So I headed to the store and purchased a new-in-box lightweight Colt Series 80 Officers ACP. Here are the features to watch out for. Does anyone know? It's a carry gun, not a collection piece. described as decommissioned USMC 1911 M45A1s. SWC 1.49" Hornady 200-gr. Colt's Manufacturing Company - firearms, handguns, pistols, rifles, revolvers. By clicking the "OK" button, you are giving your consent for us to set cookies. used but great shape. In Oct. 2016 the U.S. Marine Corps announced Glock 19s would replace the .45 ACP-chambered Colt M45A1s carried by members . Then sold the entire lot to the company selling them on Gunbroker. There is a production version or a custom shop version available. The Marine Corps is aware of this yet opted for steel, so consequently the CQBP does not use any MIM parts. It . The Marine Corps objected to Colt doing that so they had to change the rollmark on commercial pistols to "M45A1" instead. I overlooked that fact that whoever coated it, missed some spots. That short resurrection of the M45A1 as the primary sidearm for U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) Marine Raiders and the Corps Force Reconnaissance Marines resulted in some fine hardware becoming available to those of us who appreciate fine shooting gear and others who have the resources and desire to collect unusual and limited issue guns. 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. Based on the classic 1911, which has served the United States since 1911, the M45A1 CQBP continues the tradition of having John Brownings classic pistol filling the holsters of our nations finest weapons.The jacket worn is a Tru-Spec 24/7 softshell available on Amazon or at Gander Mountain.PLEASE SUPPORT MAC ON PATREON: http://www.patreon.com/militaryarms-~-~~-~~~-~~-~-Please watch: \"BCM Mk12 with AEM5 Silencer and some cool winter rigging!\" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf1bGpc0aHo-~-~~-~~~-~~-~- 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. Solid aluminum grip and hammer The Custom Shop price list indicates theyll checker the front strap at either 20 or 25 lpi for $260. Bill Marr Barrel length is 5 inches, dual recoil springs reduce perceived recoil and magazine capacity is seven rounds. 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. 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. SOLD COLT M45A1 USMC CQB PISTOL WITH RARE USMC MARKED SLIDE NIB $ 3,795.00 Out of stock Add to wishlist SKU: Item #: 07/16/2015-3 Category: Pre98 Classic Sold Description NEW IN THE BOX, WE HAVE A COLT USMC CLOSE QUARTERS BATTLE PISTOL M45A1. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); S&W CSX Is it Really the New ChiefsSpecial? There is slight movement and a feel of roll through the break, but I wouldnt necessarily call it creep in a negative sense. [16] The Colt design is considered an upgrade of the previous pistol, not an entirely new design. With the exception of the overtly poor, reloaded cartridge, the Colt M45A1 was 100% reliable and the front sight didn't fly off. When this holster is brand new it will be a "snug" fit. 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. You just need to be willing to spend the money it takes to grab a true jewel of firearm technology. THE GUN IS MATHCHING, IN 90% ORIGINAL CONDITION, WE HAVE A VERY RARE AND HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER POLICE EAGLE F MARKED WALTHER PPK WITH, IN 96% ORIGINAL UNMESSED WITH CONDITION, WE HAVE A VERY NICE EXAMPLE OF A 1944 PROUDCTION FN HIGH POWER PROUDCUED, IN 90% CONDITION, NICE BLUE BUT ALOT OF PITTING, WE HAVE A FANTASTICALLY RARE WALTHER MODEL 6 PISTOL IN 9MM, Colt General Officer & Rare US Property Pistols, SOLD GERMAN G43 ORIGINAL MOUNT AND ZF4 SCOPE EARLY DUV CODE, SOLD RARE ORIGINAL SIMSON EAGLE 6 LUGER TOOL, sold 1913 DWM LUGER VERY NICE AND HARD TO FIND, Sold RUSSIAN TT 33 TOKAREV 1942 WITH MATCHING MAG. Under this point of view, the Colt M45A1 CQBP is definitely the 1911 of the 21st Century. 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. It was the kind of day that a gun guy can never forget. Having read quite a bit of gun rags (this was the in mid 1990s during the pre internet days), I knew I needed a 1911 chambered in a mans cartridge, 45 ACP. EU Gun Ban: a new Call to Action from Firearms United! for most service pistols. The M45A1 proved exceptionally stable and accurate at the range. MEU(SOC) pistol - Wikipedia I was looking at the first shipment from that contract, and my Marines would be the first to be issued the .45s. Buy 2013 Colt Government CQBP .45 ACP Desert Sand *ULTRA RARE USMC ROLLMARK* : GunBroker is the largest seller of Semi Auto Pistols Pistols Guns & Firearms All: 967208438. . What do you get for spending the extra money for a custom shop version? Most of the time standing slow fire at 25 yds. Last Of The Breed: Marine Corps M45A1 - An Official Journal Of The NRA We have put a few rounds through the Decomm & it shoots and handles great. 