My opinion is that both of these were likely due to Colt learning the quirks of a new coating process. [11] Kimber shortly began producing a limited number of what would be later termed the Interim Close Quarters Battle pistol (ICQB). Scarcely mentioning the soon-be-collectible kept demand low, and availability proportionately high. The rollmark has now changed to "COLT***M45A1" for both Custom Shop and regular production guns. They feature Novak three-dot night sights, M1913-spec Picatinny rail and Decabond brown coating with nicely matching Desert Tan G10 grips. 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. 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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. this isnt your cheapie m45a1 model. Any assistance is much appreciated. 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). Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association. ) (LogOut/ Under the new contract, Colt was to deliver 4,000 samples initially and up to 12,000 samples in following years. Colt's crown jewel is sold at a little less than 3000 in Europe; and while the current MSRP in the United States is set at $1,699.00, the suggested retail price for the early models was way above the $2,000 threshold. It actually protected the Colt M45A1 on the way too and from the range. In other cases on specific guns, the finish was not wearing as durably as expected. After a rigorous selection process, the United States Marine Corps selected this Colt Rail Gun as their Close Quarters Battle Pistol (CQBP). He told me this happens all the time with Colts and sent it back for repair. 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. My friend, a 1911 aficionado accompanied me to the range. When Remington offered a [], 1911 Rear sight installation (Novak style cut) Aftermarket sights are a common upgrade on 1911 pistols. June 4, 2015 The M45A1 CQBP pistol is issued with Wilson black metal single-stack magazines, holding 7+1 rounds. Three pistols were offered to the USMC as a replacement for current M45 Pistols. [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. USMC Colt Custom Shop, Pelican case - might be as high as 800 made. As much as its dress may change, this is still John Moses Browning's old reliable battlehorse. great shape, this is not the decom model either. The thumb safeties are ambidextrous and slightly larger than the original 1911 thumb safeties. You will hear different stories, but the simplest is that the M45A1 was Colts first large-scale run of Cerakoted pistols. 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. Apparently it wasnt staked right at the factory. 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. In the first post, we field stripped the gun between shots to verify that it []. Edit to add: there are some NRA guns in that serial range, see if anything is laser engraved on the gun itself. Out of stock. It is $50/year and gives you access supposedly to some good deals. Under normal circumstances, yes too much by $400, assuming it is a M45A1 rollmark. FMJ 1.65". Colt also offers a custom shop civilian model to achieve higher accuracy; but the Marine issue model is the production grade pistol. It is bug enough - yet snug enough to retain the M45A1 and other railed 5" 1911s. 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? 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. And yet, a lot of gun enthusiasts andcollectors have been happy to wait to get one. 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. Representative five-shot group (25 yds. Should you buy one? I ran a series of 6-dot and 5-circle drills with my Colt M45A1. [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". The Colt appeared to be unissued and had probably not been fired since leaving the factory. Nearly 20 years to the day that I first brought my original Colt 1911 to the range, I prepared to head out with my new M45A1. The only difference between this one and the one sold to the Marines was the USMC roll mark which did not exist on the civilian model which was delivered in a blue plastic Colt case. The M45A1 has a dual recoil spring assembly which seems to dampen recoil somewhat. Model O1070CQB is the Custom Shop version with tuned trigger and oversized fitted barrel, green Pelican case, Otis cleaning kit, test target, and two Wilson 7-round magazines. 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. The .45 maintains a traditional military lanyard loop in the flat, serrated mainspring housing. The slide of the Colt M45A1 CQBP pistol comes with front and rear serrations, and with dovetailed high-visibility sights with tritium night dots. My only experience with a military .45 was at AFROTC summer training. This pistol utilizes the Series 80 fire control system which means it has an internal firing pin safety. [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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. Reviews (0) After a rigorous selection process, the United States Marine Corps selected this Colt Rail Gun as their Close Quarters Battle Pistol (CQBP). The pistols with no front strap checkering are production line guns. 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. Despite a host of refinements and enhancements, the new models method of operation and construction remain essentially unchanged from those of the John Browning-designed original. I was looking at the first shipment from that contract, and my Marines would be the first to be issued the .45s. I'll be content with mine in Ion Bond marked M45A1 in the blue box. I believe there was also a run of grey M45s with front strap checkering that were not CS guns. A forum community dedicated to all 1911 firearm owners and enthusiasts. 4. And despite the price, the M45A1 CQB is definitely going to become a must-have for dedicated collectors and die-hard aficionados of John Moses Browning's quintessential workhorse on this side of the Big Pond. By clicking the "OK" button, you are giving your consent for us to set cookies. Clearly I had no clue. [18] We had to shoot the .38 military special (which was horrible). 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. Dual Recoil spring system reduces felt . The letter also confirms the features including Desert Tan Cerakote finish, under barrel accessory rail, National Match grade barrel, forward and rear cocking serrations on the slide, long solid aluminum trigger, extended ambidextrous thumb safety, extended beavertail grip safety, flat serrated mainspring housing with a lanyard loop, Novak 3-dot night sights, and desert camouflage G10 composite grips. 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. It . Quick view Add to Cart. So I headed to the store and purchased a new-in-box lightweight Colt Series 80 Officers ACP. Glocks uses MIM parts and a polymer frame yet are widely considered to be among the most reliable and durable firearms ever created. Professional dedicated to training and equipping people to live safely in a dangerous world. 