This year they had some really interesting and beautiful .45s:
Savage model 1907. It's something like one of 500 made. No, they wouldn't let us shoot it...
Grant Hammond .45 ACP. One of 13 made. They tested these out in the same trials as the Colt and Savage 45s - and were found to be superbly accurate, but unreliable.
Colt 1907. One of 200 issued to mounted soldiers. The proto-1911...
Colt Combat Commander. Like the engraving and the grips. The gold, well, at least it's not a Deagle...
Another Colt from the Petersen collection donated to the NRA museum. This one has obvious influence from the Fitz Colt revolvers...
It's the BBQ 1911 di tutti BBQ 1911s...
Here's a nice looking Remington-Rand WWII-issue 1911. More plentiful than the Colt 1911s, but lesser-known in 1911 lore - this was a gorgeous example of the genre, though (thanks libertyman!).
I could have sworn that I had a picture of a Singer - they had one present - but this is a Union Switch & Signal, the second-rarest 1911 manufacturer. Only 50K US&S 1911s were produced - some 100 times the number of Singers, though... I'll post the Singer picture if I have it.
You know, there are worse ways to spend a vacation than
That is all.
11 comments:
I believe Remington Rand was the most prolific of the various 1911 manufacturers, far outstripping the others.
That one is in nice shape.
That Colt Combat Commander looks like it's missing a Mexican drug lord. (A little fish, to be sure; not enough bling for a kingpin.)
Erm ... that last one is USS&S, not Singer.
In other news, I hope no one tried to work the slide on the Grant Hammond this year... *hangs head in shame*
ZerCool -- this fellow has a few of 'em: http://www.horstheld.com/0-Hammond.html
Horst Held always has very unusual firearms. I am kicking myself that I didn't buy the Savage .45 when one was available. I had the dough, but didn't realize just what an opportunity it was.
Liberty - the problem is that someone who shall remain nameless has cautious gun-handling habits. And when he was handed the Hammond from the museum case in Pittsburgh, he checked the chamber. And the slide would then not close.
The NRA staff were less than amused.
libertyman,
You, sir, are 100% correct - Remington-Rand had some 900K 1911s to Colt's ~ 500K. I guess it's the Colt mystique that puts it foremost in one's mind...
Lissa,
Yeah, that was about my impression of the Combat Commander. Strip away the gold finish and engraving and it's a great carry piece...
ZerCool,
Good catch. I thought I had a picture of the Singer. Huh. Changed and noted.
The NRA staff mentioned about not working any of the slides/safeties/etc. - but did give a hat-tip for safety. They acknowledged that it *is* good handling practice to check clear, but that these firearms should be left unmolested...
Don't feel bad, ZerCool, it was merely a practical reminder of why we aren't all carrying Grant Hammond pistols instead of 1911s.
Grrrrrrr.
IIRC wasn't that Savage the SN #1 gun?
Maybe I'll leave early today and spend an hour at the NRA Museum before picking up the Smarter Half.
Ya, I live close enough I can do that.
Of course they wont let me fondle/drool/caress the weapons like you guys did. *sigh*
The Grant Hammond .45 ACP bears a strong resemblance to the Ruger Mark III. Thanks to you, Jay G., I now have an unquenchable desire to see Ruger produce a .45 ACP pistol that is based on the Mark III and "inspired by" the Grant Hammond pistol.
"Not that there's anything wrong with that." ;-)
Post a Comment