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. The finish on the pistol is a brown Decobond designed to hold up through hard use. These decommissioned Colts will continue to be a hot item among both shooters and collectors for the foreseeable future. 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. 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. 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. Shooting two handed, strong side only and weak side only it functioned flawlessly. This handgun has never been fired! Sold WALTHER PPK RARE EAGLE F DURALUMINUM, Pre98 Antiques Military Firearms Collecting Outlook for 2020. 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. The revised parts list included barrels, bushings, link pins, sear springs, ejectors, firing pin stops, mainspring housings and mainsprings, all from Nowlin Manufacturing. It is a Fletch High Rise OWB Holster. 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. The decommissioned with the X is and will remain to be worth more. Similar to the Custom Shop CQB pistol, this is a production line version of the pistol that the Marines bought for the MARSOC units. pistols to be offered on the civilian market since the Director of Civilian Marksmanship (DCM) stopped handgun sales over 50 years ago. 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.. USMC Colt Custom Shop, Pelican case - might be as high as 800 made. 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. this isnt your cheapie m45a1 model. 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. Which do you guys would think would be more desirable down the line.. 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. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. 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). He told me the extractor and ammunition were bad. About that time, the Custom Shop was downsized and no more of the Custom Shop M45A1s were made. [8] Slides were ordered from Springfield Armory, with front sight pins, beavertail safeties and recoil spring guides from Ed Brown. [11] Kimber shortly began producing a limited number of what would be later termed the Interim Close Quarters Battle pistol (ICQB). Weight of the gun, empty, is listed at 40 ounces. ) Black Hills 200-gr. I've picked up used cerakote M45A1 rollmark guns for $1200. An identical version coming off the same assembly line was sold to the civilian market. Comes with the original box, paperwork, and two magazines. I couldnt say no and bought the gun (Id buy a broken toaster with USMC stamped on it). As much as its dress may change, this is still John Moses Browning's old reliable battlehorse. Fans of the 1911 expressed their disgust as nearly 4,000 of the handguns were de-commissioned. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The M45A1 CQBP pistol is issued with Wilson black metal single-stack magazines, holding 7+1 rounds. What should the discerning collector look for in a potential buy? 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. It is a Fletch High Rise OWB Holster. Cold-hammer forged, polished stainless steel barrel This pistol utilizes the Series 80 fire control system which means it has an internal firing pin safety. 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. 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Two Wilson Combat magazines. So, while it costs less than the custom shop version and doesnt have the USMC roll mark; it is more like the pistol the Marines bought, because it is off the production line and not hand fitted (I confirmed this). Many small parts, including the hammer and trigger, are manufactured out of aluminum, but both the slide and frame are machined in solid stainless steel and Decobond-finished in desert tan color. 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. 3. Decommisioned M45A1 - AR15.COM Colt released these original Marine Corps pistols to the public. The FDE Cerakote finish was average at best, but it still looked cool. Dave I use a Galco Model Number FL212. Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! 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. 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). 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. (LogOut/ [14] In 2010, requirements were once more issued for an off-the-shelf system to replace the custom-built pistols. 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? 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 . 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. Colt AR15A4. This makes for an incredibly well-constructedpistol. Handgun Hard Choices: Colt M1911 or S&W M1917? How about that? The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. The solid, medium-long trigger broke at 4 lbs., 4 ozs., of pressure after a short bit of take-up to release the hammer. I am very interested in the pricey but very cool looking new Colt 1911 M45A1 Marine Close Quarters Battle Pistol. Colt M45A1 USMC - Cool Gun with a Cool Story - General Chat 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. Passionate Caretakers of Our Historic Military Firearms and Americas Wartime Heritage. 