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 triggers were uniformly pretty good. Following some stop-gap and interim solutions, in 2012 the United States Marine Corps adopted an upgraded variant of the Colt CCU Rail Gun for its special operations capable units aptly dubbed the M45A1 CQBP Close Quarters Battle Pistol. Davids Articles at GUNS, American Handgunner & Shooting Industry Magazines. [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 a local company that can make a kydex holster but I dont like kydex. 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. How big of a ragged hole is the group at 25 yards? 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. A close-up of the rear portion of the gun with its hammer cocked. I overlooked that the fit for a gun, that cost me $1,600 plus tax ($1,748 total), was similar to a $800 gun. AS THIS IS A MODERN PEOPLE KILLING GUN, WE WILL NEED YOU TO PROVIDE AN FFL FOR TRANSFER. A forum community dedicated to all 1911 firearm owners and enthusiasts. A source request was sent out to Springfield Armory and the Springfield Operator, based on the FBI's TRP pistol was built. Corporal Gravenese demonstrates the power of the pistol as shown as above. 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. I figured I needed some professional intervention so I sent the pistol off to Wayne Novak. At 40 yds. The decommissioned with the X is and will remain to be worth more. Since he edits this website, Ill pretend that I was there when one of them worked flawlessly. [11], Discovering that the Los Angeles Police Department was pleased with their special Kimber-made M1911 pistols, a single source request was issued to Kimber Manufacturing for a similarly built pistol, despite the imminent release of their TLE/RLII models. With the exception of the overtly poor, reloaded cartridge, the Colt M45A1 was 100% reliable and the front sight didn't fly off. (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. Similar to the Custom Shop CQB pistol, this is a production line version of the pistol that the Marines bought for the MARSOC units. An identical version coming off the same assembly line was sold to the civilian market. We are fortunate that they found their way onto the public market. Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives. The Colt M45A1 CQBP comes with a cold-hammer forged, polished stainless steel 5" National Match barrel and a NM bushing. 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 particular sample earned every bit of the National Match stamping on the barrel hood. The Colt M45A1 is just as reliable as a perfectly tuned competition-grade custom 1911, except this comes with that level of reliability right out of the factory and rightfully so. More importantly, this feature was intended to decrease the battering the pistol takes on recoil. Quick view Out of stock. 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. The pistols shipped in the original cardboard container with the contract-correct black Wilson Combat seven-round magazine. Not all civilian M45s go through the Custom Shop. The pistols with no front strap checkering are production line guns. [8] Slides were ordered from Springfield Armory, with front sight pins, beavertail safeties and recoil spring guides from Ed Brown. [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. which was officially adopted in 1986. 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. Description: COLT USMC MARKED M45A1, Cerakote blue box edition, slide has the very rare USMC rollmark. A large number of certified modern U.S. military handguns on the market is mostly unheard of. The rear sight we ordered [], Weve been using Parabellum Armaments AKARS for 9 months. Handgun Hard Choices: Colt M1911 or S&W M1917? 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. MIM parts are widely accepted as the standard in the industry. IT12346351005. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. 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. The pistols are exceptional purely as shooters, and scarce and significant for several military and historic reasons. Description. You may have read our first reviewhere, or our second here. USMC O1070M45 regular production, blue box - unknown how many released, probably less than the pelican cased version. In 2016, USMC command stated that MARSOC had replaced the M45A1 with the Glock 19, largely from a logistic standpoint, not from a performance and reliability standpoint, as a result of other SOCOM branches using the Glock 19. 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. ), the grip of the M45A1 CQBP is akin to that of a double-stack magazine pistol, and is definitely not made for small hands. Colt M45A1 (O1070M45) Colt. That is quite a service legacy for any military firearm. I was able to lay my hands on one of the decommissioned M45A1s to examine and evaluate it. 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 PISTOLS WERE BUILT FOR THE USMC BY NOVAK FOR COLT, AND THERE WERE NOT MANY MADE. The Marine Corps objected to Colt doing that so they had to change the rollmark on commercial pistols to "M45A1" instead. I've picked up used cerakote M45A1 rollmark guns for $1200. What do you get for spending the extra money for a custom shop version? The coarse checkering on the multi-colored G10 panels assists in anchoring the handgun, as does an undercut trigger guard which allows a high hand hold. Sold WALTHER PP REICHS JUSTICE MARKED VERY CRISP! Six months later, I was home on leave and my gun was back from Colt. 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. With the exception of the overtly poor, reloaded cartridge, the Colt M45A1 was 100% reliable and the front sight didnt fly off. I have a few 1911s I dont shoot, some have rails, some dont, but the spec rail of the Colt made fit difficult. See also [ edit] Particularly for specialized 1911 collectors, a pistol with the history and background of the Colt M45A1 CQBP is a must-have. JHP handload 1.20" Wilson Combat 200-gr. Not bad- but not great. At any given time, one or two may show up on Gunbroker.com with prices that would only appeal to collectors. 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 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. SWC 1.49" Hornady 200-gr. The trigger is smooth even by series 80 standards and breaks cleanly at 5 lbs. I found a Don Hume 715 MC IWB holster that it fit-good enough. Novak was contracted for rear sights, Wilson Combat provided extractors and mag release buttons, while King's Gun Works supplied ambidextrous thumb safeties. The M45 serves on with a few specialized Marine Corps units and is expected to for a few more years when most think it will be replaced by a polymer-frame, striker-fired 9 mm, thus ending a long and historic run for the M1911 and its .45 ACP cartridge. I've been looking for holsters for mine. In recent months, the auction houses have listed a few with the prices for the pristine unissued handguns estimated around $7,000. 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. 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. The Marine Corps is aware of this yet opted for steel, so consequently the CQBP does not use any MIM parts. 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. 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. 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