By Mark Oliva, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Monday, August 5, 2002
CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa — Not everyone in the U.S. military carries Beretta’s M-9 9 mm handgun. A small group of Marines still carry .45-caliber pistols — but they’re a far cry from Grandpa’s World War II gun.
Marine Corps officials keep about 500 .45-caliber pistols, based on the Colt M-1911A1 frame. They’re called MEU (SOC) .45s, specially designed for applications within the Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Special Operations Capable missions.
They’re issued to Force Reconnaissance Marines as secondary weapons to submachine guns for their role as the Maritime Special Purpose Force. This gun shoots up close and personal.
Marine Capt. Jeffrey Stower, project officer for the MEU (SOC) .45 at Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico, Va., said the .45 is essential to Marines’ direct-action missions as a secondary weapon. It’s so important, in fact, that the Marine Corps plans to upgrade the weapon.
The Corps now builds its own specialized version of the .45-caliber pistol from existing M-1911A1 frames still in inventory.
Armorers at the Marine Corps Weapons Training Battalion in Quantico refit the guns. They install new slides, barrels and internal components to what is called “near match” or “combat accuratized” specifications. Each weapon costs about $600 and is good for 30,000 shots before it needs to be refitted.
The planned improvements won’t affect the .45’s appearance or make it shoot faster or more smoothly. But they should make it more durable.
Stower said the Marine Corps wants to put in “hardened, drop-in parts, which would enhance the reliability and endurance of the weapon, as well as lower the echelon of maintenance.”
“The two biggest reasons we carry the .45 pistol,” said Marine Maj. Tracy Tafolla, “is a single-action loader is a little faster for the Marines to use when conducting close-quarters battle.”
“We get faster, stronger and more accurate shots that we just wouldn’t get with a double-action pistol,” said Tafolla, head of the Special Missions branch, III3rd Marine Expeditionary Force Special Operations Training Group. That means Marines can get off a first round faster, smoother and more accurately.
MEU Night Maneuvers
“Another reason we use the MEU (SOC) .45 is because of its ability to incapacitate a hostile person with one round,” Tafolla said. “We’re much more likely to do that with a .45 than with a 9 mm.”
Tafolla said the M-9 9 mm is a good weapon with good attributes. He said the safety of double-action triggers, high-capacity 15-round magazines and the fact it’s the same round used by other NATO allies makes it a natural fit for standard issue. He labeled the M-9 as a “good personal self-defense weapon.”
In fact, the same Marines who carry the beefy .45s also carry MP-5 submachine guns that shoot 9 mm rounds. But when firing those submachine guns, they shoot “double-taps,” or two squeezes on the trigger, to ensure an enemy soldier is hit with a massive amount of lead. Special Operations Training Group instructors teach a single shot to the head for the .45.
MEU Maneuvers
The MEU (SOC) .45 also is better able to survive harsh battlefield environments, Tafolla said. It can fire in dirtier conditions that would gum up the M-9; its heavier frame can take more abuse.
“Look at how many decades we’ve been using the .45,” the major said. “It’s a proven weapon.”
Tafolla said Marines using the specialized .45-caliber pistols expect to be fighting within steps of their enemy, “with very little stand-off room.” The time needed to get off a second shot can be the difference between life and death.
“They need a weapon that will be able to put somebody down now,” Tafolla said. “It all comes back to the energy you deliver to the target. Although the 9 mm is faster, the .45 is able to deliver more energy and achieve greater penetration. That’s what you have to have.”
From The .45 Automatic, ” Service Pistol Surrogates” by J.B. Roberts, Jr.
Colt .45 Autos have been copied, both here and abroad, almost since the first ones were made. The first of the foreign copiers was Norway. Seeking a suitable semi-automatic pistol, the Norwegian military decided on the M1911 as early as 1912. In 1913 and 1914, the Norwegians purchased 300 commercial .45s from Colt and then, having established that no Norwegian product was acceptable, began to negotiate for a license to build guns in Norway. Under an agreement signed in January, 1915, payment of 25,000 kroner bought the Norwegians a set of Colt’s drawings and the right to make M1911 pistols at their Kongsberg Weapons Factory for as long, and in whatever quantity they desired.
Formally adopted as the “Colt Automatisk Pistol Model 1912,” the first 500 guns are virtual twins of the Colt product, differing only in marking. The second production lot, begun in 1919, carried a different slide marking-—11.25 m/m Auto. Pistol M/1914. The M/1914 also features a slide release lever that is distinctly different from those on both Colt and M/1912 Norwegian pistols.
The Kongsberg plant turned out about 20,000 M/1914 pistols between 1919 and the early ‘30s. Then, military demand satisfied, the line shut down. Under German occupation during World War II, the production of M/1914 was re-started, and another 10,000 were produced. Following the war, a few M/1914s were assembled from parts to bring the total made to just under 33,000.
The National Match M1911 Pistols are hand fitted and tuned for the National Match competitions which began at Caldwell, NJ and became the Camp Perry match. Among their numbers are some of the most beautiful and accurate pistols ever built.
The problem with the “National Match” pistols is that there are two kinds: the “National Match” pistols which were built by government armorers for the Army Marksmanship Unit for the Camp Perry competition, and the Colt National Match pistols which were produced by Colt for the retail market. An example of the government-built pistols is the “Drake Slide National Match” worth about $1200 in 100% condition.
The old National Match Colts made between 1933 and 1941 bring $2700 to $3600 in 100% condition. The models with adjustable sights bring approximately $700 more. These pistols differed from the standard grade because they incorporated a match barrel, checked trigger, checked mainspring housing, walnut stocks and the internal parts were hand-honed. Also included on later versions were a ramped front sight and an adjustable rear sight. These models were marked “NATIONAL MATCH COLT Automatic Calibre .45” on the left side of the slide. During World War II, the National Match Model was discontinued, but resumed in 1957.
In 1957 Colt began to produce “Gold Cup National Match” pistols which they produced until 1970. In 100% condition, these pistols are worth about $1000. There was then a “Series 70 Gold Cup National Match, produced between 1970 and 1983. These bring $950 or better in 100% condition. Between 1983 and 1996, Colt produced the “Gold Cup MKIV Series 80 National Match.” The are worth about $800 in 100% condition. The current marking is “Gold Cup Trophy” begun in 1997.
