A close-up of the rear portion of the gun with its hammer cocked. The gun ran well. Whatever side you're on in the neverending "Metal Vs. Polymer" battle, the facts remain: back in the 1980s, the well known Austrian company paved the way for the future and still leads the market, but nonetheless the 1911 pistol is still a pillar of the firearms industry and given its enduring popularity among law enforcement professionals and civilian shooters worldwide, it's likely to hold its position for decades to come. What should the discerning collector look for in a potential buy? Before word could even circulate in casual conversation, the pistols were snapped up at prices that were lower than comparable commercial Colts. SO WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS AN EXACT SAME AS ISSUED USMC CQB PISTOL THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BEING THAT IT HAS THE EGA SERIAL NUMBER. Handgun Hard Choices: Colt M1911 or S&W M1917? The letter also confirms the features including Desert Tan Cerakote finish, under barrel accessory rail, National Match grade barrel, forward and rear cocking serrations on the slide, long solid aluminum trigger, extended ambidextrous thumb safety, extended beavertail grip safety, flat serrated mainspring housing with a lanyard loop, Novak 3-dot night sights, and desert camouflage G10 composite grips. So I headed to the store and purchased a new-in-box lightweight Colt Series 80 Officers ACP. One thing is for sure: the M45A1 CQBP is not a handgun for everybody. But if you just want a shooter get the current one with the Ion Bond. Quantico began exhaustive testing on other finishes to specify a modification to the contract. Corporal Gravenese demonstrates the power of the pistol as shown as above. The firearm felt like it had close tolerances, with everything locking up firmly, but without that hand-fitted exactness one can feel in a custom M1911. It must have been a special single shot model. Colt M45A1 Custom Shop (O1070CQB) $2,149.95 Colt Out of stock Quick view Out of stock Colt Government Model With Rail - (O1980RG) $1,154.95 Colt Quick view Add to Cart COLT LE6920 $1,349.95 Sale Out of stock Quick view Out of stock Colt Government Model Stainless With Rail - (O1070RG) $1,198.00 $1,079.95 $1,198.00 Colt M45A1 CQB Marine Pistol. The decommissioned with the X is and will remain to be worth more. To make an offer please complete the form below: Minimum price for the offer must be greater than or equal to $0. The Colt M45A1 CQBP semi-automatic pistol is the latest iteration of the .45 caliber 1911 pistol, as adopted in 2012 by the United States Marine Corps, The M45A1 was conceived for the USMC Special Operations Units. This particular sample disproved decades worth of gun magazine lore about a combat-grade .45 needing to be loose for reliability and thus incompatible with custom-level accuracy. The third entry from Karl Lippard Designs, a Colorado Springs-based arms maker, was called the Close Quarter Battle Pistol: an M1911A1-style pistol, built using S7 tool steel and a large number of proprietary components including accessory rail, grip safety, and sights. While the Colt Model 601 was the first AR-15 to be mass-produced, there were several design variations that came before during the platform's development. I have a few 1911s I dont shoot, some have rails, some dont, but the spec rail of the Colt made fit difficult. which was officially adopted in 1986. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Not all civilian M45s go through the Custom Shop. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. In the hand, that level of precision translated to straightforward hits on tough and distant targets. The Marine Corps had chosen the tan Colts, official designation M45A1, as a commercial replacement for the legendary, custom, Quantico-built M1911s issued to U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) Marine Raiders and the Corps Force Reconnaissance Marines. 0. Among its key improvements over its predecessors is the use of Colt's patented Dual Recoil Spring System, which heavily mitigates the recoil impulse of the powerful .45 ACP caliber allowing faster target re-acquisition and quicker follow-up shots, potentially a key factor in gunfighting and boosts the recoil springs' own service life. He keeps telling me that there has been at least one time his pistol worked the entire time, but I honestly dont have a recollection of this. The improved M45A1 CQBP features several changes to the original M1911A1 design. How about that? In recent months, the auction houses have listed a few with the prices for the pristine unissued handguns estimated around $7,000. The contract was said to be worth $22.5M to Colt. IT12346351005. [12] Normally his 1911 lectures are held during downtime at the range when he is repairing his 1911. 