It went to USMC logistics system and return back to Colt without even being issued to the troops. Otherwise it is exactly the same gun Colt sell to the civilian M45A1, but with cool USMC rollmark.

I would gladly pay for one like $2k or $3k max because of affiliation with USMC. But I know that's no gonna happen.....

 

What makes it a $7500 pistol? It’s a surplus M45A1.

It may be exactly the same as the one Colt commercial made and sold to civilians but it’s still a surplus gun that was made and sold to the Marine Corps. No difference from the value placed upon an M1911 versus a commercial Colt of the same period.

People love owning military surplus collectibles.

The M45A1 pistols, military or commercial, don’t mean squat to me because I don’t care for Colt Rail Guns in any form or variant, AND I am not a Marine.

 

The M45A1 pistols, military or commercial, don’t mean squat to me because I don’t care for Colt Rail Guns in any form or variant, AND I am not a Marine.

Same here. I'm glad I have no interest in owning any of the modern military-issue handguns (M45A1, M17/M18) because no way would I pay what people are currently paying for them.

 

It appears the difference is markings M45A1 vs USMC. I don't understand why it was adopted in the first place. It has been replaced by Glock.

 

And Glock has been replaced by SIG Sauer.

 

Thats the price the gov pays because its not their money and the politicians get the kick back. Gotta pay the vig, brother. Oh, it's also got a logistics tail. Nothing makes it worth 2 or 3 les baers.

 

Nothing makes it worth 2 or 3 les baers.

A. It’s a Colt.
B. It is the last iteration of the USMC 1911 pistol.

those two things alone are making it worth three times a Les Baer. In another twenty years, it’ll be worth four or five times a Les Baer. In another thirty or forty years, it’ll be worth ten, twenty times a Les Baer.

 

I have early civilian version M45A1. In case someone wants stainless Colt Rail gun with external coating finish these can be bought for $2000 to $2500.

 

You don't know why it was adopted?
Because Force Recon used accurized 1911's.
With the expansion and creation of the Raiders, they needed more.
So, they bought a commercial Colt.

 

You don't know why it was adopted?
Because Force Recon used accurized 1911's.
With the expansion and creation of the Raiders, they needed more.
So, they bought a commercial Colt.

And less than three years after the M45A1 was fielded, MARSOCA went with the M007. And a few years Star that the USMC adopted the M18 and made the decree that the M18 will replace ALL USMC handguns (M9, M9A1, M45A1 and M007).

 

At least with CMP guns, there’s a chance it was actually used in service. If you know a vet, I’m sure they would be happy to get an extra $5,000 from you for one of their unused guns.

 

As cool as these guns are, I’m not sure why they were ever really purchased. If there was a need/desire for a 45 auto handgun, why not just use the MK23 or perhaps a Glock 21? Maybe someone was feeling nostalgic, perhaps?

 

Never underestimate the desire for coolness. The USMC generally tends to be sick and tired of being subservient to the US Navy and for following the Arny’s footsteps. Hence they bought the M27 to replace M4A1 and SAW. Went with the M9A1. Stuck with the M16A4 before finally changed over to the M4A1.

Is it a wonder that MARSOC decided to stay with the MEUSOC pistol style instead of going with the Mk23 (a gun unloved by all SOCOM other than Bruce Willis)?

 

Or you can buy a Tisas Raider .45 for under 700 bucks.

I know it doesn't say Colt on it, but I am a shooter not a collector.

 

Much better deal.

 

Force Recon & MEUSOC guys had continuously using 45ACP 1911 since mid-1980s when the rest of the regular US military units starting turned in old slabsides. The problem was that those MEUSOC pistols, equivalent to the custom shop pistols in the civilian world, were built by a small team of skilled pistolsmiths in PWS Quantico. Too time consuming and not enough quantity to fulfill the needs. Toward the end of the program, the old WWII USGI frames that suitable to sustain high round counts those units went through were depleting quickly. Some few hundreds of new Caspian frames and some Springfield Custom Carry 1911 were procured. Even Kimber were awarded Interim ICQB contract as stop gap measure, which also failed miserably as Kimber ICQB pistols were quickly retired from services within years. At the same time, Marines want to prioritize their PWS shop gunsmiths to rifle program.

These factors somewhat lead to the new solicitation of new pistol trail to replace former in-house MEUSOC pistol program. There was rumor that William Keys, Colt President/CEO at the time, a retired USMC Lt. General, also push hard for the replacement program as his legacy at Colt. Colt did make a big marketing effort when it got awarded the new M45A1 contract touting the return of 1911 to elite military groups.

