Typical 1911s often require extensive dehorning.
Maintenance is easier on the Glock. The Glock is easier and faster to both field and detail strip and is less sensitive to under or over lubrication.
Power
Glocks and 1911s are available in the same basic calibers. The .45 1911 is easier to handle than the .45 Glock. The .40 Glock gives up some power but is as easy to handle as the 1911. I’m not fond of the .357 Sig but the small frame Glock is available in that caliber.
Accuracy
Accuracy is a relatively unimportant factor in a defensive handgun. Most shootings occur at ranges under 10 feet. Either pistol will shoot a group smaller than a golf ball at that range. Even at longer ranges, the limiting factor will be how the shooter can function under stress rather than how mechanically accurate the pistol is.
For pure mechanical (objective) accuracy, the Glock will generally be the more accurate of the two as it comes from the factory. Most Glocks will do under 3 inches at 50 yards while most 1911s will do under 5 inches at the same range. The difference is conversational. Note that there are exceptions. Chuck Taylor clamped an original commercial model 1911 (not the -A1) manufactured in 1912 into his Ransom rest and fired a 50 meter, three shot group with some WWI vintage ball ammo. The group went under 1.5 inches. My Springfield first model Defender will group under 3 inches at 50 yards. Either pistol has sufficient mechanical accuracy to win a bullseye match. I don’t think I’ve ever run into a military or commercial 1911 that was too inaccurate for defensive work.
Subjective accuracy is a combination of mechanical accuracy and the ergonomics that allow the shooter to apply the objective accuracy. Attributes that contribute to subjective accuracy include the type of sights, how well the pistol points, how well the pistol fits the hand, how well the pistol comes down out of recoil, the trigger pull, etc. The 1911 wins here as is demonstrated by its domination of the various shooting games that place a premium on accuracy, mainly due to its superior trigger pull.
Aftermarket Modifications
Here’s where the 1911 shines. When you buy a Glock, you’ve got a pistol. When you buy a 1911, you’ve got a work in progress.
The Glock needs almost no aftermarket work, but you can’t do much work that you just want. The Glock trigger is acceptable but not great. Nothing can make it as crisp as a 1911's trigger and I seriously question the method by which the Glock trigger is lightened. If the Glock doesn’t fit your hand you can make the grip larger but not smaller. Robbie Barkmann and a couple of other smiths have taken to reducing the size of the Glock grip frame by removing material. There is no question that this practice weakens the frame. Whether this weakening is sufficient to cause problems is the question. The slimmed down frame is still not as slender as the unmodified 1911. The plastic Glock sights can and should be replaced with steel sights. The adjustable rear sight that the Glock factory is forced to put on their pistols to allow import to the U.S. is simply a joke. Visibility of the factory Glock sights is good, however.
As an issue weapon, the Glock is great, but an individual can modify his pistol to taste. The 1911 is almost infinitely pliable. The stocks can be changed for slimmer or fatter ones. The frame itself can be slimmed on the steel models. The mainspring housing can be arched, flat, or anything in between with an endless variety of textures applied. The trigger is totally adjustable for length and pull characteristics. The trigger on a 1911 can be adjusted to suit anybody but a benchrest competitor. The 1911 can be accurized to compete with any pistol in the world save the sawed off rifles. Safeties are available to please anyone.
The basic construction of the 1911 is subject to multiple configurations. The slide can be had in a number of lengths. The frame can be made out of materials ranging from steel to aluminum to polymers. The width of the frame ranges from the double-column Para Ordnance to the Gunsite Slimline. The length of the frame runs from the Officer’s model to the full sized government model.
If a Glock don’t fit ya, you’re pretty much outa luck. It’s unlikely that the 1911 couldn’t be adjusted to fit anybody. Modifications do come at a price. The base model 1911 is less expensive than the Glock, and minimal customizing will bring the cost up to about the same level. It doesn’t take much customizing to run the cost of a 1911 into the thousands. Not everyone is anxious to spend that kind of money on a tool. And once that kind of money is spent, not everyone is ready to use and possibly abuse that expensive tool. A pistol is no good if you’re not going to carry it and practice with it.
If I were purchasing an issue weapon for a police department or military unit I would prefer the Glock. If I were advising an individual I would certainly recommend the Glock provided it fit his hand. Someone looking for a more personalized weapon could do a lot worse than a 1911.
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