The pistols with no front strap checkering are production line guns. I was looking at the first shipment from that contract, and my Marines would be the first to be issued the .45s. The contract was said to be worth $22.5M to Colt. USMC Colt Custom Shop, Pelican case - might be as high as 800 made. 0. The silence was deafening, though, when they became available and Colt continued to produce a civilian variant. 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. Barrel length is 5 inches, dual recoil springs reduce perceived recoil and magazine capacity is seven rounds. Colt M45A1 Marine Government Full FDE 5 - Omaha Outdoors I brought it into the dealer. [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. He refuses to touch a polymer gun, expect for the Springfield XD I sold him around 2000 (I think he sold it within days). Here are the features to watch out for. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. JavaScript is disabled. How did the pistols get to market? The Colt M45A1 CQBP pistol is based on the tried and true Series 80 platform: it comes with a single-action trigger, a skeletonized enhanced hammer, an automatic firing pin safety, an ambidextrous frame-mounted manual safety, and an improved and crisp trigger pull about two kilos or just under 6 lbs. A huge proponent of the system, he has been lecturing me about the benefits of the 1911 platform for nearly two decades. The M45A1 feels heavy compared to other full-size 1911s. [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. Description. 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. COLT M45A1 MARINE PISTOL For Sale - Colt Armory USA I couldnt say no and bought the gun (Id buy a broken toaster with USMC stamped on it). I've been looking for holsters for mine. The M45A1 features durable Decobond brown coating and an M1913-spec Picatinny rail for mounting lights . The authors example of the M45A1 exhibited tight fit and shot well at the range. Colt's M45 Marine Close Quarters Combat Pistol - David Freeman I cleared the pistol, engaged the safety, and couldnt take it off safe. 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. 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. Handgun Hard Choices: Colt M1911 or S&W M1917? Rogers, Patrick A. We decided to install Heine Ledge sights on our Series 80 Stainless Officers ACP. Since 2017, Colt has been offering a commercial variant of the M45A1 CQBP with either a Decobond FDE or a two-tone finish over a stainless steel receiver and slide. 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. [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. Fit and finish were OK, but the Marines use it, so that is worth the premium. At 40 yds. There were only 20 of these made and this one is the 17th of the series. Each knotted tight groups that would do a custom pistol proud, averaging 1.48" for five separate loads. FMJ 1.65". Just over 100 years separated the issue of the M1911A1-based Marine M45A1 Colts from the Corps initial shipment of the M1911. The ejection port was modified by widening it and flaring it out. The M45A1 has the traditional military lanyard loop in the flat, serrated mainspring housing. The M45A1 features durable Decobond brown coating and an M1913-spec Picatinny rail for mounting lights, lasers, and other accessories. I was at my local gun shop when a Marine was picking up two that he had won. My only experience with a military .45 was at AFROTC summer training. Sold Colt M45a1 Usmc Cqb Pistol With Rare Usmc Marked Slide Nib Maybe they are worried theyll run out of hand grenades? 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. Clearly I had no clue. I ran a series of 6-dot and 5-circle drills with my Colt M45A1. The first version is one that went to the military, stamped USMC on the slide and delivered in a cardboard box with two Wilson 7-round magazines. [16] The Marine Corps issued the M45A1 to Force Reconnaissance companies, MARSOC and Special Reaction Teams from the Provost Marshals Office. Colt M45A1 USMC - Cool Gun with a Cool Story - General Chat Colt also offers a custom shop civilian model to achieve higher accuracy; but the Marine issue model is the production grade pistol. Model O1070CQB is the Custom Shop version with tuned trigger and oversized fitted barrel, green Pelican case, Otis cleaning kit, test target, and two Wilson 7-round magazines. M45a1 usmc | 1911Forum He somehow managed to convince me to shoot one of his reloads. With the exception of the overtly poor, reloaded cartridge, the Colt M45A1 was 100% reliable and the front sight didnt fly off. Bill Marr The included factory letter affirms that this is a genuine U.S.M.C. View all posts by David Freeman. This handgun has never been fired! [9], However, as the U.S. Marine Corps began its process of hand selecting members from its Force Recon to be submitted to USSOCOM as Marine Corps Special Operations Command, Detachment One (MCSOCOM Det-1), the selection of a .45 ACP M1911A1-based pistol meant roughly 150 units would be needed, more quickly than the PWS could produce them, as PWS were already backlogged with producing DMRs, USMC SAM-Rs, and updating M40A1s to M40A3s, so DET-1 began the search for COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) surrogates to use. [16] The Colt design is considered an upgrade of the previous pistol, not an entirely new design. Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! I overlooked the fact that it was a Colt and my awful past with Colt. Examples of both are usually exorbitantly-priced and something only a former Marine or hardcore collector of USGI 1911s would want to pursue. THESE PISTOLS WERE BUILT FOR THE USMC BY NOVAK FOR COLT, AND THERE WERE NOT MANY MADE. I went through the boxes with the armorers, examining a few random Colts to get a sense of the pistols. Lost your password? The civilian M45A1 is not currently in the Colt catalog, but theres a good chance it will be offered again as Colt tends to rotate model numbers in and out of production from time to time. The thumb safeties are ambidextrous and slightly larger than the original 1911 thumb safeties. The M45A1 CQBP could very well be the 1911 for the 21st Century battles, but deep at heart it's still the same gun engineered by John Moses Browning over one century ago. At the time, he even sighted in the gun at the range using the ammunition choice you wanted, I selected 10 yards with Cor Bon 185 JHP. 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. [6][7], In 2002, an article in American Handgunner stated that "Marine armorers from the Precision Weapons Section, MCBQ" are making 789 MEU (SOC) 1911's. [2], In 2012, the Marine Corps awarded Colt a contract for up to 12,000 M45A1 pistols with an initial order of 4036 pistols. The Colt M45A1 is the new USMC service pistol. Copyright2016-2023 DigitoolmediaSrls VATNo. The rear sight we ordered [], Weve been using Parabellum Armaments AKARS for 9 months. [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. Quick view Add to Cart. It was largely (maybe entirely) unannounced and seemed odd, or even suspect, but there was a factory letter from Colt to guarantee authenticity. Every piece of steel in theM45A1is machined to specific tolerances and tested to the specifications put forth by the United States Marine Corps. 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. 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). Not bad- but not great. The Marine Colt pistol was designated the M45A1. 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. MIM parts are widely accepted as the standard in the industry. Sticky for all Colt USMC CQB/ M45 FACTUAL information Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email. Colt M45A1 CQBP: the MARSOC pistol | GUNSweek.com Under this point of view, the Colt M45A1 CQBP is definitely the 1911 of the 21st Century. I scored a 92-20X. Pelican Storm Case. They feature Novak three-dot night sights, M1913-spec Picatinny rail and Decabond brown coating with nicely matching Desert Tan G10 grips. This is very unique and very rare COLT 1911 USMC ROLLMARK U.S. MARINES M45A1 SEMPER FI FDE. Never miss a post! 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. I have other Colt 1911s with smooth front straps, so I guess its just not something thats in Colts playbook for their stock pistols. While most will instantly recognize that the Officers sized guns arent known for reliability, I didnt know it at the time. I have a few 1911s I dont shoot, some have rails, some dont, but the spec rail of the Colt made fit difficult. By the time my gun came back from Wayne, years had passed since the original purchase date. Under the new contract, Colt was to deliver 4,000 samples initially and up to 12,000 samples in following years. The pistols shipped in the original cardboard container with the contract-correct black Wilson Combat seven-round magazine. it is in the cerakote finish with "USMC" rollmark, complete with original 2 mags. My M45A1 has had hundreds of rounds put through it, both ball and JHP, and has not experienced any type of failure. In other cases on specific guns, the finish was not wearing as durably as expected. The Marine Corps objected to Colt doing that so they had to change the rollmark on commercial pistols to "M45A1" instead. In an effort to makegunsthat are traditionally built with steel more affordable, gunmanufacturers have created a process to mold low impact gunparts rather than forge or mill each one. which was officially adopted in 1986. The coarse checkering on the multi-colored G10 panels assists in anchoring the handgun, as does an undercut trigger guard which allows a high hand hold. 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. 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. Since he edits this website, Ill pretend that I was there when one of them worked flawlessly. 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. All content Copyright 1998-2018 Rifleshooter.com, FTC disclosure: some links on this site are monetized, Sig Sauer MCX Virtus PCP Air Rifle Review- Initial Impressions, Project Guns- Gunsmithing articles and posts, 1911 Rear Sight Installation (Novak style cut), Quick rifle bedding tip: Easy removal of bedding material from pillars, Tactical Shotgun Build: Back Boring a Barrel and Lengthening a Forcing Cone to Increase Performance, Back when Sears sold a Mauser: The J.C. Higgins Model 51, Short and Loud: The 16 inch 308 Win Precision Rifle, 224 VALKYRIE- Effect of barrel length on velocity, Bipod rail installation (Atlas bipod adapter). Reviews (0) After a rigorous selection process, the United States Marine Corps selected this Colt Rail Gun as their Close Quarters Battle Pistol (CQBP). The finish on the pistol is a brown Decobond designed to hold up through hard use. About that time, the Custom Shop was downsized and no more of the Custom Shop M45A1s were made. 