GunBroker has for auction two very interesting STIs. WeaponsMan has covered the story:

These pistols for sale on GunBroker come with a rare claim: they were used by one of the nation’s most important special operations units during a period in the mid-oughts when that unit was flat-out in a radical optempo on worldwide CT missions (and other missions as well).  Not just “pistols like these,” but these exact pistols are represented as having been used in that particular SOF unit. They have a letter of authenticity from a former unit member who did have access and placement to know about the unit’s armament initiatives at the time.

And they’re pretty good pistols, but the bid of $6,500 at press time hasn’t broken the reserve. Here’s what the auction says:

Both of these STI 2011 .40 caliber pistols saw actual issue and use in a US Army SOF unit in 2006-2007. One pistol is in 93%+ condition and the other is in 96%+ condition. They are consecutively serial numbered and are quite possibly the only consecutively numbered set to be offered for sale. This consecutively numbered set comes with the following items: *** individual letters of authenticity from Larry Vickers (www.vickerstactical.com) for each pistol— original, unedited versions will be provided to the buyer *** six 140mm 17 round magazines *** one 170mm 22 round magazine *** one issued Surefire X200A light *** issued Safariland 6005 light bearing holster with end user modifications *** two Eagle Industries pistol cases

This is an uncommon occurrence, to say the least. Soldier-bringback weapons are highly unusual these days; ones used by special operations and authenticated in this way are up there with unicorns and hen’s teeth. Be sure to click through and read WeaponsMan’s entire article.

Special operations forces (SOF) in the United States are given considerable leeway in the weapons they are allowed to use. As a result, it’s not uncommon for unusual or limited-run weapons to be trialed by special operations users either before or in the absence of adoption by a regular military arm. Perhaps the most famous example of this was special operations use of the Stoner 63 rifle/machine gun weapon system which for many years was almost a calling card of SOF troops, despite not having been adopted by any other military arm.