Something I never knew before. Last year when I was involved in Legislation and Regulations discussion for this state, the IPSC representative said that before 2003 (?) ie the second "buyback" of handguns over .38 and smaller size, that the 1911 .45 ACP handgun was one of the most popular or more numerous of handguns legally owned by private persons in Australia. And that it was specifically targeted for "steal-off" for the objective of 'reducing privately held handguns'.

Never knew it was the most popular handgun of the day.

Is this true?

I know I seriously looked at acquiring one in the 1990's but never did. Not arranging a handgun licence until recently.

I do know the IPSC guys very much wanted to have it legal again for IPSC competitions. But always hit brickwalls at least in SA. Claims it has to be permitted under the National Firearms Act before SA will permit it. Yet as they said, it is permitted for IPSC in one or more other states. Only competitions listed under Commonwealth and possibly Olympic disciplines are permitted and where the handgun needs sufficient power to knock over metal silhouette targets.

A shame.