3. (LogOut/ Maybe they are worried theyll run out of hand grenades? The decommissioned pistols and the custom shop pistols all appear to be in the hands of collectors. It is a Fletch High Rise OWB Holster. What started off as sending my officers ACP off for new Lo-Mount sights, turned into over two thousand dollars worth of work. There is the EGA serial suffix (for the Corps iconic eagle, globe and anchor insignia), the U.S. markings, and the small set of numbers and CQBP denoting the official description of Close Quarters Battle Pistol. The inboard side of the handgun has a rather large COLT***USMC marking that struck me at the time of issue as gaudy and a blatant attempt by Colt to mark the government-contract pistols in such a way as to facilitate marketing the look-alike commercial version. Trying to see if the USMC needs to find a home. This pistol utilizes the Series 80 fire control system which means it has an internal firing pin safety. The Colt gobbled up a wide variety of bullet profiles, cycling smoothly and without hesitation, while grouping each in a cluster that fit within the space the front sight covered at any given distance. Marine HQ requested Colt to stop marking the pistols as such. The grip safety features an extended beavertail. External enhanced hammer, automatic firing pin safety, Ambidextrous frame-mounted manual safety, extended beavertail grip safety, 127 mm / 5" National Match barrel Genuine Marine Corps M45A1 Coltsused by Marine Raiders and Force Reconnaissancewere decommissioned and became available on the civilian market complete with their original packaging and letters of authenticity. Unlike the CQB pistol, this one does not have USMC roll marked on the slide, but it does have EGA (Eagle Globe and Anchor- the Marines symbol) as a serial number suffix. [18] Every piece of steel in theM45A1is machined to specific tolerances and tested to the specifications put forth by the United States Marine Corps. THE GUN IS MATHCHING, IN 90% ORIGINAL CONDITION, WE HAVE A VERY RARE AND HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER POLICE EAGLE F MARKED WALTHER PPK WITH, IN 96% ORIGINAL UNMESSED WITH CONDITION, WE HAVE A VERY NICE EXAMPLE OF A 1944 PROUDCTION FN HIGH POWER PROUDCUED, IN 90% CONDITION, NICE BLUE BUT ALOT OF PITTING, WE HAVE A FANTASTICALLY RARE WALTHER MODEL 6 PISTOL IN 9MM, Colt General Officer & Rare US Property Pistols, SOLD GERMAN G43 ORIGINAL MOUNT AND ZF4 SCOPE EARLY DUV CODE, SOLD RARE ORIGINAL SIMSON EAGLE 6 LUGER TOOL, sold 1913 DWM LUGER VERY NICE AND HARD TO FIND, Sold RUSSIAN TT 33 TOKAREV 1942 WITH MATCHING MAG. It would be hard to improve on this trigger with any kind of upgrade. It was largely (maybe entirely) unannounced and seemed odd, or even suspect, but there was a factory letter from Colt to guarantee authenticity. One feature is the dual recoil spring system that spreads out the recoil force of the .45 ACP round by lowering the peak force of the recoil pulse. Fast forward twenty years and Im at the same dealer, picking up some transfers and he shows me a Colt M45A1. Six right-handed grooves, 1 twist in 16", Novak LoMount or Trijicon high-visibility sights with Tritium dots, Machined stainless steel frame and slide Here are the features to watch out for. My opinion is that both of these were likely due to Colt learning the quirks of a new coating process. when unloaded. We decided to install Heine Ledge sights on our Series 80 Stainless Officers ACP. It is a Fletch High Rise OWB Holster. The slide is correctly roll marked with the USMC marking that has been factory stuck with an X to signify it as being decommissioned from the U.S.M.C. [14] In 2010, requirements were once more issued for an off-the-shelf system to replace the custom-built pistols. Apparently it wasnt staked right at the factory. Shooting theM45A1feels different than shooting other 1911s. With the exception of the overtly poor, reloaded cartridge, the Colt M45A1 was 100% reliable and the front sight didnt fly off. In February 2015, the Marine Corps approved the Glock 19 for MARSOC units. M45A1 - Colt custom shop vs Production version.which should I buy? From what I can remember, this included a barrel, bushing system, bar dot night sights, memory groove beavertail safety and Birdsong Black-T finish. I believe there was also a run of grey M45s with front strap checkering that were not CS guns. If you would like to make an offer for this gun please send an email to southeastgunshots@gmail.com. Under this point of view, the Colt M45A1 CQBP is definitely the 1911 of the 21st Century. Cold-hammer forged, polished stainless steel barrel The revised parts list included barrels, bushings, link pins, sear springs, ejectors, firing pin stops, mainspring housings and mainsprings, all from Nowlin Manufacturing. SWC 1.49" Hornady 200-gr. Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email. The company made its humble start in 1963in Gussago, Italywhen Giuseppe Pietta made a commitment to produce guns as authentic and true-to-original as possible. THIS IS A VERY ARE PISTOL, THEY ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND SELDOM COME UP FOR SALE. The M45A1 has a dual recoil spring assembly which seems to dampen recoil somewhat. We ended the session shooting the old FBI pistol qualification course on a counter shaded QIT-99 (you can see the course of fire here). Colt also offers a custom shop civilian model to achieve higher accuracy; but the Marine issue model is the production grade pistol. My only experience with a military .45 was at AFROTC summer training. Collectors and shooters reacted predictably, and the Colts began to flip over on Gunbroker at two-week intervals, each time gaining several hundred dollars in asking price. NEW IN THE COLT ISSUED BLUE BOX EXACTLY AS WAS SHIPPED TO THE USMC. (2003)"Marines New SOCOM Pistol", Marine expeditionary unit (special operations capable), "Some MEU's Still Carry Proven M1911 .45's", "10--Parts for M-45, MEUSOC Pistol - Federal Business Opportunities: Opportunities", "Strong Men Armed: The Marine Corps 1st Force Reconnaissance Company Part III Section 2", "MEU 1911 .45: the Legend Lives in the Hands of Today's Marines", "SNOTE - 10 - MEU(SOC) 45 caliber pistols - 17-Feb-05 - FBO#1179", "SRCSGT - 10 - MEUSOC .45 PISTOL - 09-Nov-08 - FBO#2540", "Corps considers 2 guns for new MARSOC .45", "Colt Defense LLC Announces Award of Marine Corps M45 Close Quarter Battle Pistol (CQBP) Contract", Why the Marines adopted the M45 Colt 1911, "Reconnaissance Marines train with Close-Quarters Battle Pistol", M45A1: A New Colt .45 for the 21st Century, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MEU(SOC)_pistol&oldid=1136083215, Trained Weapons Training Battalion armorers, This page was last edited on 28 January 2023, at 17:30. I was on a short leave when I brought it home. If one looks closely at the trigger guard, Colt has the V-shaped proofmark that was present on earlier government handguns, such as the 1909 USMC revolver. About that time, the Custom Shop was downsized and no more of the Custom Shop M45A1s were made. A forum community dedicated to all 1911 firearm owners and enthusiasts. [2], The pistol's components are hand-fitted and are not interchangeable. purchased pistol for combat use by its Special Operations units, including Force Recon. In a corridor of the Pentagon there is a larger-than-life mural showing a circa-1915 Maj. Smedley Butler leading his men in the recapture of Fort Rivier during the Banana Warsthe newly issued M1911 in hand as he and his Marines engaged the Caco rebels in hand-to-hand combat. We are fortunate that they found their way onto the public market.. I bought a used Generation 2 Glock 19 to shoot the rest of the time I was home, before heading back to my duty station in MCAGCC, 29 Palms, CA, a few thousand miles away. The "U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, Model of 1903," better-known as the M1903 Springfield, has become one of the most popular U.S. military small arms to collect. Change). FMJ 1.65". The Colt M45A1 is just as reliable as a perfectly tuned competition-grade custom 1911, except this comes with that level of reliability right out of the factory and rightfully so. It was the kind of day that a gun guy can never forget. Out of stock. The M45A1 feels heavy compared to other full-size 1911s. This year, H&R announced an expansion of its AR-15 lineup, bringing additional "retro" models to the market, including a 9 mm Luger-chambered Colt SMG clone, an M16A2-styled rifle and the carbine-size 723. It is big enough - yet snug enough to retain the M45A1 and other railed 5" 1911s. Colt M45A1 USMC rollmark in the blue clam shellUltra rare version 01070M45, USMC Rollmark in Blue Box ( Not Pelican Box ) AboutPressCopyrightContact. Colt inspected the M45A1s and issued a letter of authenticity with them and x out the USMC to show they had been demilled. Manufacturer: Colt Model: M45A1 Marine Government Width: 1.25" Height: 5.5" Accessories: Manual, Lock Action: Single Barrel Finish: Polished Barrel Length: 5" Barrel Twist: 1:16 Barrel Type: Match Caliber: 45 ACP Capacity: 7 # of Magazines: 1 Frame Color: FDE Frame Finish: Decobond Frame Material: Steel Front Sight: Novak Night Sight For the pure sake of being worth more money down the line, no question about it. Not bad- but not great. That was me who snagged. 