colt m45a1 usmc rollmark colt m45a1 usmc rollmark

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. Desert tan Decobond finish, $1,699.00 (MSRP U.S.A.) [8], A Marine operator may shoot as many as 80,000 rounds from this pistol during a training-cycle and subsequent deployment. of weight, with a very short 0.1"/2mm reset. [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 M45A1 features durable Decobond brown coating and an M1913-spec Picatinny rail for mounting lights, lasers, and other accessories. Corporal Gravenese demonstrates the power of the pistol as shown as above. Sweet! An identical version coming off the same assembly line was sold to the civilian market. [1][2][7][11], The trigger-pull weight is specified at between 4.5 and 5.0 pounds-force (20 and 22 newtons). in the shooters hands was the measure of the pistols accuracy. Out of stock. It must have been a special single shot model. 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. Colt AR15A4. 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. When this holster is brand new it will be a "snug" fit. [9][10] There are frames in the USMC inventory that have had as many as 500,000 rounds fired through them. 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. A large number of certified modern U.S. military handguns on the market is mostly unheard of. We are fortunate that they found their way onto the public market.. (LogOut/ Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association. ) 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. I cleared the pistol, engaged the safety, and couldnt take it off safe. And yet, a lot of gun enthusiasts andcollectors have been happy to wait to get one. One thing is for sure: the M45A1 CQBP is not a handgun for everybody. 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. Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. Hammer Women Of Distinction Award, Women's Wildlife Management / Conservation Scholarship, National Youth Shooting Sports Cooperative Program, Colt M45A1: A Modernized M1911 For The Marines. 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. Three versions ofM45A1were made. In the hand, that level of precision translated to straightforward hits on tough and distant targets. For the pure sake of being worth more money down the line, no question about it. 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]. This added weight, in addition to the dual spring slap back, provide for noticeably less recoil. Comes with the original box, paperwork, and two magazines. If you would like to make an offer for this gun please send an email to southeastgunshots@gmail.com. In the first post, we field stripped the gun between shots to verify that it []. I couldnt say no and bought the gun (Id buy a broken toaster with USMC stamped on it). In the mid 1990s he was the go-to 1911 gunsmith and made the best combat style sights around. The rollmark changed around 006700EGA as far as I can tell. 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. It is bug enough - yet snug enough to retain the M45A1 and other railed 5" 1911s. Copyright2016-2023 DigitoolmediaSrls VATNo. 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. 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. this isnt your cheapie m45a1 model. The slide of the Colt M45A1 CQBP pistol comes with front and rear serrations, and with dovetailed high-visibility sights with tritium night dots. All tests most notably those carried on by civilian and military experts in the U.S. with a wide variety of commercial and service-grade ammunition show an incredible and constant accuracy level, with an average group width of 10 cm at around 20 metres (4" groups at 25 yards). By clicking the "OK" button, you are giving your consent for us to set cookies. 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. FMJ 1.65". This one likely sat in the armory or in a warehouse waiting its turn in the arena. 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. sidearm was the Beretta M9 (92FS) chambered in 9mm Luger. Thats because at 40 oz., it is heavy. Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review. 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? [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. Out of stock. You just need to be willing to spend the money it takes to grab a true jewel of firearm technology. Support NRA American Rifleman DONATE. 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. Under the new contract, Colt was to deliver 4,000 samples initially and up to 12,000 samples in following years. Three pistols were offered to the USMC as a replacement for current M45 Pistols. The finish on the pistol is a brown Decobond designed to hold up through hard use. 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. NEW IN THE COLT ISSUED BLUE BOX EXACTLY AS WAS SHIPPED TO THE USMC. I was on a short leave when I brought it home. I was looking at the first shipment from that contract, and my Marines would be the first to be issued the .45s. 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). Based on the classic 1911, which has served the United States since 1911, the M45A1 CQBP continues the tradition of having John Brownings. We have put a few rounds through the Decomm & it shoots and handles great. 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. My friend, a 1911 aficionado accompanied me to the range. 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. Professional dedicated to training and equipping people to live safely in a dangerous world. Here are the features to watch out for. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. There were only 20 of these made and this one is the 17th of the series. The gun ran like a top. [17], The original pistols were hand-selected standard government issued Colt M1911A1s that were gutted, deburred, and prepared for additional use by the USMC Precision Weapon Section (PWS) in Quantico, Virginia. See also [ edit] THESE PISTOLS WERE BUILT FOR THE USMC BY NOVAK FOR COLT, AND THERE WERE NOT MANY MADE. 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 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. Colt's Manufacturing Company - firearms, handguns, pistols, rifles, revolvers. Description: COLT USMC MARKED M45A1, Cerakote blue box edition, slide has the very rare USMC rollmark. 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. [12] 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. This is very unique and very rare COLT 1911 USMC ROLLMARK U.S. MARINES M45A1 SEMPER FI FDE. While not as corrosion resistant, it is far more durable of a finish. Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association, Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. 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USMC Colt Custom Shop, Pelican case - might be as high as 800 made. It is either a custom shop gun or an early production gun. But if you just want a shooter get the current one with the Ion Bond. My buddy brought his daughters Remington R1 1911 to test out. 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. AFTER THE MILITARY RUN COLT STARTED TO PRODUCE THESE FOR THE COMMERICIAL MARKET WITH THE USMC LOGO AND JUST A THOUSAND OR SO WERE MADE WHEN THE MARINE CORPS ASKED THEM TO STOP USING THE USMC ROLL MARK. 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. ), the grip of the M45A1 CQBP is akin to that of a double-stack magazine pistol, and is definitely not made for small hands. 