of weight, with a very short 0.1"/2mm reset. Dual Recoil spring system reduces felt . A large batch, rumored to be nearly 1,000 pistols, hit the Gunbroker auction site (gunbroker.com) described as decommissioned USMC 1911 M45A1s. The pistols with no front strap checkering are production line guns. 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 . These decommissioned Colts will continue to be a hot item among both shooters and collectors for the foreseeable future. Comes with the original box, paperwork, and two magazines. 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. Was it hand held of benched? when unloaded. Colt decided to employ a National Match barrel in theM45A1instead of their normal barrel option. The decoms will always be worth a premium. 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 It is bug enough - yet snug enough to retain the M45A1 and other railed 5" 1911s. The gun ran well. Marine Corps Systems Command announced February 17, 2005, that it was going to purchase 150 Springfield Armory Professional Model pistols for use as MEU(SOC) pistols. The feed ramp on theM45A1is polished and coated to make the surface extremely smooth. This is the so called blue box Colt pistol, model 01070M45. By the time my gun came back from Wayne, years had passed since the original purchase date. was not the question, rather, it was how tightly I could group the splatter marks. Interestingly, many of these very same pistols recently hit the civilian market in a way that took military enthusiasts and collectors completely by surprise. Representative five-shot group (25 yds. This handgun has never been fired! It will fit though. Quick view Out of stock. The one with the intact usmc is a custom is not the same gun as the the decoms. You may have read our first reviewhere, or our second here. This one likely sat in the armory or in a warehouse waiting its turn in the arena. That cartridge didnt cycle my gun either. Handguns, Reviews Southeast Guns 2023. I have a local company that can make a kydex holster but I dont like kydex. In the hand, that level of precision translated to straightforward hits on tough and distant targets. XTP 1.47" Nosler 185-gr. 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. This full-size lower rail adds some of the noticeable heft to the gun,but that heft seems to balance out thepistolso that the gundoesnt feel nose heavy. THIS IS 1913 DATED DWM MADE, In 97% original unmessed with condition, we have an early war high polish Czech made CZ27 pistol. Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! A forum community dedicated to all 1911 firearm owners and enthusiasts. 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. JavaScript is disabled. June 4, 2015 [9][11] Tritium Novak LoMount sights replaced the originals which were made in-house by the Marines.[9][11]. 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. Over the years Ive built quite a few custom rifles on Remington 700 actions. Colt M45A1 CQB Marine Pistol - rangehot.com When the change was specified, a substantial number of the early pistols were recalled back to Colt, and it disposed of them, leading to the market frenzy. I brought it into the dealer. A forum community dedicated to all 1911 firearm owners and enthusiasts. I finally got my .45 10 years after I retired. The Colt incorporates a slightly beveled magazine well to facilitate reloads. 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 thumb safeties are ambidextrous and slightly larger than the original 1911 thumb safeties. I scored a 92-20X. There is a production version or a custom shop version available. Sticky for all Colt USMC CQB/ M45 FACTUAL information [12] [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. [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. I have other Colt 1911s with smooth front straps, so I guess its just not something thats in Colts playbook for their stock pistols. It was largely (maybe entirely) unannounced and seemed odd, or even suspect, but there was a factory letter from Colt to guarantee authenticity. A source request was sent out to Springfield Armory and the Springfield Operator, based on the FBI's TRP pistol was built. (LogOut/ 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. Sold Colt M45a1 Usmc Cqb Pistol With Rare Usmc Marked Slide Nib The pistols with no front strap checkering are production line guns. From what I can remember, this included a barrel, bushing system, bar dot night sights, memory groove beavertail safety and Birdsong Black-T finish. SWC 1.49" Hornady 200-gr. The Colt incorporates a slightly beveled magazine well to facilitate reloads. [16] The Marine Corps issued the M45A1 to Force Reconnaissance companies, MARSOC and Special Reaction Teams from the Provost Marshals Office. 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. In other cases on specific guns, the finish was not wearing as durably as expected. 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. 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 described as decommissioned USMC 1911 M45A1s. COLT M45A1 MARINE PISTOL. My opinion is that both of these were likely due to Colt learning the quirks of a new coating process. Most of the time standing slow fire at 25 yds. That was me who snagged. The Marine Corps is aware of this yet opted for steel, so consequently the CQBP does not use any MIM parts. More importantly, this feature was intended to decrease the battering the pistol takes on recoil. JavaScript is disabled. Dave I use a Galco Model Number FL212. The action incorporates the Series 80 mechanism that blocks the firing pin until the trigger is pulled. Description. MIM parts are widely accepted as the standard in the industry. The trigger was eminently usable and a good match for a combat pistol intended for highly trained special operations forces. This sample proved that sentiment. 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. An MEU(SOC) 1911 pistol, built by PWS at Quantico, Virginia. Other features include Novak. These were going right to work, and they looked promising. Under the new contract, Colt was to deliver 4,000 samples initially and up to 12,000 samples in following years. 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. Note the X through the USMC marking. 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. I figured I needed some professional intervention so I sent the pistol off to Wayne Novak. I was at my local gun shop when a Marine was picking up two that he had won. In addition to the desert tan color, the forward slide serrations and the section of M1913 Picatinny accessory rail immediately stand out and separate the pistol from the typical service M1911. Decommisioned M45A1 - AR15.COM The authors example of the M45A1 exhibited tight fit and shot well at the range. Here are the features to watch out for. GUNSweek.com is a new online platform dedicated to the diffusion of technical knowledge in the gun world. 