At any given time, one or two may show up on Gunbroker.com with prices that would only appeal to collectors. [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. The decommissioned pistols and the custom shop pistols all appear to be in the hands of collectors. 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. I was looking at the first shipment from that contract, and my Marines would be the first to be issued the .45s. 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. Many of the issued pistols that came to market have the tells of service life: paint pen or spray paint stenciled rack numbers, holster wear, dings or gouges from rough use. 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. 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. 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. Support NRA American Rifleman DONATE. Quick view Out of stock. If you would like to make an offer for this gun please send an email to southeastgunshots@gmail.com. This is very unique and very rare COLT 1911 USMC ROLLMARK U.S. MARINES M45A1 SEMPER FI FDE. How big of a ragged hole is the group at 25 yards? While most will instantly recognize that the Officers sized guns arent known for reliability, I didnt know it at the time. pistols to be offered on the civilian market since the Director of Civilian Marksmanship (DCM) stopped handgun sales over 50 years ago. A large batch, rumored to be nearly 1,000 pistols, hit the Gunbroker auction site (gunbroker.com) described as decommissioned USMC 1911 M45A1s. He refuses to touch a polymer gun, expect for the Springfield XD I sold him around 2000 (I think he sold it within days). A large number of certified modern U.S. military handguns on the market is mostly unheard of. Davids Articles at GUNS, American Handgunner & Shooting Industry Magazines. We decided to install Heine Ledge sights on our Series 80 Stainless Officers ACP. Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email. 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. An identical version coming off the same assembly line was sold to the civilian market. Any assistance is much appreciated. of weight, with a very short 0.1"/2mm reset. VERY RARE AND VERY COLLECTIBLE! Cold-hammer forged, polished stainless steel barrel You must enable JavaScript to remove this banner. USMC Colt Custom Shop, Pelican case - might be as high as 800 made. 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 Handguns, Reviews Shooting two handed, strong side only and weak side only it functioned flawlessly. IT12346351005. Three versions ofM45A1were made. Every piece of steel in theM45A1is machined to specific tolerances and tested to the specifications put forth by the United States Marine Corps. The action incorporates the Series 80 mechanism that blocks the firing pin until the trigger is pulled. 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. Marine Corps HQ demanded that Colt stop using the USMC rollmark, so all subsequent pistols were marked M45A1. 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). The pistols are exceptional purely as shooters, and scarce and significant for several military and historic reasons. Hitting an 8" plate at 50 yds. 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. Three pistols were offered to the USMC as a replacement for current M45 Pistols. The Colt incorporates the dual recoil spring assembly of the firms recent commercial models, which seemed to dampen recoil somewhat. 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. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. [11] Kimber shortly began producing a limited number of what would be later termed the Interim Close Quarters Battle pistol (ICQB). Description. Beyond the tan color, forward slide serrations and the section of M1913 Picatinny accessory rail immediately standout and separate the pistol from the typical service M1911. External enhanced hammer, automatic firing pin safety, Ambidextrous frame-mounted manual safety, extended beavertail grip safety, 127 mm / 5" National Match barrel These were going right to work, and they looked promising. Colt AR15A4. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Related Products. Reviews (0) After a rigorous selection process, the United States Marine Corps selected this Colt Rail Gun as their Close Quarters Battle Pistol (CQBP). NEW IN THE BOX, WE HAVE A COLT USMC CLOSE QUARTERS BATTLE PISTOL M45A1. (LogOut/ 0. It will fit though. The pistols are exceptional purely as shooters, and scarce and significant for several military and historic reasons. 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. 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. Category: PISTOLS. The M45A1 feels heavy compared to other full-size 1911s. The rollmark has now changed to "COLT***M45A1" for both Custom Shop and regular production guns. The first contract, as published on July 20, 2012, bound Colt to deliver 4,000 samples initially, and up to 12,000 samples in the following years; the contract was said to be worth $22.5 million to Colt. Collectors and shooters reacted predictably, and the Colts began to flip over on Gunbroker at two-week intervals, each time gaining several hundred dollars in asking price. Before word could even circulate in casual conversation, the pistols were snapped up at prices that were lower than comparable commercial Colts. 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. 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. The Marines bought it and I had to have one. The pistols with no front strap checkering are production line guns. 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. [18] [9] However, it is more common for a Marine to return the pistol to the PWS at Quantico for a rebuild after 10,000 rounds have been fired. 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]. Under this point of view, the Colt M45A1 CQBP is definitely the 1911 of the 21st Century. You just need to be willing to spend the money it takes to grab a true jewel of firearm technology. 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. