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. 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 revised parts list included barrels, bushings, link pins, sear springs, ejectors, firing pin stops, mainspring housings and mainsprings, all from Nowlin Manufacturing. Representative five-shot group (25 yds. [8] Slides were ordered from Springfield Armory, with front sight pins, beavertail safeties and recoil spring guides from Ed Brown. The pistols with no front strap checkering are production line guns. Rogers, Patrick A. To make an offer please complete the form below: Minimum price for the offer must be greater than or equal to $0. Support NRA American Rifleman DONATE. Three pistols were offered to the USMC as a replacement for current M45 Pistols. We have put a few rounds through the Decomm & it shoots and handles great. However, the group all remarked that the pistols certainly seemed to be accurate using the government-issue hardball ammunition. Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email. 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. The Marine Corps objected to Colt doing that so they had to change the rollmark on commercial pistols to "M45A1" instead. I was at my local gun shop when a Marine was picking up two that he had won. 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. An identical version coming off the same assembly line was sold to the civilian market. This pistol utilizes the Series 80 fire control system which means it has an internal firing pin safety. 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. 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. The decommissioned pistols and the custom shop pistols all appear to be in the hands of collectors. The Marine Corps is aware of this yet opted for steel, so consequently the CQBP does not use any MIM parts. Despite the planned purchase of the commercial pistols, Marine Corps Systems Command has continued to solicit parts to build additional MEU(SOC) pistols. Nonetheless, the Marines had been eagerly waiting for the new .45s, and they were going directly into operational use, so there was little patience for a learning curve, and many of the Marines demanded a change. 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Is it just a collector mentality To have the USMC? [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. THESE PISTOLS WERE BUILT FOR THE USMC BY NOVAK FOR COLT, AND THERE WERE NOT MANY MADE. 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. Lost your password? Dual Recoil spring system reduces felt . 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. I'll be content with mine in Ion Bond marked M45A1 in the blue box. With the exception of the overtly poor, reloaded cartridge, the Colt M45A1 was 100% reliable and the front sight didnt fly off. Apparently it wasnt staked right at the factory. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Not all civilian M45s go through the Custom Shop. In recent months, the auction houses have listed a few with the prices for the pristine unissued handguns estimated around $7,000. The Civilian Model M45A1 Ships in a Colt Blue Plastic Box 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. Out of stock. My opinion is that both of these were likely due to Colt learning the quirks of a new coating process. The Colt incorporates a slightly beveled magazine well to facilitate reloads. Quantico began exhaustive testing on other finishes to specify a modification to the contract. The triggers were uniformly pretty good. I brought it into the dealer. 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. 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. It will fit though. Buy, Sell, and Trade your Firearms and Gear. Quick view Out of stock. 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. Not all civilian M45s go through the Custom Shop. Here are the features to watch out for. pistols to be offered on the civilian market since the Director of Civilian Marksmanship (DCM) stopped handgun sales over 50 years ago. Description. 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. Models mustered out of the Marine Corps are scarce today and fetch lofty prices, but factory-fresh models with nearly identical features are still available from Colt. Before word could even circulate in casual conversation, the pistols were snapped up at prices that were lower than comparable commercial Colts. [10] A rebuild entails discarding almost all of the gun's parts except for the frame, which prior to 2003 was a U.S. Government frame last manufactured in 1945. [9], The Officer In Command of the Precision Weapons Shop in 2001, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Ken Davis, stated that the M1911 is "the only pistol that can stand up to this use". document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); S&W CSX Is it Really the New ChiefsSpecial? 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. 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. USMC O1070M45 regular production, blue box - unknown how many released, probably less than the pelican cased version. 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.. News, Handguns, Semi-Auto Handguns. 