The 1911 vs the Staccato 2011: What’s the Difference? (Or Are They the Same?)

Ask anyone to list their favorite handguns, and there's sure to be a 1911 somewhere on there. I mean who could argue it's timeless design? Even with it being over a century old, there's still millions of people who love it (me being one of them). 

But that doesn't mean that there haven't been attempts to improve upon the 1911's design.  A lot of effort was made in the 2000s, to breathe new life into this old workhorse and the end result was the infamous 2011 (perfect name if you ask me). Made famous by Staccato, these handguns are still uber popular and look just as snazzy as their predecessor. But what exactly are the differences you may ask? Well, we're going to break it down and show you what makes them alike, and a few things that make them unique. Let's go. 

Similarities Between the 1911 and Staccato 2011

The first question you're probably asking is what makes the 1911 and the 2011 similar besides looks. You'd also be right in assuming that since they are so similar and one was designed after the other, that they probably use the same parts. For example, the slide assembly of the 1911 and 2011 are nearly identical. You're also going to find many of the same internal parts including the extractor, ejector, disconnector, recoil spring, firing pin, and firing spring. But besides similar appearances and some universal parts, that's about where the similarities end. 

Differences Between the 1911 and Staccato 2011

Now on to the fun stuff. The first and arguably the most important difference between the two? The caliber. That's right, the Staccato 2011 doesn't fire the 45 ACP. Now this might sound like heresy to most, but it was actually designed to shoot 9mm. I know caliber selection can make or break a decision for a lot of people, so this is definitely first on the list of MAJOR differences. 

But, since the 2011 isn't shooting the larger 45 ACP, you'll also notice the second major difference in the magazine capacity. Since 9mm is significantly smaller, you'll get almost double the amount of rounds in your 2011 vs a 1911. The 2011 also uses double stacked mags, so plenty more firepower but that also means magazines and triggers are not interchangeable between the two. 

The last major difference that you should make note of is their grip design. Now personally I don't think there's anything better looking than the classic, metal-framed grip of the 1911. That being said, it's surely not the most ergonomic or comfortable. The 2011 mixed things up by using a three-piece system that combines metal and polymer parts to create a more natural, comfortable grip. 

Will a 2011 Fit in a 1911 Holster?

Now that you're familiar with the similarities and the differences, you're probably wondering if they'll fit into each other's holsters. And, while it's possible that there are some holsters out there where this holds true, the sad reality is that they really don't. They are just different enough that it pays to get a custom holster for either your 1911 or 2011. 

Thankfully you've come to the right place if it's a new, custom holster that you're looking for. Here at Southern Trapper that's what we do best. Regardless of whether you have a 2011 made by Staccato or anyone else, we can build the perfect custom gun holster tailor made to your gun. So whether you need an inside the waistband (IWB), outside the waistband (OWB), or shoulder holster, we can craft exactly what you need. We make each holster out of durable and stylish alligator leather and back it with our 100-year guarantee. That's right, 100 years. So don’t settle for less when it comes to your 1911 or 2011- check all of our custom gun holster styles here.