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. 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. Normally his 1911 lectures are held during downtime at the range when he is repairing his 1911. The M45A1 proved exceptionally stable and accurate at the range. 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. Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! While not as corrosion resistant, it is far more durable of a finish. 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. The pistols shipped in the original cardboard container with the contract-correct black Wilson Combat seven-round magazine. If the highest accuracy and best trigger is your goal, get a custom shop model. The M45A1 features durable Decobond brown coating and an M1913-spec Picatinny rail for mounting lights . The feed ramp on theM45A1is polished and coated to make the surface extremely smooth. The M45A1 has the traditional military lanyard loop in the flat, serrated mainspring housing. [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. I was on a short leave when I brought it home. I overlooked that fact that whoever coated it, missed some spots. 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. Colt Custom Shop M45A1 (NO USMC MARKINGS) "EGA" serial number. [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. 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. I dont know that any pistols, the old Quantico M45s or the new Colts, were ever truly benched or grouped. I finally got my .45 10 years after I retired. I have other Colt 1911s with smooth front straps, so I guess its just not something thats in Colts playbook for their stock pistols. The quality and engineering on the National Match barrels is exceptional. Jun 21, 2013 1911, 45 Auto, Colt .45, Colt 1911, Colt M45, Colt Marine Corps 1911, Colt O1017CQB, feature, Marine Corps pistol. 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. 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. USMC O1070M45 regular production, blue box - unknown how many released, probably less than the pelican cased version. 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. The decision had been anticipated in February 2015, when the USMC first officially authorized its special operation units to carry Glock pistols in lieu of the 1911, at the operator's will. 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. The Marine Corps objected to Colt doing that so they had to change the rollmark on commercial pistols to "M45A1" instead. Colt offered a modified version of their O1980RG (Rail Gun) pistol, which is derived from their existing XSE line of 1911-style pistols with a desert sand-colored surface treatment and Novak night sights. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); S&W CSX Is it Really the New ChiefsSpecial? 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. (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. M45A1 - Colt custom shop vs Production version.which should I buy? 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. The Marine Colt pistol was designated the M45A1. See also [ edit] This added weight, in addition to the dual spring slap back, provide for noticeably less recoil. Similar to the Custom Shop CQB pistol, this is a production line version of the pistol that the Marines bought for the MARSOC units. Bill Marr 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. great shape, this is not the decom model either. The M45A1 pistol is 21,6 cm / 8.5" long overall and weighs 1,7 kilograms / 40 oz. Maybe they are worried theyll run out of hand grenades? That is quite a service legacy for any military firearm. Under the new contract, Colt was to deliver 4,000 samples initially and up to 12,000 samples in following years. The pistol wears bilateral thumb safeties, which have somewhat oversize, though low-profile, ledges designed to be easily disengaged while not interfering with the non-firing hands grasp. The Colt incorporates a slightly beveled magazine well to facilitate reloads. 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. Pistol, Model of 1911 to the Marine Corps. The solid, medium-long trigger broke at 4 lbs., 4 ozs., of pressure after a short bit of take-up to release the hammer. JHP handload 1.20" Wilson Combat 200-gr. The Colt gobbled up a wide variety of bullet profiles, cycling smoothly and without hesitation, while grouping each in a cluster that fit within the space the front sight covered at any given distance. used but great shape. It is $50/year and gives you access supposedly to some good deals. The pistols with no front strap checkering are production line guns. Desert tan Decobond finish, $1,699.00 (MSRP U.S.A.) Firearm Discussion and Resources from AR-15, AK-47, Handguns and more! We use cookies on this website, our and third parties, to enhance your user experience. 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. If youre interested in a unique, firearm with a military history at around $1600, go for it. I was at my local gun shop when a Marine was picking up two that he had won. These decommissioned Colts will continue to be a hot item among both shooters and collectors for the foreseeable future. Now before you could even buy one you had to sign up for the Gunbroker Gold program. EU Gun Ban: a new Call to Action from Firearms United! It is a Fletch High Rise OWB Holster. 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). The only factory parts Ill typically use are the receiver and bolt assembly, everything else is upgraded. News, Handguns, Semi-Auto Handguns. My M45A1 has had hundreds of rounds put through it, both ball and JHP, and has not experienced any type of failure. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association. ) MSRP comes in at $1,699. Southeast Guns 2023. 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. It is hand fit, hand tooled and came with a snazzy green Pelican case and cleaning kit. Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association, 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, By the Decade: Wiley Clapps Favorite HandgunThe 1960s, Guns of the Devil Dogs: U.S. Marine Corps Small Arms Of World War I, Trijicon 1-8X VCOG Selected as USMC Squad Common Optic, Benelli M4: A Top-Selling Tactical Shotgun, Cabot Guns Celebrates American Craftsmanship | An Official Journal Of The NRA, 150 Years Of The Colt Single Action Army | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Fightin' Iron: A Valuable Anachronism | An Official Journal Of The NRA, #SundayGunday: Colt King Cobra Target .22 LR | An Official Journal Of The NRA, New For 2023: Harrington & Richardson Retro AR-15s, The Model Of 1903 Springfield: A Collector's Perspective, The Keefe Report: True Velocity's Leap | An Official Journal Of The NRA, The Keefe Report: On The Range With An American Hero | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Trust But Verify: Function-Checking Your Guns | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Remington Returns: The Revival Of An Ammunition Giant | An Official Journal Of The NRA, WATCH: 2022 National Sporting Clays Championship | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, WATCH: Colt Python Revolver History | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, I Have This Old Gun: Maynard Carbine | An Official Journal Of The NRA, I Have This Old Gun: Winchester Model 12 Riot Gun | An Official Journal Of The NRA, I Have This Old Gun: Remington Model 51 | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Armed Citizen protected by Smith & Wesson, The Armed Citizen March 3, 2023 | An Official Journal Of The NRA, NRA Women | The Armed Citizen March 3, 2023, BEAR Arms: Making The Switch From Gun Owner to Armed Citizen | An Official Journal Of The NRA, NRA Women | The Armed Citizen February 17, 2023, X-Vision Optics Launches Thermal Impact Scope | An Official Journal Of The NRA, NRA Hunters' Leadership Forum | Veronica Kosich Receives NRA-Sponsored Diana Award at SCI Convention, Henry Supports Fallen Firefighters Foundation | An Official Journal Of The NRA, NRA Hunters' Leadership Forum | Freedom Hunters: Giving Back to Americas Veterans through Hunting and the Great Outdoors, Hardware: SIG Sauer P320-XTEN | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Rifleman Review: Smith & Wesson M&P12 | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Review: Ruger 10/22 Compact | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, Rifleman Review: Taurus G3X | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Video Review: Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 4.5 OSP in 10mm Auto | NRA Family, Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 4.5 OSP In 10 mm Auto, Video Review: KelTec P15 Semi-Auto Pistol | NRA Family, Video Review: Savage Stance Pistol | NRA Family, Preview: Leupold 2-10X 30 mm Mark 5HD Riflescope | An Official Journal Of The NRA, NRA Women | New for 2022: 20-Gauge Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus, Preview: Springfield Armory 1911 DS Double-Stack 9 mm Pistol Lineup | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, Find More Great NRA Publications Perfect For Every Interest, Discover Everything That The NRA Has To Offer. A forum community dedicated to all 1911 firearm owners and enthusiasts. I brought it into the dealer. GUNSweek.com is a new online platform dedicated to the diffusion of technical knowledge in the gun world. 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. 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). That cartridge didnt cycle my gun either. CCS M45A1 is really a good deal @ $2k price point (MSRP). Six right-handed grooves, 1 twist in 16", Novak LoMount or Trijicon high-visibility sights with Tritium dots, Machined stainless steel frame and slide when unloaded. 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. These decommissioned Colts will continue to be a hot item among both shooters and collectors for the foreseeable future. NEW IN THE COLT ISSUED BLUE BOX EXACTLY AS WAS SHIPPED TO THE USMC. [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. Trying to see if the USMC needs to find a home. The pistol functioned well for the first three rounds, but then I couldnt find my front sight- literally- it flew off! Representative five-shot group (25 yds. 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. The one-of-a-kind markings are all there. How about that? I believe there was also a run of grey M45s with front strap checkering that were not CS guns. By the time my gun came back from Wayne, years had passed since the original purchase date. 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? [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. 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. 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. I suspect it will only be worth more as time marches on. 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.. 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. 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). Should you buy one? [8] Slides were ordered from Springfield Armory, with front sight pins, beavertail safeties and recoil spring guides from Ed Brown. The instructor basically told us the Air Force felt the Army .45 was too much gun for us. Out of stock. 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. In the first post, we field stripped the gun between shots to verify that it []. 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. I have it in quotes for a reason, it kinda looked like a 45 ACP cartridge, only it was bent and weird looking. I scored a 92-20X. Outside of the mentioned ambidextrous manual safety, the controls configuration is the same as on any other 1911 variant. Is it just a collector mentality To have the USMC? The rollmark changed around 006700EGA as far as I can tell. View all posts by David Freeman. Not all civilian M45s go through the Custom Shop. Edit to add: there are some NRA guns in that serial range, see if anything is laser engraved on the gun itself. [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.