I ran a series of 6-dot and 5-circle drills with my Colt M45A1. It would be hard to improve on this trigger with any kind of upgrade. Not bad- but not great. While most will instantly recognize that the Officers sized guns arent known for reliability, I didnt know it at the time. great shape, this is not the decom model either. Among those are the MEU(SOC) and the Force Recon the special operation forces of the United States Marine Corps whose sidearm ever since the year 1986 has been the M45 MEUSOC pistol, a custom-grade 1911 variant assembled and tuned by the USMC armorers at the Quantico base, in Virginia. [10] A rebuild entails discarding almost all of the gun's parts except for the frame, which prior to 2003 was a U.S. Government frame last manufactured in 1945. We have put a few rounds through the Decomm & it shoots and handles great. I was able to put five of eight shots onto my 3"-wide truth teller steel targeta task that is normally a tough slog at 25 yds. Head to the range this week with American Rifleman staff as they discuss a trim little repeater from Savage Arms that comes chambered for the .22 WMR cartridge. If you would like to make an offer for this gun please send an email to southeastgunshots@gmail.com. I found a Don Hume 715 MC IWB holster that it fit-good enough. The M45A1 pistol is 21,6 cm / 8.5" long overall and weighs 1,7 kilograms / 40 oz. Now before you could even buy one you had to sign up for the Gunbroker Gold program. Get your piece of American history before is gone. GUNSweek.com is a new online platform dedicated to the diffusion of technical knowledge in the gun world. The quality and engineering on the National Match barrels is exceptional. described as decommissioned USMC 1911 M45A1s. Colt. We are fortunate that they found their way onto the public market. Following some stop-gap and interim solutions, in 2012 the United States Marine Corps adopted an upgraded variant of the Colt CCU Rail Gun for its special operations capable units aptly dubbed the M45A1 CQBP Close Quarters Battle Pistol. ) Black Hills 200-gr. It's a carry gun, not a collection piece. Corporal Gravenese demonstrates the power of the pistol as shown as above. The current M45A1 does not have a USMC rollmark on the slide for either Military or Civilian sales. When it was first launched, the Colt M45A1 was described as "a highly enhanced version of an already excellent combat weapon" by William F. Keys a retired Lieutenant General of the United States Marine Corps who was also Colt's President and CEO back then. I overlooked that the fit for a gun, that cost me $1,600 plus tax ($1,748 total), was similar to a $800 gun. Desert tan Decobond finish, $1,699.00 (MSRP U.S.A.) [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. Second Media Inc., 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. 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. A case of 230 grain Winchester ball, and a few cardboard targets and I was ready. After a rigorous selection process, the United States Marine Corps selected this Colt Rail Gun as their Close Quarters Battle Pistol (CQBP). Maintaining the simple recoil assembly, 5-inch barrel (though using a stainless steel match grade barrel), and internal extractor, the ICQB is not much different from Browning's original design. 2.939,00(Europe). The Marine Corps objected to Colt doing that so they had to change the rollmark on commercial pistols to "M45A1" instead. The Colt M45A1 is the new USMC service pistol. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); S&W CSX Is it Really the New ChiefsSpecial? The .45s had a number of features that jumped right out: the light rails, the aggressively checkered G10 stockswhich replaced the Pachmayrs we had used for so longtritium vials in the Novak sights, and unique markings on the frames and slides. Clearly I had no clue. for most service pistols. Out of stock. Three pistols were offered to the USMC as a replacement for current M45 Pistols. If the highest accuracy and best trigger is your goal, get a custom shop model. Due to wear and tear of the MEU(SOC) pistols and increasing numbers of Marine personnel in Force Recon and MARSOC, the U.S. Marines are looking commercially for replacements. It also has 3-dot tritium night sights, a 5-inch national match barrel, ambidextrous safety, picatinny rail, and a desert tan Cerakote finish.[19]. It will still feed from any type of 1911-compatible single stack magazine, as demonstrated by our test through the use of aftermarket MEC-GAR magazines. All M45A1s are currently marked COLT***M45A1 and have a darker, flat dark earth Ion Bond type finish referred to by Colt as Decobond. 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. The Civilian Model M45A1 Ships in a Colt Blue Plastic Box 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. Nearly 20 years to the day that I first brought my original Colt 1911 to the range, I prepared to head out with my new M45A1. The early finish problems encountered by the Marines were all fixed by the time the first 1,000 units had been issued. Springfield Armory entered a variant of the full-sized Loaded MC Operator M1911A1 pistol with a military-standard 1913 rail, tritium night sights and finished with a two-tone black slide with an olive-drab green frame. Was it hand held of benched? Interestingly, many of these very same pistols recently hit the civilian market in a way that took military enthusiasts and collectors completely by surprise. The rear sight we ordered [], Weve been using Parabellum Armaments AKARS for 9 months. [8], A Marine operator may shoot as many as 80,000 rounds from this pistol during a training-cycle and subsequent deployment. 