The silence was deafening, though, when they became available and Colt continued to produce a civilian variant. JavaScript is disabled. A variant of the M1911, it has been the standard-issue side arm for the Force Recon Element of the United States Marine Corps' Marine Expeditionary Units since 1985. Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives. 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. This pistol utilizes the Series 80 fire control system which means it has an internal firing pin safety. The trigger is smooth even by series 80 standards and breaks cleanly at 5 lbs. Im thinking having that done would make my pistol less valuable as a collector item, plus its not a gun Ill shoot very often so my front strap will remain smooth. [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. (LogOut/ Glocks uses MIM parts and a polymer frame yet are widely considered to be among the most reliable and durable firearms ever created. I had left the Marines as a Sergeant and was starting civilian life as a full time college student and worked part time at a gun dealer. The instructors had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the pistols, the first new military-issue Colt M1911s since 1945. 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. 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 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. I headed to the range again with my custom 1911, and while it looked great and shot well, reliability wasnt where it should have been. great shape, this is not the decom model either. used but great shape. The Colt incorporates a slightly beveled magazine well to facilitate reloads. 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. A forum community dedicated to all 1911 firearm owners and enthusiasts. Corporal Gravenese demonstrates the power of the pistol as shown as above. [12] I have a few 1911s I dont shoot, some have rails, some dont, but the spec rail of the Colt made fit difficult. 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. All three versions have serial numbers ending in 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.. EU Gun Ban: a new Call to Action from Firearms United! I am considering having the dealer I bought it from send it back to have Colt correct the finish so it actually covers the entire frame and slide, but Im worried they may go out of business or bankrupt before I get it back. It is big enough - yet snug enough to retain the M45A1 and other railed 5" 1911s. Quick view Out of stock. The M45A1 serves still today, but it will almost certainly be the final chapter in the U.S. military service life of the M1911. By clicking the "OK" button, you are giving your consent for us to set cookies. Barrel length is 5 inches, dual recoil springs reduce perceived recoil and magazine capacity is seven rounds. Scarcely mentioning the soon-be-collectible kept demand low, and availability proportionately high. 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. Match 1.60" Winchester 230-gr. There is slight movement and a feel of roll through the break, but I wouldnt necessarily call it creep in a negative sense. GUNSweek.com is a new online platform dedicated to the diffusion of technical knowledge in the gun world. I was an active duty Marine from 1992 to 1996, and at that time the standard issue. We had to shoot the .38 military special (which was horrible). Colt added this spring assembly to the M45A1 and some of its commercial models with the intent to decrease the battering the pistol takes on recoil. What should the discerning collector look for in a potential buy? You just need to be willing to spend the money it takes to grab a true jewel of firearm technology. 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. Desert tan Decobond finish, $1,699.00 (MSRP U.S.A.) I overlooked that the fit for a gun, that cost me $1,600 plus tax ($1,748 total), was similar to a $800 gun. If you would like to make an offer for this gun please send an email to southeastgunshots@gmail.com. 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. 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. Shooting two handed, strong side only and weak side only it functioned flawlessly. (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. A large batch, rumored to be nearly 1,000 pistols, hit the Gunbroker auction site (gunbroker.com) described as decommissioned USMC 1911 M45A1s. I didnt think much on it at the time, but as we received those first tan Colts and issued them out to our Raiders it was just a few months more than 100 years since Colt had delivered its initial shipment of the U.S. Edit to add: there are some NRA guns in that serial range, see if anything is laser engraved on the gun itself. FMJ 1.65". This one likely sat in the armory or in a warehouse waiting its turn in the arena. 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. This is very unique and very rare COLT 1911 USMC ROLLMARK U.S. MARINES M45A1 SEMPER FI FDE. Novak was contracted for rear sights, Wilson Combat provided extractors and mag release buttons, while King's Gun Works supplied ambidextrous thumb safeties. And after all, the ongoing XM17 MHS (Modular Handgun System) program which is slated to lead to the replacement of the Beretta M9 as the standard service pistol for the U.S. Armed Forces seems to have narrowed down its entrants to a number of strictly striker-fired, polymer frame pistols. The gun ran like a top. Not all civilian M45s go through the Custom Shop. I couldnt say no and bought the gun (Id buy a broken toaster with USMC stamped on it). 