The Firearm Blog

Jim Shepherd writes that Remington is entering the handgun market! From The Shooting Wire (scroll down half way) ...

The Outdoor and Shooting Wires have received- and verified the accuracy of an internal Remington memorandum that effectively answers most of a question that has been making the rounds of the industry: Is Remington getting into the handgun market?

Short answer, yes.

...

A 1911 is in first-production testing, and may be ready for introduction at SHOT Show in January.

This is incredibly interesting news! I have wondered for a long time why Remington did not seem to want a piece of the handgun market. Not wanting to be associated with "evil" handguns was my guess.

I do find the suggestion that they are going with the 1911 platform odd. While the 1911 is a very popular pistol with civilians, police departments are not adopting it. Instead they are dropping the Glock in favor of other polymer pistols like the Springfield XD and Smith & Wesson M&P pistols.

We know Remington loves military and police contracts and that they are willing to delay consumer products in order to make a grab for lucrative military contracts. The constant delays of the Bushmaster ACR are a testament to this.

So is Remington making a 1911 because they know something we do not? Will we soon be hearing about a new military competition for a .45 ACP pistol¹ ? Or are they developing a polymer 1911 or some other polymer pistol ² ?

Talo is selling a special edition Colt 1911 named the Colt Ghost Commander. It is a limited edition with just 400 being manufactured.

I let y'all down! Somehow the Taurus 1911 pistols chambering 9mm Luger/Parabellum and .38 Super which were launched earlier this year slipped below my radar.

I also did not realize they were now available in stainless!

The .38 Super model is very similar to the 9mm. Both types of are also available in a blued finish.

You can browse the line of 1911's at TaurusUSA.com.

Taking 1911 and Glock rivalry to new heights

The Classic 130 Master Grade is an incredibly beautiful work of art.

From the Wilson Combat newsletter ...

Over the past few years we have been working with an engraver that has done some truly lovely work for us that you our customers now enjoy. After he finished up his last project we talked for a while and a concept was born for a truly remarkable pistol.

These special pistols call on over 150 years of combined gunsmithing experience to build a master piece. Beginning with all of the finest components available held to the strictest standards, placing them in the hands of our most skilled gunsmiths, hand fitting one part at a time until it works together like a well tuned race engine. That alone makes it one of the finest pistols available anywhere, but we are not done yet. The sculpted scroll engraving on the slide is breath taking with deep and exceptional detail. While it is often said seeing is believing, when you look at the detail on the slide you will know what breath taking truly is. The beautifully engraved slide was expertly charcoal blued by Doug Turnbull Restorations bringing the engraving to life. Placing this slide atop the stainless frame makes for an exceptionally striking custom pistol.

Engraved charcoal blue slide over a stainless frame with adjustable sights, match barrel and bushing, ambidextrous safety, and speed-chute makes this beautiful pistol also have all of the features you want in your custom pistol.

I could say so much more, but I will let the photos speak for this wonderful pistol.

The Chiappa 1911-22 is a .22 pistol patterned after the M1911. The action is not that of a 1911, but a fixed-barrel recoil system and is manufactured from steel and "Chiappalloy" (presumably a pot metal).

The market for this pistol, and its not-yet-on-sale competitors the GSG 1911, are 1911 shooters who want to practice with cheap ammunition but would rather have a dedicated gun than purchasing a .22 conversion kit and having to swap it in and out of their .45 1911.

The legendary Daniel Watters has unearthed compelling evidence that the Marine MEU(SOC) M1911 pistol has now been given the official designation "M45 Close Quarters Combat Pistol".

A Marine fired the MEU(SOC)

Two documents ¹, recently posted on Navy.mil, provide information about the procurement of slide assemblies for the M45. Unlike previous documents these do not refer to the MEU(SOC) designation and refer only to the "M45 Close Quarters Combat Pistol".

Note the reliability requirements.

Many thanks to Daniel for the information.