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. [7] They were then assembled with after-market grip safeties, a rounded hammer, ambidextrous thumb safeties, lighter triggers made by Videcki, improved high-visibility sights, accurized match-grade barrels made by Bar-Sto, Pachmayr rubber grips, front cocking-serrations, and improved stainless steel magazines made by Wilson Combat. The pistols shipped in the original cardboard container with the contract-correct black Wilson Combat seven-round magazine. NEW IN THE BOX, WE HAVE A COLT USMC CLOSE QUARTERS BATTLE PISTOL M45A1. Apparently it wasnt staked right at the factory. The revised parts list included barrels, bushings, link pins, sear springs, ejectors, firing pin stops, mainspring housings and mainsprings, all from Nowlin Manufacturing. The instructor basically told us the Air Force felt the Army .45 was too much gun for us. 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. The Marine Corps objected to Colt doing that so they had to change the rollmark on commercial pistols to "M45A1" instead. You will hear different stories, but the simplest is that the M45A1 was Colts first large-scale run of Cerakoted pistols. Fans of the 1911 expressed their disgust as nearly 4,000 of the handguns were de-commissioned. Add to cart. Nonetheless, the Marines had been eagerly waiting for the new .45s, and they were going directly into operational use, so there was little patience for a learning curve, and many of the Marines demanded a change. [14] In 2010, requirements were once more issued for an off-the-shelf system to replace the custom-built pistols. You may have read our first reviewhere, or our second here. A close-up of the rear portion of the gun with its hammer cocked. I suspect it will only be worth more as time marches on. However, the group all remarked that the pistols certainly seemed to be accurate using the government-issue hardball ammunition. The finish on the pistol is a brown Decobond designed to hold up through hard use. [11] Kimber shortly began producing a limited number of what would be later termed the Interim Close Quarters Battle pistol (ICQB). purchased pistol for combat use by its Special Operations units, including Force Recon. The M45A1 serves still today, but it will almost certainly be the final chapter in the U.S. military service life of the M1911. The M45A1 features durable Decobond brown coating and an M1913-spec Picatinny rail for mounting lights . in the shooters hands was the measure of the pistols accuracy. Each time I handle the M45A1, though, I silently bemoan Colts decision to leave the frontstrap untextured, particularly in a .45 that is often fired while wearing gloves. Two bigthings happened to me when I turned 18, I joined the Marines and I bought my first pistol (in the state I live in, you used to be able to obtain a handgun license at the age of 18). THIS IS 1913 DATED DWM MADE, In 97% original unmessed with condition, we have an early war high polish Czech made CZ27 pistol. Minimum price for the offer must be greater than 0% of the Product. 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 The pistols with no front strap checkering are production line guns. The M45A1 ships with Wilson Combat 47 7 round magazines, and is a production grade weapon, rolling off the same line as the commercial M45A1 with identical markings and parts. Most of the time standing slow fire at 25 yds. There is slight movement and a feel of roll through the break, but I wouldnt necessarily call it creep in a negative sense. The Picatinny rail on the bottom of the frame is a full-size Mil Standard 1913 rail which holds accessories nice and tight as compared to its competitors with smaller lower rails. 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. We are fortunate that they found their way onto the public market.. THESE PISTOLS WERE BUILT FOR THE USMC BY NOVAK FOR COLT, AND THERE WERE NOT MANY MADE. Colt M45A1 CQB Marine Pistol. Smith & Wessons Americas Guardians Program. It was the kind of day that a gun guy can never forget. Maybe they are worried theyll run out of hand grenades? The triggers were uniformly pretty good. The used Glock 19 I bought in 1994, still shoots well. Quick view Add to Cart. Is it just a collector mentality To have the USMC? That cartridge didnt cycle my gun either. This particular sample earned every bit of the National Match stamping on the barrel hood. Out of stock. My old unit carried them on special operations missions around the world for a couple of years and then completed the en masse switch to the Glock 19 that had been occurring gradually even before the Colts adoption. The Marines bought it and I had to have one. Here are the features to watch out for. Lost your password? Barrel length is 5 inches, dual recoil springs reduce perceived recoil and magazine capacity is seven rounds. While Maj. Butler might be taken aback by the tritium capsules in the M45A1s sights or perhaps a mounted SureFire light, it is likely that he could operate and fieldstrip the new USMC Colt with no difficulty. The M45A1 CQBP pistol is issued with Wilson black metal single-stack magazines, holding 7+1 rounds. Quick view Out of stock. As much as its dress may change, this is still John Moses Browning's old reliable battlehorse. Support NRA American Rifleman DONATE. 