Sticking to their guns: Marines place $22.5M order for the Colt .45 M1911

[QuietDan]

Sticking to their guns: Marines place $22.5M order for the Colt .45 M1911

By

Maegan Vazquez

Published July 28, 2012

It’s been called the greatest handgun ever made, and it has barely changed since 1911, when the legendary John Browning designed it especially for the U.S. Military.

And now, the Colt .45 M1911 is making a big comeback, now that the U.S. Marines have placed a $22.5 million order for the Connecticut-made pistols.

The gun, which has been wielded on film by John Wayne and in real life by Sgt. Alvin York and Maj. Audie Murphy, was the standard-issue sidearm in the military for decades, until it was replaced by the Beretta M9 in 1985.

"It just became an iconic part of military and American history," Gerry Dinkel, CEO and president of Colt Defense, told FoxNews.com.

The gun, one of the most successful pistols ever used at Camp Perry's National Matches, a competition known to be the main world event in artillery sports, has barely changed since it's creation. Dinkel says that shows the gun's "elegant design" just can't be improved on. And firearms experts agree.

"You can’t beat a .45 cartridge," Jack Lewis, firearms director for Cowan's Auctions, told FoxNews.com. "Some things are hard to replace," he said.

Colt Defense, based in Hartford, Conn., will supply as many as 12,000 of the 200,000 U.S. Marines with semi-automatic, tan-colored M45 Close Quarter Battle Pistols, and they will include spare parts and logistical support. The gun has long been the weapon of choice for special operations agents, thanks to its reliability and the stopping power of its massive bullets.

"I'm really glad that they're keeping it in the American economy," Lewis, who used the gun while he was in the armed forces, said. "I was quite upset when they went to the Beretta," Lewis said.

Some reports suggest Marines are not happy with their main Beretta M9s for their lack of accuracy and stopping power. With M1911's now supplying Special Ops, growing interest may lead to a better solution.

"To have the 1911 selected again for U. S. Forces 101 years after its initial introduction is just an incredible testament to the timeless design and effectiveness of the Colt 1911," Dinkel said. "This is truly a gratifying contract award."

http://www.foxnews.c.../#ixzz21wfG1Npc

Edited July 28, 2012 by QuietDan

[gjohnsoniv]

:up: Glad to see the classic is still going to be used.

[JGunner]

This is awesome!

Love me some 1911's ... and I'm gonna enjoy shooting them even more once I start reloading so I can bring down the price per shot.

[Guest bkelm18]

There is something to be said for a firearm that is still widely used a century after it began production.

[RichardR]

Meh, body armor is becoming standard issue more and more around the globe, so I personally believe that small very high velocity rounds capable of penetrating that body armor like the FN 5.7, the Chinese 5.8 and the HK 4.6 are the future w/regards to sidearms, PDW's & SMG's.

[-Bristol-]

I was in the military from '78 thru the 80s. That was during the time the Beretta came in. The 1911s were so worn out and poorly supported by that time, we were glad to toss them.

Just sayin'

[RobertNashville]

I won't claim that the 1911 is the best combat pistol available right now but one thing I do know, going to a 9MM round was probably one of the stupidest moves ever made by our military.

[Garufa]

I was in the military from '78 thru the 80s. That was during the time the Beretta came in. The 1911s were so worn out and poorly supported by that time, we were glad to toss them.

Just sayin'

For some reason I think the contracts for 1911's stopped at the end of WWII so those pistols were already well over 30 years old and subject to military treatment that entire time. Might be wrong.....

[nightrunner]

Good to hear the marines still get the best equipment, lol

[Chief07]

The 1911 was my favorite side arm when I was in the Navy back in the late 70's.

I wasn't comfortable with the Bretta 9mm when they went to It in the 80's.

It just didn't have the stopping powerof 230 grains 45.

I've has a personel 1911 since the early 80's and would not trade it for anything.

[Hotrod]

Excellent choice... God bless America.

[PC7]

What a waste of taxpayer’s dollars; when these 1911’s need a complete rebuild, an HK45 would only need a couple of springs replaced.

Naval Special Warfare got it right with the HK45c, at half the price of these 1911’s and with far superior reliability.

Edited July 31, 2012 by PC7