History of the “National Match” Pistol
Colt National Match Pistol
By 1919 there were National matches, first at Caldwell NJ and then later at Camp Perry, Ohio. Henry “Fitz” FitzGerald, as Colt’s representative, did a thriving business at Camp Perry replacing barrels and tuning triggers starting in 1920.
While we might think of these as “match” guns and they were, they were also fighting guns. The US Border Patrol, all the US services and many Police Departments fielded teams to shoot these matches. Most of the LE people used the same guns they used on the street. Enlisted men and Junior Officers alike carried and used the guns they shot. (Interestingly enough, then Lt. George Patton disdained the 1911 because of an AD incident in 1916 while re-holstering his.)
In 1932, at the National Matches, Colt introduced it’s first National Match Model. More smoothly fitted than the Commercial Model, it was soon made available with the Stevens adjustable rear sight, as is also found on the early model Ace .22 conversion units. This pistol’s production was curtailed upon our entry into WWII and not continued after the war’s end.
By 1933 Colt was offering a “National Match” pistol from the factory. Little more than a slightly tuned 1911A1. They were most likely found in the cabinet of a well-to-do gentleman or the holster of a LE officer who was also an astute gunman.
Colt National Match Pistol Muzzle
By the late ’30s “Fitz” was joined by other’s who specialized in the 1911 as a fighting tool and as a match gun. You have to remember that hitting the target was a real issue for some of the men who came to Camp Perry. Many times their practice was on moving targets who shot back!
In 1954 the Army began to experiment with match grade pistols. As they learned what improved accuracy and what the shooters preferred, changes were made. Some of the early Army National Match pistols had variations such as plastic triggers or rubber front strap covers. Large fixed rear sights were standard with micro adj. sights as an option by 1959. Hard slides were made for these pistols. The early slides were made by Colt with normal Colt markings. Colt’s second Match slide was unmarked on the left side except for part # 7790314 . The third type slide had serrations like the Gold Cup and the Part # 791435. This slide was also made by the Drake Manufacturing Co. These pistols were periodically returned to the Armory and updated. The latter triggers were made of aluminum. Production was halted by the closing of Springfield Armory.
“Around 1957 or 1958 several commercial gunsmiths submitted guns for testing to see how they compared with the National Match guns turned out by Springfield Armory. As I recall (remember this was more than 40 years ago), the only gunsmith whose gun topped the NM guns was George Elliason from Detroit, MI. Anyway, Jack Maple invented some of the tools used by other gunsmiths to accurize the M1911.” – Robert Pruden
Colt Gold Cup Pistol
In 1957 Colt re-introduced it’s NM in a much changed version. Known as the Gold Cup it had adjustable sights, a wider trigger with a stop and many cosmetic and practical changes. The slide was lightened as much as possible by internal machining to allow it to function well with wad cutter ammo. This weakened the slide for hot loads and the pistol quickly got a reputation as a wad cutter only pistol. These cuts were eliminated in the new Series 70 Model so it is stronger. The barrel on the Gold Cup has a narrower hood than the Government model so it is not readily interchangeable. A hood can be cut down satisfactorily with a little filing. A special barrel bushing was made for this model with a 45 degree angle on the recoil spring plug and a mating cut in the bushing. This bushing was eliminated when the Mark IV/Series ‘ 70 was introduced.
“Upon returning from Southeast Asia in May of 1968, my cousin and I bought identical Colt National Match pistols. As you know, these were the forerunners to the “Gold Cups”. The old style National Match had the solid bushing rather than the collet type used in the Gold Cups. The guns had a much lighter slide and came with a weaker (10-11 lb.) recoil spring than the government models.
Our pistols were equipped with a match trigger utilizing an adjustable over-travel stop, Elliason adjustable sights and a wide front sight. The finish was Colt’s “Royal Blue”, to this day, the most beautiful finish I’ve ever seen on a gun. The bluing looked six inches deep.
A test target came with my gun, stating that it had been fired from a Ransom pistol rest at 50 feet. The five shot group measured a little under 1.400″, however my best ever hand held group was 2.00″ at 50 feet with my 23 or 24 year old eyes. It was the second most accurate handgun I’ve ever fired, falling only behind a six inch Ruger Security Six that was target tuned by me.” – Willy Robinson
In 1958 the Air Force begin to intensify their competitive marksmanship program. The Air Force Marksmanship school, which trained range instructors, became the nucleus of this activity. By 1960 they were installing special barrels, bushings, triggers and sights and hand fitting their pistols. These pistols were designated AFPG or Air Force Premium Grade. The earlier models were just marked A F. While the total production of these conversions is unknown, ten thousand would be in the ball park, probably. The accuracy requirement of these pistols was to fire, from a machine rest, three consecutive ten shot groups at 50 yards, with no group exceeding 3″ (center to center). Some of these pistols were built up Army National Match and early Gold Cup Models. A custom section built up weapons for the top AF shooters (Blue Team). These pistols were often customized with extended front sights, muzzle weights, etc., and were marked AFPG also. An H or W was stamped on the barrel to indicate a hardball or wad cutter model. The Gunsmith’s mark was placed on the right side, below the magazine.
Variations
Match .38 AMU – Chambering a .38 Special rimless cartridge, this variation was manufactured by Colt from a .38 Super frame and has .38 Super serialization with a .38 AMU conversion kit slide. The Army took .45 frames and assembled their guns using .38 AMU kits with a blued finish.
Super Match .38 – This pistol is like the Super .38 but had a hand-honed action and match grade barrel. Manufactured between 1935 and 1946, there were both fixed and adjustable sight variants.
Drake Slide National Match – Drake made slides only for use by the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit to allow assembly of match guns. The 1964 National Match pistols are unique as it was the only year the armory used Drake slides which are specially machined and hardened. According to Springfield Armory records only 800 pistols were produced in 1964 (Considered to be one of the rarest and most desired variations) and only 195 sold to civilians through the DCM.
Government National Match Reworks – These pistols were assembled by government armorers with all parts marked “NM” and had a parkerized finish. Most will have “S.A.” markings for Springfield Armory.
Air Force National Match – These are government National Match reworks made specifically for the Air Force Shooting team. They will have “AFPG” or “A.F.” stamped on the slide.
