The U.S. Marine Corps has retired the last of its M45A1 Close Quarters Battle Pistol. The iconic sidearm has been replaced by the SIG Sauer M18 9x19mm pistol. Though still sparsely in use amongst limited special operations communities, the Marine Corps is the last major user of the 1911 platform.
The M45A1 is an upgraded version of the Colt M1911. The Original Colt 1911 was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1911 and saw integration across the U.S. military. Over time, the services sun-downed the .45 cal. pistols, opting for higher capacity 9mm options. Even the Marines adopted the Beretta M9 in the ’80s.
However, Marine Col. Robert Young continued advocating for the higher caliber sidearm and heavily modified it to create the MEU(SOC), Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), M1911A1.
“The inventory of parts reads like a who’s who of the 1911 aftermarket business. In fact, the list is so diverse that it appears as if the Marines flipped through Brownells’ catalog and took one of everything,” according to an article about a new Marine Corps purchase of M1911 upgrade parts that American Handgunner published in 2002.
SEE MORE: Colt M45A1 Close Quarters Battle Pistol (CQBP) – Review & Range Report
These handguns were originally issued to marines deployed on Marine Expeditionary Units. However, their proliferation decreased throughout the years. Recently, the newest version of MEU(SOC), the Colt M45A1 was reserved for Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC)
SIG Sauer M18
The M18 is a compact version of the SIG Sauer Modular Handgun System pistol family, or MHS, adopted by the U.S. Army in 2017. In 2019, The U.S. Marine Corps announced they would acquire the M18 to replace all their standard issue sidearms.
In a statement to The War Zone, Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM) that the replacement of the M45A1s with new M18s began last year and was completed by October 2022.
Further, the M18 is becoming the standard sidearm across all U.S. services.
Select units among Delta Force and Navy SEALs still choose the iconic weapon. However, the Marine Corps’ attachment to the .45 caliber 1911 platform has come to an end.
*** Buy and Sell on GunsAmerica! All Local Sales are FREE! ***
SOCOM folks across all branches have a lot of options for handguns. SEALs have options for the SIG, Glock, or several others. Delta has options as well. The rank-and-file regular forces are the only people required to car the Sig.
As an M79 grenadier with the USMC in Vietnam, I would not have survived the TET Offensive in ’68 without my 1911. As I write this I have recently celebrated my 75th birthday/ 51st Wedding Anniversary and my 5 grandchildren ! God Bless the 1911 and the 45 ACP round for making my life possible!
Why shoot only once when a triple-tap will do? The Yankee Fist survived two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam and many other conflicts for a reason. But, this was when our military truly had intelligence. Now our tax dollars will be spent to enrich a foreign corporation on another gender-friendly, “plastic fantastic” whose pedigree is still in doubt. But, then again, after a month-long celebration of “pride,” there is no longer any shame in limp-wristing a military sidearm. Where have all the real men gone?
So where can we buy surplus pistols and parts?
what are they going to do with the retired .45 ACPs? It is a shame to lean that.
Why? Well professional operators with the knowledge of ballistics and knock down power
and have in battle experience still want the 1911 Colts.
When I was in the Army shooting for the Marksmanship training unit and the Army went to
the Baretta 9mm M9 we had to teach and qualify people with the 9mm.
The course of fire now was two shot to the body and one to the head.
So you had to shoot the potential enemy more times with the 9mm to stop them than with the .45 ACP.
I guess the Taliban won’t need em Joe. They have more pistols than they will ever need.
So Let the Civilian Marksmanship Program sell them to eligable United States Citizens for a change.
Professional operators know that “knockdown power” is a myth, especially concerning pistol cartridges, and that what matters in a pistol round is penetration and expansion.
With modern ammunition, a good 9mm round will penetrate better than a .45 ACP, and that the difference in expansion is negligible.
Anyone who is at all knowledgeable about guns knows that the 1911 platform, while ahead of its time and still a beloved classic, is by no means immune from 110 years of technological progress, and that modern guns are lighter, more reliable, and more modular and adaptable for individual shooters, in addition to having far greater capacity.
I love shooting 1911s, but if I’m going into a gunfight, I would take a modern, striker fired Glock or SIG Sauer over a 1911 100 times out of 100.
That is why they are not over 110 years old. Did you read the article?
I make no claims to being an expert on these various issues but I do remember that the terminal ballistics of the .45 ACP was superior to the 9mm for a very long time. For years the military and Federal Law Enforcement were searching for the optimal cartridge and for much of the time the 9mm cartridge was insufficient. The .40 cal. was a previous attempt to combine the best attributes of the .45 ACP and 9mm that has no fallen from favor.
Technical advances have improved 9mm performance where over penetration, was considered problematic with the early generation of 9mm. I would suspect that many in the military perfer one of the many Glock models to the Sig P320. I would also suspect that members of MARSOC prefer the 1911 .45ACP over the many Glock and Sig 9mm variants. Maybe an extended magzine could offset the capacity issue with some self defense concerns but then the issue of concealment comes ino play. Bottom line, organizations make decisions based on criteria that is not the same as an individual.
My only handgun fight was over 50 years ago with an Uncle Sugar issued 1911A1. I’m still here. I dont like plastic striker fired bladed trigger pistols. I dont like the 9mm pipsquek euro fag cartridge. I dont like Europeans for that matter either. So there.
As a fifth generation Marine now retired it is a sad day indeed. My son who is a MA2 in the Navy carries the 1911 while on deployment in Poland. The 1911 will still be seen in the Navy and the Corps for years to come even if no longer issued. Truly the finest firearm we as a Nation have ever produced.
That’s too bad about the Marines dropping their 1911, 45 auto pistols.
So the United States is now using a German pistol and a German cartridge.
It used to be countries adopted what firearms the USA had. Now the USA is adopting other countries cartridges and firearms.
If the USA military wanted a .355″ cartridge, why not use the 38 Super?
The 38 Super fires a 130 grain bullet at 1300 fps.
This is better than the 9mm Luger 115 grain bullet at 1100 fps.
Colt still manufacturers the 1911 in 38 Super.
Maybe Ruger and Hi Point could chamber on of their semi auto rifles in 38 Super?
Also, what about the old wildcat cartridge 38-45?
Our anti 2A Federal Government intentionally goes after foreign made weapons and ammo to punish American manufacturers here at home. They would prefer a less effective weapon/ammunition made abroad than to reward a manufacturer here.
Nonsense. SIG Sauer and Glock are simply the best handguns at the best prices available on the market today. And SIGs for the military and US civilian markets are made in New Hampshire, though the company is Swiss (not German).
Will there be surplus M45A1 for sale to the public? Will Colt production of M45A1 become more availible to the civilian market? Is there anything to feel good about with this official retirement?
Ditto on Kane’s comment! Will these be released for sale to civilians?
The bye dumb administration would never release these 1911 pistols for sale to American citizens!
But I’m sure he would gladly give them to the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Good one , man !
Bet their already in crates , ready for shipment .
You can get a tisas raider