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. Trying to see if the USMC needs to find a home. The solid, medium-long trigger broke at 4 lbs., 4 ozs., of pressure after a short bit of take-up to release the hammer. This sample proved that sentiment. The slide of the Colt M45A1 CQBP pistol comes with front and rear serrations, and with dovetailed high-visibility sights with tritium night dots. Similar to the Custom Shop CQB pistol, this is a production line version of the pistol that the Marines bought for the MARSOC units. A close-up of the rear portion of the gun with its hammer cocked. Other features include Novak. 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. Colt M45A1 CQB Marine Pistol - rangehot.com $ 6,900 This is very unique and very rare COLT 1911 USMC ROLLMARK U.S. MARINES M45A1 SEMPER FI FDE. With the exception of the overtly poor, reloaded cartridge, the Colt M45A1 was 100% reliable and the front sight didn't fly off. Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review. 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. A case of 230 grain Winchester ball, and a few cardboard targets and I was ready. purchased pistol for combat use by its Special Operations units, including Force Recon. The rollmark has now changed to "COLT***M45A1" for both Custom Shop and regular production guns. I figured I needed some professional intervention so I sent the pistol off to Wayne Novak. The Marine Corps objected to Colt doing that so they had to change the rollmark on commercial pistols to "M45A1" instead. Last Of The Breed: Marine Corps M45A1 - An Official Journal Of The NRA First, there is the additional weight already mentioned. [10], The final units as issued to MCSOCOM Det-1 are the Kimber ICQBs with SureFire Integrated Military Pistol Light (IMPL), Dawson Precision rail, Gemtech TRL Tactical Retention Lanyards based upon the jury-rigged telephone cord versions, modified Safariland 6004 holsters, Simonich G-10 Gunner Grips manufactured by Simonich Knives and Strider Knives replaced the original Pachmayr rubber grips, and Wilson Combat's '47D' 8-round magazines. Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! A forum community dedicated to all 1911 firearm owners and enthusiasts. Hes only had one run away gun and a hand full of hammer follow situations Ive witnessed- normally they dont function well enough to get that worn (keep in mind this is over the course of decades, during which time he has owned scores of 1911 pistols). JavaScript is disabled. But if you just want a shooter get the current one with the Ion Bond. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. I overlooked that fact that whoever coated it, missed some spots. SWC 1.49" Hornady 200-gr. Not all civilian M45s go through the Custom Shop. He told me the extractor and ammunition were bad. Comes with the original box, paperwork, and two magazines. $ 1,649.00. M45A1 - Colt custom shop vs Production version.which should I buy? Colt released these original Marine Corps pistols to the public. 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). THESE PISTOLS WERE BUILT FOR THE USMC BY NOVAK FOR COLT, AND THERE WERE NOT MANY MADE. It is a Fletch High Rise OWB Holster. 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]. As the time went by and the adoption of the M9 pistol depleted the stock of spare parts, making the old M45 MEUSOC pistols unserviceable, a replacement had to be found. CCS M45A1 is really a good deal @ $2k price point (MSRP). [2], The pistol's components are hand-fitted and are not interchangeable. Shooting theM45A1feels different than shooting other 1911s. 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. Not all civilian M45s go through the Custom Shop. In Oct. 2016 the U.S. Marine Corps announced Glock 19s would replace the .45 ACP-chambered Colt M45A1s carried by members of its Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Operations Capable (MEUSOC) teams. Colt CR6940. Does anyone know? For the pure sake of being worth more money down the line, no question about it. Colt decided to employ a National Match barrel in theM45A1instead of their normal barrel option. Fit and finish were OK, but the Marines use it, so that is worth the premium. These decommissioned Colts will continue to be a hot item among both shooters and collectors for the foreseeable future. Dual Recoil spring system reduces felt . Cycling the pistols revealed the fit to be smooth but clearly tighter than a typical commercial M1911. 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. The pistol functioned well for the first three rounds, but then I couldnt find my front sight- literally- it flew off! When Remington offered a [], 1911 Rear sight installation (Novak style cut) Aftermarket sights are a common upgrade on 1911 pistols. By clicking the "OK" button, you are giving your consent for us to set cookies. Sticky for all Colt USMC CQB/ M45 FACTUAL information It is either a custom shop gun or an early production gun. More importantly, this feature was intended to decrease the battering the pistol takes on recoil.
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