Colt National Match – Chambered in .45 ACP, these were basically Government Model pistols with hand honed actions, match grade barrels, and exceptionally fine blued finish. They were manufactured between 1933 and 1941. Their serial number range will be within C164,800 – C215,000. These pistols came in both fixed sight and adjustable sight models.
Gold Cup National Match – Introduced in 1957 in .45 ACP, the Gold Cup National Match was fitted with a match grade barrel, collet-style bushing, flat mainspring housing, long adjustable stop trigger, a hand fitted slide with an enlarged ejection port and adjustable target sights. It had the gold medallion in the grips and “NM” suffix on the serial number. These pistols were manufactured between 1957 and 1970.
Gold Cup MKIII National Match – Chambered in .38 Special rimless, this pistol was like the Gold Cup National Match. Serial numbers have “NMR” or “MR” suffixes. These pistols were manufactured between 1961 and 1974.
MKIV/Series 70 Gold Cup National Match – Chambered in .45 ACP, these pistols have a flat mainspring housing, accurizer barrel and bushing, adjustable trigger, target hammer, solid rib and Colt-Elliason sight. They were manufactured between 1970 and 1983.
MKIV/Series 70 Gold Cup 75th Anniversary National Match – Similar to the Gold Cup Series 70, except it was built as a commemorative for Camp Perry in 1978. Only 200 pistols were built.
Gold Cup MKIV Series 80 National Match – Chambered in .45 ACP, this pistol has Colt-Elliason adjustable rear sight, wide groove adjustable target trigger, under cut front sight, flat mainspring housing, and hand-honed internal parts. In 1992 they were modified to accept 8-round magazines. These pistols were manufactured between 1983 and 1996.
Variants:
Stainless Gold Cup National Match – Same as Gold Cup but built in stainless steel with a matte finish between 1986 and 1996.
.38 Super Elite National Match – This is a two-tone gun having a stainless slide and blued frame which was a special edition by Accu-Sports.
Bullseye National Match – Chambered in .45 ACP, this pistol was hand built, tuned and adjusted by Colt gunsmiths for precise match accuracy. It includes factory installed Bomar sights, a carrying case and 2 extra magazines. Manufactured from 1991 through 1992.
Presentation Gold Cup – Chambered in .45 ACP, this pistol is like the Gold Cup Series 80 National Match but adorned with a deep blue mirror bright finish and accented by a jeweled hammer, trigger and barrel hood. Supplied with oak and velvet custom case and Manufactured between 1991 and 1992.
Gold Cup Trophy – Chambered in .45 ACP, this pistol has a flat mainspring housing, 7 or 8 round magazines, accurizer barrel and bushing, adjustable trigger, Colt-Elliason sight, checkered wrap-around rubber grips and ships with a test target. Built since 1997. This model replaced the MKIV/Series 80 Gold Cup National Match in 1997 and is only available from the Colt Custom Shop. It also comes in a stainless steel version.
This page is really a work in progress. If you have some historical information on the National Match Pistols, the champions who shot them or the gunsmiths who built them, send me a message here:
Note: Please do not ask me to give you a price or valuation of your gun. I can’t do that over the internet,
and I am not a gun trader so I am not up on the latest market prices for collector guns.
Special thanks to Sam Headrick, Andy Wander, and Dane Burns for contributions to this article.
Notice that the pistol is not jammed with sand, the operator has not been taken prisoner and the smiling newly liberated locals are obeying commands. The pistol is loaded with 230g FMJ ammunition running at 830 fps. Not bad for a 92-year-old relic.
Cocked, Locked and Ready to Rock in the Sand Box
Primary function: Modified .45 caliber pistol Builder: Specially trained armorers at the Rifle Team Equipment (RTE) Shop, MCB Quantico, Virginia Length: 8.625 inches (21.91 centimeters) Length of barrel: 5.03 inches (12.78 centimeters) Weight: Magazine empty: 2.5 pounds (1.14 kilograms) Magazine loaded: 3.0 pounds (1.36 kilograms) Bore diameter: .45 caliber Maximum effective range: 164 feet (50 meters) for specially-trained user Muzzle velocity: 830 feet/252 meters/second Magazine capacity: 7 rounds Unit Replacement Cost: $600
Features: This weapon is a modified M1911A1 .45 caliber pistol sometimes referred to as “near match” or “combat accuratized.” The MEU(SOC) Pistol is the designated “backup weapon” of Marines armed with the 9mm MP5-N Close Quarters Battle weapon. The M1911A1 was chosen for this role (and its modifications generated) because of its inherent reliability and lethality, and because the MEU(SOC) modifications make the M1911A1 design more “user friendly.”
The unique characteristics of the MEU(SOC) pistol are: commercial/competition grade ambidextrous safety, precision barrel, precise trigger, and rubber coated grips, rounded hammer spur, high profile combat sights, and an extra-wide grip safety for increased comfort and controllability (which aids in a quick follow-up second shot). The issue magazines are replaced with stainless steel competition-grade magazines with rounded plastic follower and extended floor plate.
Description of Modifications: “The MEU(SOC) pistol starts out as a stripped government contract M1911A1 frame, as manufactured up until 1945 or so. The frame is inspected, and the feed ramp polished and throated. The entire weapon is dehorned. All internal parts are replaced with current commercial items. King’s Gun Works supplies the beaver-tail grip safety and an ambidextrous thumb safety. This last piece is often thought of as a superfluous device, added on as a derigueur item on hordes of IPSC pistols. Here it has some usefulness. The pistol must fit any operator in the platoon, whether he is right or “wrong” hand dominant. Future rebuild pistols will have a “memory bump” on the grip safety. Currently, many operators are unable to depress the grip safety when having their thumb (properly) on top of the thumb safety. Some, understanding that your priority safety rests between your ears, have taped this useless grip “safety” closed. This is now forbidden, and will continue to present problems until the rebuild pistols are brought on line. Videcki aluminum Match triggers are installed, and tuned to a pull of between 4-5 pounds. Colt Commander hammers replace the standard spur hammer.
Slides are commercial contract. Initially, one vendor supplied all of the slides, but after the initial purchase problems developed. Caspian and Springfield Inc. currently supply all of the slides. The new rebuilds will have forward slide serrations to enhance chambered round verification (the oh so important press check).