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 Colt incorporates the dual recoil spring assembly of the firms recent commercial models, which seemed to dampen recoil somewhat. The Marine Corps objected to Colt doing that so they had to change the rollmark on commercial pistols to "M45A1" instead. We are fortunate that they found their way onto the public market. Over the years Ive built quite a few custom rifles on Remington 700 actions. [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. 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. 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. This particular sample earned every bit of the National Match stamping on the barrel hood. I'll be content with mine in Ion Bond marked M45A1 in the blue box. 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. 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. in the shooters hands was the measure of the pistols accuracy. The instructors had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the pistols, the first new military-issue Colt M1911s since 1945. Lost your password? Since he edits this website, Ill pretend that I was there when one of them worked flawlessly. The Marine Corps had chosen the tan Colts, official designation M45A1, as a commercial replacement for the legendary, custom, Quantico-built M1911s issued to U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) Marine Raiders and the Corps Force Reconnaissance Marines. of weight, with a very short 0.1"/2mm reset. Colt M45A1 (O1070M45) Colt. 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 silence was deafening, though, when they became available and Colt continued to produce a civilian variant. 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. The rollmark changed around 006700EGA as far as I can tell. 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. Each knotted tight groups that would do a custom pistol proud, averaging 1.48" for five separate loads. The rollmark has now changed to "COLT***M45A1" for both Custom Shop and regular production guns. 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. But if you just want a shooter get the current one with the Ion Bond. VERY RARE AND VERY COLLECTIBLE! The quality and engineering on the National Match barrels is exceptional. My M45A1 has had hundreds of rounds put through it, both ball and JHP, and has not experienced any type of failure. [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 finally got my .45 10 years after I retired. 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. The only factory parts Ill typically use are the receiver and bolt assembly, everything else is upgraded. 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. Second Media Inc., 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. This is the so called blue box Colt pistol, model 01070M45. It is big enough - yet snug enough to retain the M45A1 and other railed 5" 1911s. The M45A1 features durable Decobond brown coating and an M1913-spec Picatinny rail for mounting lights . 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. 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. Note the X through the USMC marking. Colt USMC M45A1 CQBP - YouTube View all posts by David Freeman. [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. These decommissioned Colts will continue to be a hot item among both shooters and collectors for the foreseeable future. A large number of certified modern U.S. military handguns on the market is mostly unheard of. Second Media Inc., 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. By clicking anywhere on the page, or scrolling down the content you can temporarily hide this banner. A case of 230 grain Winchester ball, and a few cardboard targets and I was ready. Buy, Sell, and Trade your Firearms and Gear. was not the question, rather, it was how tightly I could group the splatter marks. In the mid 1990s he was the go-to 1911 gunsmith and made the best combat style sights around. 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. Colt Custom Shop M45A1 (NO USMC MARKINGS) "EGA" serial number. THIS IS 1913 DATED DWM MADE, In 97% original unmessed with condition, we have an early war high polish Czech made CZ27 pistol. (camp). I personally wont sell either but if I did, Id keep the Custom Shop gun simply because its unfired. THESE PISTOLS WERE BUILT FOR THE USMC BY NOVAK FOR COLT, AND THERE WERE NOT MANY MADE. It is hand fit, hand tooled and came with a snazzy green Pelican case and cleaning kit. Builders of 1911s like Rock Island, Springfield, Kimber and Colt use MIM parts extensively in order to produce a competitively priced product. Wayne is one of the premier pistol smiths in the country. M45A1 - Colt custom shop vs Production versionwhich should I buy? Out of stock. Three versions ofM45A1were made. Depends on what version of the USMC rollmark. 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. 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