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. 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. We have put a few rounds through the Decomm & it shoots and handles great. Corporal Gravenese demonstrates the power of the pistol as shown as above. This handgun has never been fired! The instructor basically told us the Air Force felt the Army .45 was too much gun for us. [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. $ 1,649.00. M45A1 - Colt custom shop vs Production versionwhich should I buy? It is hand fit, hand tooled and came with a snazzy green Pelican case and cleaning kit. 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. 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. 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.. Wayne is one of the premier pistol smiths in the country. I cleared the pistol, engaged the safety, and couldnt take it off safe. The Colt incorporates the dual recoil spring assembly of the firms recent commercial models, which seemed to dampen recoil somewhat. With the exception of the overtly poor, reloaded cartridge, the Colt M45A1 was 100% reliable and the front sight didnt fly off. My M45A1 has had hundreds of rounds put through it, both ball and JHP, and has not experienced any type of failure. About that time, the Custom Shop was downsized and no more of the Custom Shop M45A1s were made. For the pure sake of being worth more money down the line, no question about it. The pistols are exceptional purely as shooters, and scarce and significant for several military and historic reasons. The Colt M45A1 CQBP comes with a cold-hammer forged, polished stainless steel 5" National Match barrel and a NM bushing. 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. As of March 2019, Force Recon, and other units still use the M45A1 and some units have the Glock 19 or Beretta M9A1 as an alternative. The pistols are exceptional purely as shooters, and scarce and significant for several military and historic reasons. Which do you guys would think would be more desirable down the line.. 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. 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. (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. 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 ejection port was modified by widening it and flaring it out. There is slight movement and a feel of roll through the break, but I wouldnt necessarily call it creep in a negative sense. One thing is for sure: the M45A1 CQBP is not a handgun for everybody. Here are the features to watch out for. The used Glock 19 I bought in 1994, still shoots well. Outside of the mentioned ambidextrous manual safety, the controls configuration is the same as on any other 1911 variant. After a rigorous selection process, the United States Marine Corps selected this Colt Rail Gun as their Close Quarters Battle Pistol (CQBP). Bill Marr [9][10] There are frames in the USMC inventory that have had as many as 500,000 rounds fired through them. A close-up of the rear portion of the gun with its hammer cocked. The silence was deafening, though, when they became available and Colt continued to produce a civilian variant. USMC O1070M45 regular production, blue box - unknown how many released, probably less than the pelican cased version. We are fortunate that they found their way onto the public market.. The contract was said to be worth $22.5M to Colt. 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. Sold WALTHER PPK RARE EAGLE F DURALUMINUM, Pre98 Antiques Military Firearms Collecting Outlook for 2020. The one-of-a-kind markings are all there. I dont know that any pistols, the old Quantico M45s or the new Colts, were ever truly benched or grouped. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Colt M45A1 CCS and USMC | 1911Forum 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. Shooting theM45A1feels different than shooting other 1911s. The low number of malfunctions also proves the reliability of a handgun system that was built to save lives. In February 2015, the Marine Corps approved the Glock 19 for MARSOC units. The M45A1 has a dual recoil spring assembly which seems to dampen recoil somewhat. 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. It . I fired representative groups from a rest with several loads rather than the full five-group protocol typically used in product reviews in order to minimize the rounds and wear on the Colt. In recent months, the auction houses have listed a few with the prices for the pristine unissued handguns estimated around $7,000. He somehow managed to convince me to shoot one of his reloads. 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. My pistol is the commercial, non-custom shop version and I wouldnt own it had I not been a gun shop owner who could buy wholesale when these became available. 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. In the first post, we field stripped the gun between shots to verify that it []. And yet, it is still to completely abandon the battlefield, being a favourite of many special operation forces. Tradition: The Colt M45A1 Marine Corps Pistol :: Guns.com These pistols are the first U.S.G.I. Since he edits this website, Ill pretend that I was there when one of them worked flawlessly. When the enemy breaches the position, any of them will do. Unique and very rare COLT 1911 USMC ROLLMARK U.S. MARINES M45A1 SEMPER Colt M45A1 USMC - Cool Gun with a Cool Story - General Chat How did the pistols get to market? Description: COLT USMC MARKED M45A1, Cerakote blue box edition, slide has the very rare USMC rollmark. Does anyone know? A round indexed in the chambering position on feeding ramp of the M45A1, The M45A1 skips the mainstream Cerakote finish for a more resistant IonBond Decobond coating. 4. The included factory letter affirms that this is a genuine U.S.M.C. Last Of The Breed: Marine Corps M45A1 - An Official Journal Of The NRA The Marine Colt pistol was designated the M45A1. I was able to lay my hands on one of the decommissioned M45A1s to examine and evaluate it, one author for American Rifleman wrote two years ago. I found a Don Hume 715 MC IWB holster that it fit-good enough. We use cookies on this website, our and third parties, to enhance your user experience. [11] Kimber shortly began producing a limited number of what would be later termed the Interim Close Quarters Battle pistol (ICQB). This makes for an incredibly well-constructedpistol. Brand new IonBond blue box can be had for less than $1500. 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. He refuses to touch a polymer gun, expect for the Springfield XD I sold him around 2000 (I think he sold it within days).