In a matter of a few days in mid-December, 2017, IMBEL – Indústria de Material Bélico do Brasil made two conflicting official announcements related to the company’s planning as far as pistol production is concerned, namely, the reduction from twelve to six models in the current products portfolio. According to a very brief note aired in the firm’s website (www.imbel.gov.br), production of the following types would be discontinued as of that date, while sales would continue covering produced guns already in stock, only: .380 ACP MD1 N (single-stack, 9-rd), 9x19mm SC MD1 Xodó (double-stack, 12-rd), .40 S&W GC MD2 (double-stack, 16-rd), .40 S&W GC MD6 (double-stack, 16 rd), .40 S&W SC MD2 (double-stack, 16-rd), and .45 ACP M1911 A1 (single-stack, 7-rd).

However, that public statement caused a considerable stir in the local market. Notwithstanding the very strict rules covering gun purchase and ownership by “normal” citizens (this writer included) in Brazil, the LE and sports sectors still represent an area in which the IMBEL pistols do have a long-time tradition of quality and general approval, so the company’s communication channels were soon flooded with serious complaints about the announced decision. To such an extent that a second official announcement followed in a matter of days: the mentioned pistols would remain in production to meet all orders received by July 31, 2018, after which the company will probably have come to a final decision covering a new pistol family currently under studies. Parallel to that, more detailed market surveys will try to check whether those M1911A1-based weapons will still have the wide commercial acceptance they do now.

Some of the pistols currently in production at the Itajubá Factory and available from IMBEL: (1) .40 S&W GC MD4, polymer frame, under certification; (2) .40 S&W TC MD6, polymer frame; (3) .40 S&W GC MD2; (4) .40 S&W SC MD2, the Xodó; (5) .40 S&W SC MD2, polymer frame, under certification; (6) .40 S&W GC MD2; and (7) .40 S&W GC MD7 LX. Don’t worry about not fully understanding the profusion of letters and numbers in the guns’ designations, but here’s a hint: MD (Model), TC (Tactical Compact), GC (Great Capacity), SC (Super Compact), LX (“Lux”, for light attachment).

Higher res pix here: https://imgur.com/a/7kY6D