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] Before word could even circulate in casual conversation, the pistols were snapped up at prices that were lower than comparable commercial Colts. From what I can remember, this included a barrel, bushing system, bar dot night sights, memory groove beavertail safety and Birdsong Black-T finish. The low number of malfunctions also proves the reliability of a handgun system that was built to save lives. Out of stock. I have a few 1911s I dont shoot, some have rails, some dont, but the spec rail of the Colt made fit difficult. When the enemy breaches the position, any of them will do. 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. [16] The Colt design is considered an upgrade of the previous pistol, not an entirely new design. 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. Colt M45A1 USMC rollmark in the blue clam shellUltra rare version 01070M45, USMC Rollmark in Blue Box ( Not Pelican Box ) AboutPressCopyrightContact. COLT MFG CO INC Marine M45-A1 Colt CCS O1070M45 M45-A1 SA 45ACP 5" 7+1 HAS USMC ROLLMARK on slide PRODUCT INFORMATION Slide Material: Stainless Steel Frame Material: Stainless Steel Slide Finish: Cerakote Brown Coating Frame Finish: Cerakote Brown Coating Model Name: GOVERNMENT Left Slide Mark: COLT*** USMC Right Slide Mark: Colt Government Model 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. 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. EU Gun Ban: a new Call to Action from Firearms United! [16] The Marine Corps issued the M45A1 to Force Reconnaissance companies, MARSOC and Special Reaction Teams from the Provost Marshals Office. The Colt M45A1 is the new USMC service pistol. When this holster is brand new it will be a "snug" fit. We use cookies on this website, our and third parties, to enhance your user experience. The solid, medium-long trigger broke at 4 lbs., 4 ozs., of pressure after a short bit of take-up to release the hammer. Smith & Wessons Americas Guardians Program. 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). These pistols are the first U.S.G.I. COLT M45A1 MARINE PISTOL. It must have been a special single shot model. It would be hard to improve on this trigger with any kind of upgrade. It is either a custom shop gun or an early production gun. 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. Edit to add: there are some NRA guns in that serial range, see if anything is laser engraved on the gun itself. 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. for most service pistols. If youre interested in a unique, firearm with a military history at around $1600, go for it. The improved M45A1 CQBP features several changes to the original M1911A1 design. 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. 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. great shape, this is not the decom model either. My buddy brought his daughters Remington R1 1911 to test out. The one with the intact usmc is a custom is not the same gun as the the decoms. It is $50/year and gives you access supposedly to some good deals. The trigger was eminently usable and a good match for a combat pistol intended for highly trained special operations forces. I personally wont sell either but if I did, Id keep the Custom Shop gun simply because its unfired. The M45A1 features durable Decobond brown coating and an M1913-spec Picatinny rail for mounting lights . Colt M45A1 (O1070M45) Colt. The .45 maintains a traditional military lanyard loop in the flat, serrated mainspring housing. 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. The M45A1 has the traditional military lanyard loop in the flat, serrated mainspring housing. M45A1 - Colt custom shop vs Production version.which should I buy? Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association. ) Scarcely mentioning the soon-be-collectible kept demand low, and availability proportionately high. Category: PISTOLS. This added weight, in addition to the dual spring slap back, provide for noticeably less recoil. The Marines bought it and I had to have one. Every piece of steel in theM45A1is machined to specific tolerances and tested to the specifications put forth by the United States Marine Corps. These particular pistols only had the USMC rollmark during the early production. Note the X through the USMC marking. Southeast Guns 2023. 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. The thumb safeties are ambidextrous and slightly larger than the original 1911 thumb safeties. The Marine Colt pistol was designated the M45A1. A close-up of the rear portion of the gun with its hammer cocked. Which do you guys would think would be more desirable down the line.. Corporal Gravenese demonstrates the power of the pistol as shown as above. The early finish problems encountered by the Marines were all fixed by the time the first 1,000 units had been issued. 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. In the hand, that level of precision translated to straightforward hits on tough and distant targets. I couldnt say no and bought the gun (Id buy a broken toaster with USMC stamped on it). An MEU(SOC) 1911 pistol, built by PWS at Quantico, Virginia.