One big issue with the M45A1 was the original Cerakote finish looked like trash in the hands of these elite units. Colt went back and proposed change to Ionbond finish and provide a few refinished pistols to the Marines for testing. Unfortunately, at that time Marines had decided the fate of the M45A1 program (probably more on the budget issue than the pistols itself). Certain units continue to retained issued M45A1 until later days, but the rest were returned to Colt (both issued and unissued). Colt put big X on USMC slide marking and auctioned off those on gunbroker. At the beginning, people were skeptical about the authenticity of those auctioned pistols. Some early batch sold for very reasonable price. When those people getting these real deals started reporting the genuine USMC procured pistols were up for grab, price shoot up instantly and had climbing even more over the years.

 

there is a sticky here which is lots of fun to read. octopushighball also has a site dedicated to the m45a1 and its variants. you can buy brandx, and it is probably a pretty good 1911, but it will never be worth what the colt is. ever.

 

For those who never carried or were issued a pistol, like military veterans, and perhaps LE too, it can be hard to understand how one can have some nostalgic wish to one day own something like what they carried, and depended on, should that have become necessary. I know that for several decades after I left the Army, after carrying a "mix master" 1911 in Vietnam and Desert Storm, I just wanted one as similar to those two as I could find. And about a year ago, CMP sent me one that is the same sort of 1911 that i was issued by our arms room. Same for my lately beginning to want a clone of the M16 I was issued for Vietnam. But if you never had experience with an issued firearm in a war or LE duty, spending good money to someday have one might be hard to grasp. NV
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I understand, who doesn't want to be young again? The only problem is the world has changed.
I bought used civilian version for fair price, but would now buy what it really is stainless rail gun with cerakote, but without coating for substantial cost savings. I can't imagine carrying this thing. It shoots about as well as G21 but weight empty is probably heavier than fully loaded G21. The original mags only hold 7 rounds.

 

A few years ago, I bought an M16A1 parts kit (from Apex?) and built it on a Nodak Spud A1 lower. The kit was in near mint condition, and now I have a very accurate clone of the rifle I trained with in Basic Training and the one I carried in ODS. If I were a Marine, I'd love to have one of these.

 

Doc, I was part of team 80 and 84, not far from Rach Gia (can't remember how to spell it), near the southern end of the U Minh Forest. I came back without anyone inspecting my small gym bag. Was a District Senior Advisor for my second six month, along the Song Ong Doc river. Sometimes i remember now easy it would have been for me to bring back my M3 .45 Grease Gun. If you want to see about 80 of my Kodachromes, digitalized, go to the Smith and Wesson Forum, look under the thread for Other weapons and knives, and search for "Snubby in Vietnam." NV

 

The value of the CQB/M45A1 decomm is the provenance.
i was fortunate enough to acquire a used decom as the used were released first. the used don’t bring the unissued decom prices, but at least it’s nice to be able to shoot it without being concerned about changing the value of the firearm.
but seeing the value or non-value of this is like anything else that’s a non-necessary (luxury) item , such as a baseball card , that’s value is determined by supply and demand of those in the realm of that collector community. Outside of that collector community, the prices of the most desirable items seem unrealistically determined..

 

One makes profit, breaks even, takes a loss at time of purchase. If one has lot of cash and will keep handgun for a very long time $7500 might be perfectly acceptable. If one expects to buy this and sell it at a profit or break even in relatively short order they will most likely be disappointed.

 

Giving the popularity of the copycat in the market. Colt should take it as a sign that their M45A1 production is under-utilized. If Colt M45A1 is widely available, we will likely not seeing the over inflated "market" price on those Decom.

 

The inflated prices are for the GI surplus ones. They are collectibles the way the commercial models aren’t.

 

Some people have more dollars than sense.

 

It only has to make sense to the purchaser.

 

maybe, but price out a ww1 usmc or navy. for that matter look what a nice gi mix master costs.

 

If one has enough disposable $ there is nothing wrong with getting one, but if you decide to sell don't expect for people to line up to buy at GB pricing. With prayer and luck Savage will sell enough 1911s so that you will be able to order replacement recoil springs from them. Unfortunately Tisas Rader does not use inner spring in recoil assembly.

 

Why would one need a double recoil springs replacement setup when the standard GI setup will work just fine?

The people who buy these USMC surplus M45A1 pistols for collection or for future resales will never shoot them. No worries about wearing any parts out.

The people who buy commercial M45A1s to shoot can use any standard parts as replacement.

 

I’ve got one of the USMC roll marked versions that came out originally for sale to the civilian market. Never shot it but it is cool to have a pistol that has this kind of military heritage.