4. The coarse checkering on the multi-colored G10 panels does assist in anchoring the handgun, and the Marine pistol has an undercut trigger guard to allow a high hand hold. Colt offered a modified version of their O1980RG (Rail Gun) pistol, which is derived from their existing XSE line of 1911-style pistols with a desert sand-colored surface treatment and Novak night sights. [15] The pistol was redesignated the M45A1 Close Quarter Battle Pistol (CQBP) and up to 12,000 will be delivered. VERY RARE AND VERY COLLECTIBLE! It actually protected the Colt M45A1 on the way too and from the range. Bill Marr The rear sight we ordered [], Weve been using Parabellum Armaments AKARS for 9 months. THIS IS 1913 DATED DWM MADE, In 97% original unmessed with condition, we have an early war high polish Czech made CZ27 pistol. Cleaning kit. That cartridge didnt cycle my gun either. COLT M45A1 MARINE PISTOL. The one with the intact usmc is a custom is not the same gun as the the decoms. The prices seemed to stabilize in the mid-$3,000s, and then the pistols largely stopped moving, presumably occupying prized places in safes across the country. [8], A Marine operator may shoot as many as 80,000 rounds from this pistol during a training-cycle and subsequent deployment. Many of the issued pistols that came to market have the tells of service life: paint pen or spray paint stenciled rack numbers, holster wear, dings or gouges from rough use. The Colt incorporates the dual recoil spring assembly of the firms recent commercial models, which seemed to dampen recoil somewhat. An online platform dedicated to information about guns and shooting activities, as well as technical and cultural knowledge, for a better understanding and responsible approach to the gun world and its rules. Handguns, Reviews NEW IN THE BOX, WE HAVE A COLT USMC CLOSE QUARTERS BATTLE PISTOL M45A1. By far, the most common of the USMC rollmarks is the Custom Shop Pelican cased version, and is very likely to be the one anyone encounters. it is in the cerakote finish with "USMC" rollmark, complete with original 2 mags. The earliest production samples had isolated instances where the application of the tan coating was suspected by the end users to be causing reliability issues. They were certainly the genuine article, with the exception that Colt had marked through the large USMC on the slide with a laser-etched X to signify the decommissioning. The rollmark changed around 006700EGA as far as I can tell. By the time my gun came back from Wayne, years had passed since the original purchase date. Category: PISTOLS. In the first post, we field stripped the gun between shots to verify that it []. The USMC is about double the price and if I understand correctly, its a production gun from Colt whereas the civilian version goes through the custom shop - is that correct? Sold WALTHER PPK RARE EAGLE F DURALUMINUM, Pre98 Antiques Military Firearms Collecting Outlook for 2020. [13] This is the same pistol used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation SWAT and Hostage Rescue Teams; however, it had previously been rejected for adoption as the ICQB. Examples of both are usually exorbitantly-priced and something only a former Marine or hardcore collector of USGI 1911s would want to pursue. Manufactured by Colt and available for commercial and professional sales alike, the M45A1 CQBP has been available to civilian shooters in the United States for quite some time; nowit is available to European gun enthusiasts as well. This is the so called blue box Colt pistol, model 01070M45. I believe there was also a run of grey M45s with front strap checkering that were not CS guns.. And for those concerned, I've found that a good set of G10 grips are sufficiently inherently grippy to significantly mitigate against the need for front strap checkering on a 1911 (although it certainly doesn't hurt). Beyond the tan color, forward slide serrations and the section of M1913 Picatinny accessory rail immediately standout and separate the pistol from the typical service M1911. Match 1.60" Winchester 230-gr. We had to shoot the .38 military special (which was horrible). The pistol is, IN 92% ORIGINAL CONDITON WHICH IS ALMOST UNHEARD OF IN A RUSSIAN WW2 TOKAREV, WE HAVE A 1942 PRODUCTION TOKAREV, IN 98% ORIGINAL CONDITION, WE HAVE A VERY CRISP EXAMPLE OF A RJ MARKED WALTHER PP. THESE PISTOLS WERE BUILT FOR THE USMC BY NOVAK FOR COLT, AND THERE WERE NOT MANY MADE. The company made its humble start in 1963in Gussago, Italywhen Giuseppe Pietta made a commitment to produce guns as authentic and true-to-original as possible. The MEU(SOC) pistol, ("Marine expeditionary unit (special operations capable) (MEU(SOC))") officially designated the M45 MEUSOC,[5] is a magazine-fed, recoil-operated, single-action, semiautomatic pistol chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge. The USMC-marked pistol is from one of the early runs when Colt was using the same rollmark that they applied to the actual USMC guns. I ran a series of 6-dot and 5-circle drills with my Colt M45A1. So, while it costs less than the custom shop version and doesnt have the USMC roll mark; it is more like the pistol the Marines bought, because it is off the production line and not hand fitted (I confirmed this). I am very interested in the pricey but very cool looking new Colt 1911 M45A1 Marine Close Quarters Battle Pistol. The pistol functioned well for the first three rounds, but then I couldnt find my front sight- literally- it