Barrels are provided by Bar-Sto. The barrel bushings are form King’s Gun Works. The front sight is also form King’s Gun Works and is staked on. While many have shunned this method of front sight installation, preferring instead to dovetail it in, the Marine Corps has apparently got this procedure down right. I cannot ever recall seeing a front sight come off of the pistol.
The high profile rear sight is custom made at the RTE shop. This is an excellent unit, providing a good sight picture. It is secured to the slide by a hex head screw. The ejection port is lowered and scalloped to improve ejection. A fiber recoil buffer is installed. This controversial device is both cursed and praised. There is no doubt that the buffer absorbs some of the battering, but they do deteriorate, and debris can insinuate itself into the nether regions of the pistol. This does no appear to be a problem in the Marine Corps, as weapons maintenance takes on almost religious proportions.
Flat mainspring housings are used, and as these are working guns, a lanyard loop is added. The lanyard themselves are made by the operators. A commercial telephone cord, the snap hook from an issue lanyard, and cable ties work out nicely. Pachmayer rubber grip panels finish out the package. Once used on a lot of 1911’s, these are now considered to be somewhat Jurassic by some operators. There is no checkering on the MEU(SOC) pistol. This may be contrary to the exhortations of legions of pistolsmiths, writers, and wannabe commandos who insist that without such checkering the pistol will just slide and jump around in one’s hand when they are wet, bloody, etc.” — Patrick A. Rogers, Tactical Shooter Magazine, June 1999
Inventory: 500
Background: The weapon modifications were designed in 1986 to meet the requirements of the MEU(SOC). Each pistol is hand-built by specially trained armorers at the Rifle Team Equipment (RTE) shop, Quantico, Virginia.
See also The Marine Corps MEU(SOC) Pistol by PATRICK A. ROGERS
Some MEU’s still carry proven M1911 .45’s – Not everyone in the U.S. military carries Beretta’s M-9 9 mm handgun. A small group of Marines still carry .45-caliber pistols — but they’re a far cry from Grandpa’s World War II gun.
On November 10, 1910, the Ordnance Office directed the Commanding Officer of Springfield Armory to convene a board of officers”…to make tests of such automatic pistols, caliber .45, as may be presented to them for that purpose…”. The board met on November 10, 1910.
“The President of the Board (Major Kenneth Morton) announced that two pistols had been submitted for test, and presented them to the board. The two pistols…were found to be semi-automatic, cal. .45, latest model, one manufactured by Colt’s, and the other manufactured by the Savage Arms Co. …”
This trial was of major importance. The pistols submitted were the most advanced specimens thus far developed by either manufacturer. In the case of Colt’s, the weapon was the Special Army Model 1910; the Savage pistol was a specially improved version of their Model H. Colt’s was represented by its President, Col. W.C. Skinner; two Vice Presidents, Mr. P.C. Nichols and Col. C.L.F. Robinson; plant superintendent James J. Peard; John Browning, two engineers and a mechanic were also present. Savage was similarily represented, it’s President, Vice-President, and plant superintendent were on hand; Elbert Searle, inventor of the Savage pistol, and two mechanics were present.
The tests commenced with a detailed examination of the pistols; special attention was paid to the safety devices. Field strip and complete disassembly was performed and timed. The Colt was more readily dismounted for field stripping. On the other hand, the Savage could be completely disassembled in less time than the Colt. The Colt was listed as having 64 separate components, includind the magazine; the Savage had 45 components. In the next examination, the velocity at 25 feet was obtained: 858.4 f/s for the Colt, 846 f/s for the Savage. In the accuracy trial, the Colt proved better than the Savage by shooting an average group of 1.94″ compared to 2.84″ for the Savage. The penetration tests were puzzling; the Colt did better on pine boards whereas the Savage did better on solid oak blocks. In the combined accuracy-rapidity tests the Colt was faster and more accurate than the Savage. An exhaustive endurance trial was now performed. 6000 rounds were to be fired from each weapon. The firing was to be done in cycles of 100 rounds, at which time water would be poured through the barrel. After every 1000 rounds the pistol could be cleaned and oiled.
In the first thousand, the Colt had 5 malfunctions, three of which were due to lack of adequate oiling. The Savage had 4 malfunctions; its sear had broken off and the right grip piece split and came off.
In the second thousand, the Colt had 4 malfunctions; toward the end of that run, the barrel split and had to be replaced. The Savage had 22 malfunctions; it’s extractor broke and was replaced.
In the third thousand, the Colt had 2 malfunctions; the mechanical safety broke, but this did not disable the pistol. The Savage had 7 malfunctions; grip pieces split and the bolt stop broke.
In the fourth thousand, the Colt had no malfunctions, but the slide lock failed to act properly and the grip piece screws came loose on several occasions, several jams were caused by incorrect feeding, the extractor broke, and the magazine floor plate broke. Upon examination after firing, the Savage was found to have a broken barrel lug and bolt lock spring. A new barrel and spring were installed.
In the fifth thousand, the Colt had one malfunction. The Savage had five malfunctions and a broken sear lock.
In the sixth thousand, the Colt had no malfunctions but the grip piece screws continued to work loose. The Savage had 5 malfunctions resulting from a faulty magazine.
It is interesting to note the performance of a .45 caliber Colt Revolver Model 1909, fired throughout the tests as a control. The revolver had 2 malfunctions during 6000 rounds; the first was due to the absence of powder in a cartridge, the second was due to a sticking latch.
A summary of broken parts in both automatic pistols revealed that the Colt automatic pistol required 4 replacements; the Savage 13.
On March 15, 1911 the trials were reconvened after both companies had made improvements to their weapons.
“The endurance test was now begun. 6000 rounds were to be fired in a series of 100. Between series , the pistols were allowed to cool for five minutes. The pistols were to be examined, cleaned, and oiled after every 1000 rounds.
