Years ago a shooting buddy had a firing pin retainer crack (it had been modified with a set screw retainer, why, I don't know). When the retainer broke in half vertically, it froze the firing pin forward, and emptied the magazine firing from an open bolt like a SMG. The last round went through the bill of the shooter's baseball cap.....and he had arms bigger than my legs. Yes, the M1911 will climb.