flew off! Three pistols were offered to the USMC as a replacement for current M45 Pistols. Rogers, Patrick A. Representative five-shot group (25 yds. He told me this happens all the time with Colts and sent it back for repair. Having read quite a bit of gun rags (this was the in mid 1990s during the pre internet days), I knew I needed a 1911 chambered in a mans cartridge, 45 ACP. (LogOut/ He told me the extractor and ammunition were bad. Description. [2] The last four digits of the weapon's serial number are stamped on the top of the barrel, on the right-side of slide assembly, inside of the beavertail grip safety, on each side of the ambidextrous thumb safety, and on the inside face of the mainspring housing group. of weight, with a very short 0.1"/2mm reset. This is very unique and very rare COLT 1911 USMC ROLLMARK U.S. MARINES M45A1 SEMPER FI FDE. Just over 100 years separated the issue of the M1911A1-based Marine M45A1 Colts from the Corps initial shipment of the M1911. Hello - I am looking at 2 Colts - one is the Colt M45A1 (custom shop w/ green pelican case) and the other is the Colt M45A1 with the USMC roll marks. And yet, it is still to completely abandon the battlefield, being a favourite of many special operation forces. The triggers were uniformly pretty good. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); S&W CSX Is it Really the New ChiefsSpecial? A huge proponent of the system, he has been lecturing me about the benefits of the 1911 platform for nearly two decades. I have it in quotes for a reason, it kinda looked like a 45 ACP cartridge, only it was bent and weird looking. great shape, this is not the decom model either. Originally the Colt Custom Shop pistols had the Marine USMC roll marks on the slide, but the United States Marine Corps filed a cease & desist letter with Colt Manufacturing regarding the use of USMC on pistols not actually going to the Marines. In the mid 1990s he was the go-to 1911 gunsmith and made the best combat style sights around. We are fortunate that they found their way onto the public market. This added weight, in addition to the dual spring slap back, provide for noticeably less recoil. Pistol, Model of 1911 to the Marine Corps. The venerable Colt 1911 semi-automatic pistol a design that's now well over 100 years old has long been replaced in its role as the official sidearm for the United States Armed Forces, so much indeed that its substitute is on its way to replacement itself. I was able to lay my hands on one of the decommissioned M45A1s to examine and evaluate it. Under normal circumstances, yes too much by $400, assuming it is a M45A1 rollmark. [2], In the late 1980s, USMC Colonel Robert Young laid out a series of specifications and improvements to make Browning's design ready for 21st century combat, many of which have been included in MEU(SOC) pistol designs. The mentioned non-captive, dual recoil spring solves cycling issues that 1911-type pistols usually experience due to spring strengths; a widened and flared ejection window and a polished and coated feeding ramp also address two other key design issues that are known to cause malfunctions on the 1911 pistol platform. Some of the early Marine pistols began showing excess wear and 1,000 of these pistols (470 used and 530 unissued) were traded by the Marine Corps under warranty back to Colt in exchange for newer Ionbond finished replacements. He switched over to a Dan Wesson 9mm 1911 with gamer sights on it. Cycling the pistols revealed the fit to be smooth but clearly tighter than a typical commercial M1911. used but great shape. The Marines bought it and I had to have one. The dual springs have a noticeable slap-back during firing, and the flared and lowered ejection port help to eject spent shells out and to the right of thepistoland not back into your face. On July 20, 2012, the Colt 1911 Rail Gun was selected and won a contract to initially deliver 4,000 pistols for MARSOC and Force Recon. Then sold the entire lot to the company selling them on Gunbroker. One thing that makes this particularpistolso much more than a normal Colt Rail Gunor similarly railed 1911 is the absence of MIM (or Metal Injection Molding) parts anywhere in the gun. Smith & Wessons Americas Guardians Program. Does anyone know? Whether or not Colt had the time to honor the contract, is unknown: on September 30, 2016, the United States Marine Corps announced that all 1911 type pistols still used by its special operation units would be replaced by the Glock 19 and it seemingly included the new Colt M45A1 CQBP. Quick view Add to Cart. The Marine Corps objected to Colt doing that so they had to change the rollmark on commercial pistols to "M45A1" instead. Scarcely mentioning the soon-be-collectible kept demand low, and availability proportionately high. Second Media Inc., 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. [9][10] There are frames in the USMC inventory that have