In the 1st thousand rounds, both pistols worked perfectly, without malfunctions. In the 2nd thousand rounds, the Colt functioned perfectly. The Savage had 4 malfunctions. In the 3rd thousand rounds, the Colt functioned perfectly. The Savage suffered a broken bolt stop which was replaced. In the 4th thousand rounds the Colt functioned perfectly. The Savage had 4 malfunctions; the bolt stop and sear were found to be upset from constant pounding, the firing pin spring was found to be shortened. In the 5th thousand rounds the Colt functioned perfectly. The Savage developed a magazine release defect, and dropped its magazine five times; there was further upsetting in the bolt stop and the bolt was found to contain cracks. In the 6th thousand rounds, the Colt functioned perfectly. The Savage had 31 malfunctions; a new extractor was required, the breech plug had cracked, and thefiring pin had acquired a permanent set., the safety slide broke and the retractor spring had acquired a permament set. At the end of the firing, a careful examination of the Colt failed to reveal any defective parts.
A series of tests were performed with under-loaded and extra-loaded cartridges. Cartridges with thinned primers were also fired, and velocity was taken once more. The Board listed the following findings, conclusions, and recommendations:
“…Of the two pistols, the Board is of the opinion that the Colt’s is superior, because it is the more reliable, the more enduring, the more easily disassembled when there are broken parts to be replaced, and the more accurate…”
“…The Board therefore recommendsthat the Colt Caliber .45 Automatic Pistol of the design submitted to the Board for test be adopted for use by foot and mounted troops in the Military service in consequence of its marked superiority to the present service revolvers and to any other known pistol, of its extreme reliability and endurance and of its fulfillment of all essential military requirements…”
This report was rendered on March 20th. On March 23rd, the Commanding Officer of Springfield Armory concurred. Concurrence of the Chief of Ordnance and the General Staff followed. On March 29th, 1911 the Secretary of War approved the change.
In response to repeated requests for clarification on the types and makers of M1911 series magazines during the World Wars and post-War, here is a brief outline:
“Two-tone” magazines. These are the type that were made up until just before WWII. They are called “two tone” because only the bottom half of the magazine was blued, while the upper half was left “in the white.” Most were made without lanyard loops. These sell for $30 to $70, depending on condition. Those with lanyard loops are much more scarce and therefore sell for $50 to $150, again depending on condition. There were several makers of two-tone magazines including:
Remington-UMC. Made by Remington during WWI to fill a large military contract. This is the most numerous type of two-tone you will find. These are unmarked, but can be identified by the short length of the floor plate tab that extends from the front of the bottom of the magazine. The tab is rounded, but much more steeply curved than that of the Colt made magazine described below.
Colt Mfg. Made by Colt before, during, and after WWI for both commercial sales and to fill military contracts. These too are unmarked, but can be identified by a longer and more smoothly rounded (a longer, less severe curve) floor plate tab than on the Remington contract magazines.
American Pin Company. Can be identified by a small letter A stamped on the TOP of the floor plate tab. Very Scarce.
Raymond Engineering. Can be identified by a small letter R stamped on the BOTTOM of the floor plate. Very Scarce.
World War II blued (a.k.a. “One-Tone”) magazines. Made in large quantities during WWII by a variety of contractors. Entire magazine body was blued. To my knowledge, none of the WWII types had lanyard loops. Prices range from $10 to $50, depending on maker and condition. Here is partial list of military contractors:
Colt. Can be identified by a small letter C stamped on the top of the floor plate tab, or “C-S” on the BOTTOM of the floor plate. There is some debate as to whether or not “C-S” stands for Colt-Scoville, i.e. a subcontract by Scoville for Colt.
General Shaver. Can be identified by a small letter G stamped on the top of the floor plate tab.
Little. Can be identified by a small letter L stamped on the top of the floor plate tab.
Risdon. Can be identified by a small letter R stamped on the TOP of the floor plate tab. Don’t confuse these with Raymond Engineering contract magazines, which have the letter R stamped on the BOTTOM of the floor plate.
Scoville. Can be identified by a small letter S stamped on the top of the floor plate tab.
Variants of Risdon and Scoville are marked respectively: “C-R” or “C-S” on t he BOTTOM of the floor plate. I have seen one reference that indicated that these magazines were made under subcontract to Colt, to put in Colt’s WWII production M1911 pistols. Presumably, the markings stand for “Colt-Risdon” and “Colt-Scoville.”
A Special Note on WWII magazines: Many gun shop owners and gun show dealers are relatively ignorant about the “top of the floor plate tab” markings on WWII magazines. Most of course know the significance of two-tone magazines. However, they often have a box of magazines that they have accumulated over the years that they *assume* are all after-market. If you take the time to sort through them and look for markings on the *tops* of the floor plate tabs, you can go home with some original WWI magazines at a bargain price.
Post-WWII M1911 series .45 magazines:
Commercial Colt (pre-1970). Marked “Colt .45 Auto” on the bottom of the floor plate. Beware! Many of the after-market copies carry the same marking. However, the “counter” holes in the side of the magazine body are generally over-sized. The other dead give-away is the typeface (“font”) used in the marking. It is not the same style font used by Colt, and the number “45” is usually not preceded by a decimal point.
Post WWII military contract. Most of these were made during the Vietnam “conflict”. They can be identified by a lengthy military part number and manufacturer’s contract number on the floor plate. These markings fill up most of the bottom of the floor plate.
Commercial Colt (post-1970.) Marked Colt .45 Auto on the bottom of the floor plate. A rampant stallion (a.k.a. “prancing pony”) marking was added around 1970. Still in production. For many years the magazine bodies have been produced under subcontract by the Metalform Company for Colt. Shooting Star Company now produces some of the magazine followers for Colt–most notably these followers are used in the 8 round stainless steel model that was first produced for the now discontinued Double Eagle, but is now standard for all full sized Colt .45 autos.
After-market copies. Too numerous to list here. Most are total junk, and not worth buying. (You can expect horrible feeding problems.) In particular, beware of fake “Colt made” magazines! Three points to look for to determine if they aren’t the genuine Colt-made item: 1) The fake magazines are marked “Colt 45 AUTO” but without a decimal before the “45”. They may say “Colt” but they aren’t made by Colt! 2) The typeface (font) is not the same as that used on genuine Colt magazines, and is much more deeply stamped. 3) The “counter” holes in the side of the magazine are often much larger than originals. Keep in mind that the lack of a “pony” doesn’t necessarily mean that a magazine isn’t a genuine Colt. The pony marking didn’t begin until around 1970. The best evidence of originality is the type font used in the marking. (Compare side-by-side with a *known* Colt-made magazine until you learn to identify the original type font at a glance.)
