Auto Ordnance Commemorates 250 Years Of U.S. Navy And USMC
Auto Ordnance is at it again, with a new line of firearms badged with commemorative flair that celebrates America’s military history. This time, it’s a set of 1911-pattern pistols that celebrate the 250th year of the U.S. Navy, and to go with that, another pistol set that commemorates the U.S. Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary. Sort of.
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Big birthdays
The United States Navy is the direct descendant of the Continental Navy, which was founded in October 1775; disbanded after the Revolutionary War ended, the U.S. was re-formed in 1794. And since warships bring with them a need for a seaborne fighting force, the Continental Marines were formed in November of 1775. Disbanded after the war ended, they were re-formed in 1798.
Auto Ordnance commemorative pistols
Both of the Auto Ordnance commemorative pistols are their own 1911 A1 models, chambered in .45 ACP and customized for their purpose by Altered Arsenal. Here’s how they describe the details built into each pistol:
The 250th Anniversary Navy Commemorative 1911
A tribute to the "sentinels of the sea," this stunning pistol commands attention with its unique, multi-toned Cerakote finish. A base of Arctic White and Savage Stainless gives the frame and slide a brilliant sheen, creating a perfect canvas for the engravings. To give each marking exceptional depth, the areas around the engravings are carefully dusted with Armor Black. This process makes the proud "NAVY" on the left side and the gold-highlighted "250 YEARS" emblem on the right stand out with striking clarity. The top of the slide is engraved with designs depicting the Navy Dress Uniform, while the genuine hardwood grips feature a beautifully detailed portrait of John Paul Jones, the "Father of the American Navy." His determined gaze serves as a powerful reminder of the defiant spirit that has defined the Navy since its inception.
The USMC commemorative pistol gets a similar treatment:
The 250th Anniversary Marines 1911A1
Masterfully crafted to salute the "Few and the Proud," this pistol’s striking visual presence is defined by a Stormtrooper White Cerakote frame contrasted against a Midnight Blue slide with USMC Red and Gold accents, emulating the Marine’s special Dress White’s uniform. The slide proudly displays its heritage with "MARINES" emblazoned in bold lettering on the left side. The right side celebrates the historic milestone with "UNITED STATES" and a gold-inlaid "250 YEARS" emblem. The story of the Corps continues on the custom engraved wood grips, which bridge the past with the present by featuring a scene of Revolutionary War-era warriors on the right panel and a depiction of a modern Marine on the left.
Both pistols come with a seven-round magazine. There’s also a Thompson semi-auto SMG matched to each pistol, if that floats your boat and you want the set.
As for MSRP? It’s not listed on their site anywhere that we could find. See here for yourself.
Photos: Auto Ordnance
Professional hoser with fudd-ish leanings.
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Crap like this (and all that limited edition stuff) that Auto Ordnance seems obsessed with is why most 1911 buyers shun this brand. Add their poorly executed "deluxe models" and I'm surprised anyone bothers with these guys. And trying to sell "Series 80" 1911's in a "Series 70" market is pretty dumb too.