Somebody at Marine HQ realized that if you buy a lot of M1911A1 frames, you are probably are going to need slides to go with them!

The Marine Corps System Command (MCSC)intends to issue a solicitation number M67854-09-R-1146 for 1800 M45 .45 cal pistol slides. The Government anticipates a resulting firm fixed price contract for this commercial procurement ...

Slide blueprints available from navy.mil

The slides are for the MEU(SOC) pistols that are used by Force Recon. Daniel Watters noticed that they are referring to the pistols as the M45. Daniel, who knows far more about these things than I do, is not sure if that is an official designation or a colloquial one. Anyone heard of the M45 designation before?

Thanks to Daniel for the link and info.

I can see at least three features not found on a mil-spec 1911 pistol

The incompetence of journalists when writing about guns is staggering. It never ceases to amaze me.

Many thanks to Jay for sending me the link.

Hat Tip: ar15.com

I have seen guns made from bronze alloys before, but never an autoloader. Back in 1932 Colt and the Springfield Armory teamed up to test the suitability of using a die cast bronze alloy for gun parts.

The Golden Gun

The gun is exhibited at the Springfield Armory Museum.

In 1932 Springfield Armory experimented with die casting pistol frames and slides from a high tensile corrosion resistant bronze alloy called ‘brastil.’ The resulting ‘golden gun’ represents one of the first attempts to die cast handgun components. Despite the success of the test, the project did not move beyond the experimental stage.

There is a discussion about the pistol at the 1911 Forum.

So the question remains … who is going to be the the first to build a bronze AR-15?

Thanks to Sven for the link.

Daniel E. Watters, who is always vigilant, alerted me to the fact that the Marines are looking to procure M1911A1 frames. The frames are for the MEU(SOC) pistols that are used by Force Recon.

Up till now they have been using surplus 1911 frames. I guess the supply of quality surplus frames in their inventory has finally run out, nearly twenty years after 1911 pistol was replaced by the M9.

Colt have recalled six different of their 1911 models. The Slide Lock Safety and Recoil Spring Guide Pad were not build to spec and could wear and break prematurely. The recalled pistol were sold since March 2007.

1911 WWI Replica (O1911) From: 4597WMK To: 5414WMK
1918 WWI Replica (O1918) From: 1001WWI To: 3431WWI
New Agent (O7810D) From: GT01001 To: GT04505
Combat Elite (O8011XSE) From: CG10000E To: CG11293E
Defender (O7000D) From: DR33036 To: DR35948
Talo Night Defender (O7000NDF) From: NDF0001 To: NDF0400

More information available at Colt.

Xavier, a fellow gun blogger, is having to send in three pistols back to Colt because of the recall!

These photos are of a AMT Combat Government Hardballer 1911 pistol that fired a handloaded .45 ACP round that was overloaded with powder. The result is quite spectacular. The top of the chamber has been blown right off taking a considerable section of the slide with it.

That looks sore.

The photos are from Photobucket via. the Blue Gun Blog.

UPDATE: Elvis for identifying the pistol.

The previously unnamed 9mm polymer 1911 has been named the SPEC-OPS 9.

It is being marketed as a full size concealed carry pistol. One of the main selling point is the lower weight of the polymer frame. The pistol weighs in at 29.6 oz., about 25% lighter than the stainless Wilson Combat Classic. It holds 16+1 rounds and has an accuracy guarantee of 1.5″ at 25 yards.

Caliber: 9mm
Magazine Capacity: 16 rounds
Barrel Length: 4.5″
Overall Length: 7.9″
Sight Radius: 6.2″
Height: 5.3″
Width: 1.3″
Weight Empty: 29.6 oz.
Weight Loaded: 36.7oz.

As you can see in the photos it has all sorts of fancy 1911 doodads such as ultra light hammer, extended safety and Wilson Custom Three Hole trigger.

The price is $1995.

What do y’all think of the star burst grip pattern? I can’t say that I am a fan.

More info @ Wilson Combat.