had as many as 500,000 rounds fired through them. AS THIS IS A MODERN PEOPLE KILLING GUN, WE WILL NEED YOU TO PROVIDE AN FFL FOR TRANSFER. [11], Discovering that the Los Angeles Police Department was pleased with their special Kimber-made M1911 pistols, a single source request was issued to Kimber Manufacturing for a similarly built pistol, despite the imminent release of their TLE/RLII models. Three versions ofM45A1were made. $ 6,900 This is very unique and very rare COLT 1911 USMC ROLLMARK U.S. MARINES M45A1 SEMPER FI FDE. The pistols with no front strap checkering are production line guns. This handgun has never been fired! My buddy brought his daughters Remington R1 1911 to test out. The finish is a bit slick which is offset by the rather deep cocking serrations both front and rear on the slide. Most of the time standing slow fire at 25 yds. In 2016, USMC command stated that MARSOC had replaced the M45A1 with the Glock 19, largely from a logistic standpoint, not from a performance and reliability standpoint, as a result of other SOCOM branches using the Glock 19. How big of a ragged hole is the group at 25 yards? The early finish problems encountered by the Marines were all fixed by the time the first 1,000 units had been issued. This announcement no doubt delighted the tried-and-true 1911 supporters in the military. My M45A1 has had hundreds of rounds put through it, both ball and JHP, and has not experienced any type of failure. The Picatinny accessories rail is machined on the slide, Colt's M45A1 comes with a 5" National Match barrel, The sample of this pictures mounts Trijicon night sights. VERY RARE AND VERY COLLECTIBLE! Here are the features to watch out for. Reviews (0) After a rigorous selection process, the United States Marine Corps selected this Colt Rail Gun as their Close Quarters Battle Pistol (CQBP). Fans of the 1911 expressed their disgust as nearly 4,000 of the handguns were de-commissioned. I overlooked that the fit for a gun, that cost me $1,600 plus tax ($1,748 total), was similar to a $800 gun. There were only 20 of these made and this one is the 17th of the series. Comes with the original box, paperwork, and two magazines. A large number of certified modern U.S. military handguns on the market is mostly unheard of. Comes with the original box, paperwork, and two magazines. He refuses to touch a polymer gun, expect for the Springfield XD I sold him around 2000 (I think he sold it within days). in the shooters hands was the measure of the pistols accuracy. Based on the classic 1911, which has served the United States since 1911, the M45A1 CQBP continues the tradition of having John Brownings. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. ) Black Hills 200-gr. When I sat down to write this story, I did my best to research the quantities of each type of pistol made and to get an idea of what might be available. (LogOut/ Thats because at 40 oz., it is heavy. An identical version coming off the same assembly line was sold to the civilian market. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Professional dedicated to training and equipping people to live safely in a dangerous world. Novak was contracted for rear sights, Wilson Combat provided extractors and mag release buttons, while King's Gun Works supplied ambidextrous thumb safeties. I was looking at the first shipment from that contract, and my Marines would be the first to be issued the .45s. Other features include Novak. Outside of the mentioned ambidextrous manual safety, the controls configuration is the same as on any other 1911 variant. You must enable JavaScript to remove this banner. This is important in a gun meant to endure nearly as many rounds in the weeks-long Marine Raider training regimen as the original M1911 was intended to see throughout its entire service life. Stack upon stack of crisp-cornered cardboard boxes weighed down a work bench in the armory of what is now called the Marine Raider Training Center. I still like my M45A1 (not the Custom Shop or USMC Issue gun) with it's matching knife by Ohio Knife Maker, Mickey Yurco: Dave I use a Galco Model Number FL212. While the Colt Model 601 was the first AR-15 to be mass-produced, there were several design variations that came before during the platform's development. Colt. Despite the planned purchase of the commercial pistols, Marine Corps Systems Command has continued to solicit parts to build additional MEU(SOC) pistols. However, the group all remarked that the pistols certainly seemed to be accurate using the government-issue hardball ammunition. I finally got my .45 10 years after I retired. Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! At more than 100 years old, theres undeniable attraction to the John Moses Browning design, even brand new ones with elegant upgrades that enhance performance without compromising his vision. Six months later, I was home on leave and my gun was back from Colt.