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. VERY RARE AND VERY COLLECTIBLE! 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. 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. COLT M45A1 MARINE PISTOL. My M45A1 has had hundreds of rounds put through it, both ball and JHP, and has not experienced any type of failure. All M45A1s are currently marked COLT***M45A1 and have a darker, flat dark earth Ion Bond type finish referred to by Colt as Decobond. Is it just a collector mentality To have the USMC? 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. Colt decided to employ a National Match barrel in theM45A1instead of their normal barrel option. 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. 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? The Custom Shop price list indicates theyll checker the front strap at either 20 or 25 lpi for $260. The M45A1 CQBP pistol is issued with Wilson black metal single-stack magazines, holding 7+1 rounds. 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. Southeast Guns 2023. Now before you could even buy one you had to sign up for the Gunbroker Gold program. Does anyone know? 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. (LogOut/ Under this point of view, the Colt M45A1 CQBP is definitely the 1911 of the 21st Century. Not all civilian M45s go through the Custom Shop. Nearly every time weve shot together, he has had some sort of issue that he usually attributes to ammunition, the gun, recoil spring weight, the magazine, the chamber, extractor fit, lubrication, or maintenance. The FDE Cerakote finish was average at best, but it still looked cool. The pistols shipped in the original cardboard container with the contract-correct black Wilson Combat seven-round magazine. My only experience with a military .45 was at AFROTC summer training. The current M45A1 does not have a USMC rollmark on the slide for either Military or Civilian sales. The .45 maintains a traditional military lanyard loop in the flat, serrated mainspring housing. Cleaning kit. I overlooked the fact that it was a Colt and my awful past with Colt. The M45A1 feels heavy compared to other full-size 1911s. This is very unique and very rare COLT 1911 USMC ROLLMARK U.S. MARINES M45A1 SEMPER FI FDE. The gun ran well. Category: PISTOLS. You must enable JavaScript to remove this banner. 4. 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. A huge proponent of the system, he has been lecturing me about the benefits of the 1911 platform for nearly two decades. 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. Just four short years after the M45A1s were initially issued to the Marines, on September 30th, 2016, the USMC announced that all 1911 type pistols still used by its special operation units would be replaced by the Glock 19. 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. 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. Years later, my father-in-law bought it from me for about 40% of what I paid for it, to this day I consider it an act of mercy. By clicking anywhere on the page, or scrolling down the content you can temporarily hide this banner. The M45A1 has a dual recoil spring assembly which seems to dampen recoil somewhat. The solid, medium-long trigger broke at 4 lbs., 4 ozs., of pressure after a short bit of take-up to release the hammer. 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. The front slide serrations are perfectly placed and have a noticeably deep depth and width, so much so that you can easily feel them while wearing gloves. Out of stock. of weight, with a very short 0.1"/2mm reset. In July 2012, the United States Marine Corps System Command announced that Colt Defense LLC of Hartford, Connecticut, was the winner of the new CQBP pistol contract. M45A1 MARINE PISTOL. The only other USMC-marked pistols on the market are the real ones that had been returned to Colt and then re-sold to the civilian market. all 1911 type pistols still used by its special operation units would be replaced by the Glock 19, eyeing the Glock 19 as the next standard service pistol, Extrema Ratio 25 years: Misericordia Desert, IWA OutdoorClassics 2023: highlights on a revolutionary edition, Chiappa Firearms M6 X-Caliber: the survival rifle coming from the sky, Safety recall for Smith & Wesson M&P-9 and M&P-380 Shield EZ pistols, Kel-Tec KSG410, the small-caliber bull-pup pump shotgun. Before word could even circulate in casual conversation, the pistols were snapped up at prices that were lower than comparable commercial Colts. Cycling the pistols revealed the fit to be smooth but clearly tighter than a typical commercial M1911. Jun 21, 2013 1911, 45 Auto, Colt .45, Colt 1911, Colt M45, Colt Marine Corps 1911, Colt O1017CQB, feature, Marine Corps pistol. 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. 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. [8] Slides were ordered from Springfield Armory, with front sight pins, beavertail safeties and recoil spring guides from Ed Brown. 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.
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