Some exceptions to the “don’t ever buy after-market” rule are .45 magazines made by Metalform, Shooting Star, and Wilson-Rogers. These are some of the *few* after-market brands that my customers report work well. There may be a few others that work, but why take the risk? In general, unless you want to buy grief, only buy original Colt made magazines, or original U.S. G.I. military contract magazines.
I hope that you find this information useful.
James Wesley, Rawles
Clearwater Trading Co.
c/o P.O. Box 642
Penn Valley, Calif. [95946]
voice: (530) 639-1999
John Moses Browning (1855-1926) was born and raised with an arms making heritage. His father, Jonathan, had been born among the sparsely settled Tennessee hills, northeast of Nashville, in 1805. In those early days the flintlock rifles, fowling pieces, and pistols of the era were among the basic tools of daily life, necessary for self defense and hunting. Jonathan took a strong interest in guns at an early age, attracted by their mechanisms and construction, rather than by their utility. While he was still in his teens, he apprenticed himself to a blacksmith near his family’s homestead, in order that he might learn the gunsmith’s craft. Later, he made his way to Nashville, where he worked at the shop of an established gunmaker until his own skills were fully developed. In 1824, while he was still only nineteen years old, Jonathan completed his apprenticeship by making his own fine flintlock rifle. He then set up shop in Sumner County, Tennessee, married, and settled down to his life’s work and the raising of a family.
Jonathan Browning was not destined, however, to remain in Tennessee. In 1834 he loaded his family and their belongings onto wagons and set out on a four hundred mile trek to Quincy, Illinois, a new and fast growing town on the Mississippi River, squarely in the path of westward migration. It was here, during the next eight years, that two elements came together in Jonathan s life, with results that would shape the destiny of his yet unborn son, John M. Browning.
The first of these elements was a rifle which Jonathan invented and built in his Quincy shop. Percussion cap ignition had been invented just a few years earlier, and it quickly swept the flintlock aside. The cap was far more reliable than the flintlock, and it opened new possibilities for further developments, such as repeating arms. Jonathan exploited this potential by inventing a truly elegant repeating rifle. It was a .45 caliber underhammer design, with a horizontal opening cut through the receiver. The magazine was a simple steel block, made to fit into the opening. It was bored with five or more chambers, which could be preloaded with powder and ball. At the base of each chamber, a snug nipple held the primer cap. The block was placed in the rifle, and each charge could be locked into position by means of a simple lever mounted on the side of the weapon. As each round was fired, the shooter would unlock the block and move it into position for the next shot. Although the rifle had flaws, such as poor horizontal balance, the possibility of losing the primer caps, and the necessity of handling the hot magazine manually, it was a remarkable gun for its time.
The second factor that was to shape the remainder of Jonathan Browning’s life was part of a much larger turn of events, over which he had little control. Joseph Smith had founded a new religious sect, called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, otherwise known as Mormons. Their theology was based on a series of prophesies, which, according to Smith, had come to him in visions. The zeal of Smith’s followers was to intense that the Mormon Church was the fastest growing religious group in the United States, but there had also been serious problems. Some of Smith’s teachings were viewed with scorn by more orthodox society, and the Mormons aggravated the uneasiness of outsiders by adopting a clannish and isolated lifestyle. This led to suspicions and to several incidents of persecution and violence against Smith and his Mormon followers.
In response to these difficulties, the Mormons embarked upon a mass migration, in search of a homeland where they could practice their beliefs freely. In 1839 they established a settlement in Illinois, a little more than forty miles north of Quincy. They named their new town Nauvoo, and it quickly became a model Mormon community, from which they reached out in search of still more converts. One of these converts was Jonathan Browning.
In 1842 Jonathan moved to Nauvoo, where he again set up his gunsmith’s shop. Just a few years later, however, he and his family were swept up in the great Mormon exodus. Joseph Smith 5 was set upon and killed by a mob in 1846, and Brigham Young, one of Smith’s more ardent followers, decided that he would lead the faithful westward, in search of a safe haven. In 1847 the Mormons moved to Kanesville, Iowa, which is now the city of Council Bluffs. There Jonathan once more set up shop, remaining for five years, while the main body of Mormons moved on to Salt Lake, Utah. It was Jonathan’s task to furnish as many of his rifles as possible for the Mormon settlers. Finally, in 1852, he joined the migration and settled in the town of Ogden, Utah. In 1854 Jonathan married the second of this three wives, polygamy being an accepted Mormon practice at the time. On January 23, 1855, John M. Browning, the first child of this second marriage, was born.
Jonathan did not continue to manufacture guns after the move to Utah, but he did continue his work as a gunsmith. At an early age John became a pupil and helper in the shop, to such an extent that he would later refer to the gunsmithing shop as his only real school. Although John Browning’s apprenticeship was just a natural part of growing up around his father’s shop, he learned so well that the career which followed caused him to be recognized, world-wide, as the most prolific and successful genius in the history of firearms.
In 1878, while Jonathan was still alive to see his son’s talent blossom, John invented his first gun, a sturdy, single-shot, falling breech rifle, which was to become the Winchester Model 1885. He then went on to invent the famous Winchester Model 1886 lever action rifle, and a host of other guns, including all of Winchester’s subsequent lever action and pump action rifles and shotguns. When Winchester balked at accepting John Browning’s design for a semi-automatic shotgun, he sold the weapon to Remington, and went right on inventing! He next turned his attention to the development of one of the first successful automatic machine guns, and it was from this work that his greatest legacy emerged, in the form of the modem self loading pistol. All of Colt’s automatic pistols have been based on John Browning’s patents, and, of these, the Colt “Government Model” .45 caliber pistol has become the most widely built and used, high power, auto loading pistol of all time.