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. Before word could even circulate in casual conversation, the pistols were snapped up at prices that were lower than comparable commercial Colts. Weight of the gun, empty, is listed at 40 ounces. Professional dedicated to training and equipping people to live safely in a dangerous world. 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. COLT M45A1 MARINE PISTOL. The one with the intact usmc is a custom is not the same gun as the the decoms. It is hand fit, hand tooled and came with a snazzy green Pelican case and cleaning kit. The M45A1 has a dual recoil spring assembly which seems to dampen recoil somewhat. Over the years Ive built quite a few custom rifles on Remington 700 actions. The ejection port was modified by widening it and flaring it out. This Colt Government Model M45A1 is a Colt Custom Shop Model introduced in 2012 as the civilian version of the United States Marine Corps Close Quarters Battle Pistol . $ 6,900 This is very unique and very rare COLT 1911 USMC ROLLMARK U.S. MARINES M45A1 SEMPER FI FDE. And yet, it is still to completely abandon the battlefield, being a favourite of many special operation forces. The M45A1 feels heavy compared to other full-size 1911s. The Marine Colt pistol was designated the M45A1. CCS M45A1 is really a good deal @ $2k price point (MSRP). It turns out the rear stake of the safety plunger tube broke off causing the safety lock detent to move over the bottom edge of the factory safety. The decoms will always be worth a premium. (camp). By the time my gun came back from Wayne, years had passed since the original purchase date. The pistol functioned well for the first three rounds, but then I couldnt find my front sight- literally- it flew off! JHP handload 1.20" Wilson Combat 200-gr. What do you get for spending the extra money for a custom shop version? I know what you are thinking, why carry a gun that holds twice as many rounds, weighs less, is more compact, more reliable and costs a third as much- I must be nuts? 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. If youre interested in a unique, firearm with a military history at around $1600, go for it. I figured I needed some professional intervention so I sent the pistol off to Wayne Novak. The silence was deafening, though, when they became available and Colt continued to produce a civilian variant. The M45A1 features durable Decobond brown coating and an M1913-spec Picatinny rail for mounting lights, lasers, and other accessories. [2], The pistol's components are hand-fitted and are not interchangeable. Representative five-shot group (25 yds. The .45 maintains a traditional military lanyard loop in the flat, serrated mainspring housing. 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 The authors example of the M45A1 exhibited tight fit and shot well at the range. Colt's Manufacturing Company - firearms, handguns, pistols, rifles, revolvers. [1][2][7][11], The trigger-pull weight is specified at between 4.5 and 5.0 pounds-force (20 and 22 newtons). [9] However, it is more common for a Marine to return the pistol to the PWS at Quantico for a rebuild after 10,000 rounds have been fired. This makes for an incredibly well-constructedpistol. sidearm was the Beretta M9 (92FS) chambered in 9mm Luger. 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. How did the pistols get to market? 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. 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. Head to the range this week with American Rifleman staff as they discuss a trim little repeater from Savage Arms that comes chambered for the .22 WMR cartridge. Comes with the original box, paperwork, and two magazines. Even more so considering these guns were largely expected to be the last government-issue M1911s and, further, models specific to Marine Raiders and Force Reconnaissance. The M45 serves on with a few specialized Marine Corps units and is expected to for a few more years when most think it will be replaced by a polymer-frame, striker-fired 9 mm, thus ending a long and historic run for the M1911 and its .45 ACP cartridge. And despite the price, the M45A1 CQB is definitely going to become a must-have for dedicated collectors and die-hard aficionados of John Moses Browning's quintessential workhorse on this side of the Big Pond. I can clearly recall the day that I met up with our Close Quarters Battle instructors to try out the new M45A1s for the first time. 4. Depends on what version of the USMC rollmark. 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.
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