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. You may have read our first reviewhere, or our second here. After a rigorous selection process, the United States Marine Corps selected this Colt Rail Gun as their Close Quarters Battle Pistol (CQBP). 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. June 4, 2015 [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. He switched over to a Dan Wesson 9mm 1911 with gamer sights on it. 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. Solid aluminum grip and hammer Colt. 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. Quick view Out of stock. The M45A1 proved exceptionally stable and accurate at the range. Not bad- but not great. A forum community dedicated to all 1911 firearm owners and enthusiasts. 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. Pistol, Model of 1911 to the Marine Corps. Normally his 1911 lectures are held during downtime at the range when he is repairing his 1911. 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. You must enable JavaScript to remove this banner. We decided to install Heine Ledge sights on our Series 80 Stainless Officers ACP. The low number of malfunctions also proves the reliability of a handgun system that was built to save lives. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. 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. 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. What do you get for spending the extra money for a custom shop version? As much as its dress may change, this is still John Moses Browning's old reliable battlehorse. Category: PISTOLS. The Colt incorporates the dual recoil spring assembly of the firms recent commercial models, which seemed to dampen recoil somewhat. (camp). Just over 100 years separated the issue of the M1911A1-based Marine M45A1 Colts from the Corps initial shipment of the M1911. Lost your password? was not the question, rather, it was how tightly I could group the splatter marks. About that time, the Custom Shop was downsized and no more of the Custom Shop M45A1s were made. The rollmark has now changed to "COLT***M45A1" for both Custom Shop and regular production guns. Marine HQ requested Colt to stop marking the pistols as such. 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. Representative five-shot group (25 yds. great shape, this is not the decom model either. [15] The pistol was redesignated the M45A1 Close Quarter Battle Pistol (CQBP) and up to 12,000 will be delivered. Novak was contracted for rear sights, Wilson Combat provided extractors and mag release buttons, while King's Gun Works supplied ambidextrous thumb safeties. The silence was deafening, though, when they became available and Colt continued to produce a civilian variant. Over the years Ive built quite a few custom rifles on Remington 700 actions. How did the pistols get to market? [11] Kimber shortly began producing a limited number of what would be later termed the Interim Close Quarters Battle pistol (ICQB). The quality and engineering on the National Match barrels is exceptional. First, there is the additional weight already mentioned. Dual Recoil spring system reduces felt . Colt M45A1 CQB Marine Pistol. 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. The frame comes with a machined MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny accessory rail, and also sports highly textured G10 panels that make the grip basically slip-proof, if a bit wide: with a circumference of about 7" (that's almost 18 cm! 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 (LogOut/ Rogers, Patrick A. This announcement no doubt delighted the tried-and-true 1911 supporters in the military. 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. Colt has not published the quantities of the EGA suffix pistols that were issued, at least not in any list Ive been able to find. 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. There is a production version or a custom shop version available. From what I can remember, this included a barrel, bushing system, bar dot night sights, memory groove beavertail safety and Birdsong Black-T finish. 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. Fast forward twenty years and Im at the same dealer, picking up some transfers and he shows me a Colt M45A1. The one-of-a-kind markings are all there. At 40 yds. What should the discerning collector look for in a potential buy? Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives. NEW IN THE BOX, WE HAVE A COLT USMC CLOSE QUARTERS BATTLE PISTOL M45A1. The M45A1 CQBP pistol is issued with Wilson black metal single-stack magazines, holding 7+1 rounds. It actually protected the Colt M45A1 on the way too and from the range. 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. The FDE Cerakote finish was average at best, but it still looked cool. 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. Examples of both are usually exorbitantly-priced and something only a former Marine or hardcore collector of USGI 1911s would want to pursue. Smith & Wessons Americas Guardians Program. 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. 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. 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. You will hear different stories, but the simplest is that the M45A1 was Colts first large-scale run of Cerakoted pistols. Sold WALTHER PPK RARE EAGLE F DURALUMINUM, Pre98 Antiques Military Firearms Collecting Outlook for 2020. [16] The Colt design is considered an upgrade of the previous pistol, not an entirely new design. purchased pistol for combat use by its Special Operations units, including Force Recon. CCS M45A1 is really a good deal @ $2k price point (MSRP). 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. However, the group all remarked that the pistols certainly seemed to be accurate using the government-issue hardball ammunition. Colt decided to employ a National Match barrel in theM45A1instead of their normal barrel option. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Brand new IonBond blue box can be had for less than $1500. The M45A1 serves still today, but it will almost certainly be the final chapter in the U.S. military service life of the M1911. 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. Jun 21, 2013 1911, 45 Auto, Colt .45, Colt 1911, Colt M45, Colt Marine Corps 1911, Colt O1017CQB, feature, Marine Corps pistol. It would be hard to improve on this trigger with any kind of upgrade. Now before you could even buy one you had to sign up for the Gunbroker Gold program. A close-up of the rear portion of the gun with its hammer cocked. This pistol utilizes the Series 80 fire control system which means it has an internal firing pin safety. Tan cerakote finish. I recently came across a passage from Jeff Cooper written in 1961 that read, the big pistol [1911] has been with us for half a century, and as yet no better sidearmfor serious combat workhas been devised. It is a testament to the enduring nature of the M1911 that a full 50 years later the Corps was issuing the latest version of the design in the M45A1. M45A1 MARINE PISTOL. The current M45A1 does not have a USMC rollmark on the slide for either Military or Civilian sales. Customer experience was, and still is, the primary focus, a key to the firms longevity and success. 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. (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.