Browning’s gas operated prototype of 1895
John Browning became interested in automatic and self loading weapons when he realized that much of the energy produced by the detonation of a cartridge was wasted. His first experiments aimed at harnessing this energy were focused on the gas pressure which built up behind the bullet. By tapping the gas pressure near the muzzle, and using it to operate an actuating lever, Browning succeeded in developing the gas operated machine gun. His gun was built by Colt, and later, under license, by Marlin, as the Model 1895 Machine Gun. It won acceptance by both the Army and the Navy, as well as by several foreign customers. Although machine guns and pistols may not seem to have much in common, Browning’s self loading pistols were, in fact, direct results of his work on the machine gun. Browning added a simple spring loaded disconnector device to the trigger mechanism in order to achieve interrupted, or semi-automatic fire, and it was this device which made semi-automatic pistols, rifles and shotguns possible.
Parallel developments of a similar nature had been taking place in Europe, and the early auto loading pistols designed by such pioneers as Bayard, Bergmann, Borchardt, Mauser and Schwarzlose were at least functional, though terribly complicated and unwieldy. In contrast, Browning’s first auto loading pistol was a gas operated, toggle action design which introduced the smooth and graceful lines that became common to all of his later models. The pistol made use of a detachable box magazine, housed in the grip frame, which also contained the firing mechanism. The mechanism was connected to the trigger by means of a cleverly designed link, which was wrapped neatly around the magazine. Compared to the early European pistols, Browning’s prototype was simple, compact, and highly reliable.
Colt Model 1900 recoil operated pistol
Good as this first pistol was, however, it was never placed into production. John Browning had no sooner completed fabrication of the prototype when he surpassed it with two entirely different designs! The first was a small pistol, in .32 caliber, with a blowback action. It became the prototype for the FN Model 1900 and the Colt Model 1903 pistols. This was quickly followed by a recoil operated pistol in the same caliber (.38 Colt Automatic) as the gas operated prototype. (see fig. 3). It was to become the Colt Model 1900, and it was gradually improved and modified until the Model 1911 emerged in final form.
Browning concluded that a recoil operated pistol would provide the most satisfactory means of locking the breech during firing, without the necessity of providing complicated linking and actuating mechanisms. A locked breech was absolutely mandatory in order to safely use high power ammunition, and Browning’s method of accomplishing a secure lock was so simple and effective that it has been used almost universally ever since.
The major components of the Model 1900 pistol consisted of the barrel, the slide, the magazine and the frame. The barrel was attached to the frame by means of pins which passed through pivoting links, located beneath the muzzle and the breach. The slide was fitted into channels in the frame, and with the action closed it covered the barrel almost to the muzzle. Corresponding ridges and grooves were machined into the top of the barrel at the chamber, and on the inside of the slide. With the action closed, the grooves would interlock and the firing pin housing closed off the chamber, completing the lock-up.
Upon firing, recoil forced the slide and barrel to travel rearward together for a distance of about one quarter of an inch. The links caused the barrel to pivot downward at the same time, in an action similar to that of a draftsman’s parallel ruler, until the slide and barrel were freed from the locking grooves. The slide then continued rearward to full recoil, extracting and ejecting the spent cartridge case and cocking the hammer. With the slide at full travel and the recoil spring fully compressed, the spring then took over, pushing the slide closed again as it stripped a fresh cartridge from the magazine and loaded it into the chamber.
The Model 1900 pistol worked quite well, and it was soon placed into commercial production. A small number of pistols were also sent to the Army for trials, but initial reaction to this new weapon was negative. The Infantry, Artillery and Cavalry all had their own ideas about the desired qualities of a side arm, and all three branches shared a deep-rooted preference for revolvers. Among the more valid objections raised by the first trials of the Model 1900 pistol were complaints about unreliable operation, the necessity for two hand operation during loading and cocking, and the lack of safety features. These problems would be corrected, one by one, as Colt and Browning worked together to refine the pistol.
In 1902 Browning added a slide stop to the pistol, so that the action would be held open after the last cartridge had been fired. Other changes included deletion of the early safety, a lengthened grip frame, with a corresponding increase in magazine capacity from seven to eight rounds, and the addition of a lanyard ring. A number of cosmetic changes were made to the pistol during its production life, including changes in the location and configuration of the slide serrations, and several variations in the hammer. The 1902 Military Model came closer to meeting the Army’s needs, and it was produced commercially until 1927, but it still was not the final answer.
Part of the problem, as seen by the Army, was the small caliber of the pistol. The .38 ACP round was hardly a pipsqueak, with velocity and energy levels that were superior to .38 Special. Nonetheless, the Army had determined that nothing smaller than a .45 caliber handgun round would deliver sufficient power for a sure knockdown. It is ironic to note that the thinking on military handguns has now gone full circle. The newly adopted Beretta, in 9 millimeter, returns to ballistics very similar to the numbers that were rejected back in 1902.
In 1905, Browning and the Colt factory made another step toward meeting the Army’s requirements with the development of the .45 ACP round. The Model 1905 pistol, made for this new round, was a scaled up version of the Model 1902. When the Army tested this basic design in 1905 and 1907, the results of these tests were finally encouraging enough to generate real interest in a .45 caliber automatic pistol. A formal competition was scheduled, with the promise of a rich contract for the winner.
The formal competition drew several other entries, including serious challenges from Luger and Savage Arms. Browning, in turn, continued to introduce refinements to the Colt pistol. A grip safety was added in 1908, followed by a major development in 1909, which brought the pistol to the brink of final success. The two-link system relied upon the slide block key to hold the entire pistol together. If this block should happen to fail, or if a careless shooter should happen to fire the weapon while the block was not in place, the slide could blow off, right into the shooter’s face! To solve this potentially deadly hazard Browning devised the single link recoil system. The new configuration replaced the front link with the barrel bushing, which encircled the barrel. The bushing was locked into the front of the slide, and it was held in place by the recoil spring plug. This system resulted in much greater safety and reliability, and the competitive pistols soon fell by the wayside, unable to match the performance of the Colt.
M1911 Final Prototype
In 1910 the final prototype for the Model 1911 pistol, incorporating the addition of the manual safety lever, was put through an exhaustive test regimen. At one point, six thousand rounds were fired through a single pistol without a single jam or failure. On May 5, 1911 the Colt pistol was officially accepted as the “Automatic Pistol, Calibre .45, Model of 1911.”Following its adoption by the Army, the M1911 was also accepted by the Navy and the Marines. It was also adopted by Norway, for use by their armed forces. Supplemental production capacity was set up at Springfield Armory, in order to meet the heavy demand for the pistol. When the United States entered World War I, demand for the pistol was so great that contracts were let out to several other manufacturers. Only Remington/U.M.C. actually went into production, however, before the war ended, resulting in the abrupt cancellation of all outstanding contracts.
In service, the pistol was widely used as a side arm by officers and non-coms, as well as by such specialized units as the Military Police. It won a reputation for ruggedness, reliability and effectiveness, but a few more improvements were still to follow.
It was found that the pistol was somewhat difficult to control, especially in situations which required rapid fire. John Browning collaborated with the engineers at Colt, in what was to be one of the last projects of his lifetime, and the resulting modifications brought about significant improvement, without altering the basic design. In fact, all but one of the modifications involved components which were interchangeable with parts from earlier pistols.
M1911A1 Pistol
The modifications made to the M1911 are described as follows. The main spring housing was arched and checkered, in order to fit the hand better, with a more secure grip. The grip safety tang was extended, in order to reduce the “bite” of recoil. Beveled cuts were machined into the frame, behind the trigger, in order to provide a more comfortable fit, and the trigger, itself, was cut back and its face was checkered. Finally, the front and rear sights were widened, in order to provide for a clearer sight picture. These changes were all adopted in 1924, and the designation of the pistol was changed to “Model 1911A1.”
Because all of the modifications, except for the cuts in the frame, involved component parts or sub-assemblies, the years between the two World Wars saw the use of surplus M1911 slides, mated to M1911A1 frames. The resulting “Transition Model,” as it is known to collectors, is a highly prized item, indeed. Of somewhat less interest, though no less authentic, are those M1911 pistols which were returned to depots or arsenals during their service and modified, using M1911A1 parts.
Following its adoption by the military, the pistol was also placed into commercial production. In addition to the .45 caliber pistols, it has also been produced in .38 Super and in .22 LR caliber. Other variations have been developed, including the lightweight “Commander” versions and the “National Match” pistol, with greatly improved accuracy and target sights. Colt has produced well over 3,000,000 pistols, and during World War 11 it was built under license by Remington Rand, Ithaca Gun, Union Switch and Signal Co., and in very small numbers by Singer Sewing Machine Co. Argentina also built both licensed and unlicensed versions of the pistol. In Spain, it has been copied by Star and Llama, and copies have also been produced in Poland and the Soviet Union. The original patents have long since expired, and in recent years Essex Arms, Arcadia Machine Tool Co. (A.MT), Randall Arms, Auto Ordnance, M.S. Safari Arms, Arminex, Springfield Armory (the private company), and others have all built their versions of the pistol. The compact and sophisticated Detonics pistol is a descendant of the original design, and the end of the line for the M1911 and its offspring is nowhere in sight.
Modifications to the pistol are also possible, and many of them can be accomplished by the home gunsmith. Such modifications can produce an “accurized” target weapon or a highly customized weapon for various forms of competitive shooting. Indeed, the shooter can literally design his own pistol in order to suit almost any preference.
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
For those who wish to learn more about the pistol or its history, we recommend the following sources:
Colt Automatic Pistols, by Donald B. Bady; Borden Pub. Co.
John M. Browning American Gunmaker, by John Browning and Curt Gentry; Doubleday & Co. Handguns of the World, by Edward C. Ezell; Stackpole Books
Know Your Colt .45 Auto Pistols, by Hoffschmidt Blacksmith Co.
Much marketing mileage has been made on the FBI SWAT and HRT teams’ decision to use M1911 pistols. The road has been bumpy and some reputations have been damaged and made on the way. Les Baer was the first to get an FBI contract, but there were problems. Matt Gish made the grade but didn’t have the production capability. Ultimately, Springfield Armory’s production capability won the day. This is how it went down.
The Les Baer SRP was designed for the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) to replace their Wayne Novak-customized Browning Hi-Powers. Les and his team of pistolsmiths started with a Para-Ordnance P14-45 frame (.45 ACP/14rds) and added a variety of custom parts and touches, including Wayne Novak’s LoMount sights and Walter Birdsong’s Black-T finish. Unfortunately, Matt Gish, the pistolsmith who did most of the work on the trial SRP pistols left Baer to start his own shop, Gunsmithing Inc.. Baer tried to cut some corners on the delivered contract pistols, including the use of a different finish than the Birdsong Black-T. Once delivery began, there were lots of problems, mostly magazine related. In the end, pistolsmith Steve Nastoff was called in to correct the delivered pistols’ deficiencies. Only 75 SRP pistols were delivered out of the 250 ordered before the contract was canceled.
Following this experience, the FBI rewrote the specifications to stipulate a single stack magazine, which opened up the field to a whole lot of gunsmiths. In the end, Springfield Armory got the contract because they could meet the demand and warranty. But they also had problems. Again, Steve Nastoff was bought in – he was there during the trials – and Springfield Armory switched from Wilson Combat to Metalform magazines. The FBI has now increased its order to 200 pistols a year.
The Springfield Bureau Model was designed for the FBI’s SWAT agents to replace their SIG P226 pistols. David Williams’ team of pistolsmiths started with Springfield’s match-grade 1911 frame and slide, and added a variety of custom parts and touches, including Wayne Novak’s LoMount sights and Walter Birdsong’s Black-T finish. Only Springfield Custom and Professional Gunsmithing Inc. (Matt Gish) succeeded in passing the FBI’s harsh testing requirements, beating out Colt, Wilson Combat, and several other notables. The FBI specifications had stipulated that the pistol had to fire the Remington Golden Saber round accurately and this load proved to be a problem for several of the contestants.
Springfield received the contract in 1998 because they were in a better position than Gish to supply the requested 500 pistols per year for up to 10 years. The FBI guns are warrantied to 50,000 rounds, both for the FBI and the civilian model. Professional Gunsmithing Inc. “…would have been chosen…” if it would have had the production capacity to supply the pistols on time and warranty them for the 50,000 rounds.
Unfortunately, Springfield found that it is easier to hand build a few pistols to the FBI’s specs than to actually mass-produce them to fill the contract. Once again, pistolsmith Steve Nastoff was called in to correct the delivered pistols’ deficiencies. However, it appears that the FBI has not yet given up on the Springfield contract as they did with the Baer SRP contract.
