The Unites States Army Tribute .45

Additional Issues:
United States Air Force Tribute .45
United States Marine Corps Tribute .45
United States Navy Tribute .45

The enemies of the Free World in the 20th century heard the mighty roar and felt the powerful blast of “Old Forty-Five,” the most powerful military-issued pistol in history. Three generations of Americans fought with it—first against the Kaiser, then against the Führer and the Emperor, and twice against the Communists. If you were born between the late 1800s and 1968, it is the symbol of your time, your day, your age. Future Americans will look back on our time, with reverence, as the “.45 Era” of the 20th century. Now “Old Slabsides” has been retired from the battlefields, replaced by the 9mm pistol, so we can fire the same ammo as our NATO Allies who don’t have the more-powerful .45. How much longer will the .45 be made? No one knows. But while it is, we’re proud to salute the Americans of the “.45 Era” by issuing a separate, firing, commemorative .45 in honor of each of the four American armed forces that carried it.

24-Karat Gold Plating

Each custom-gunsmithed .45 features extensive coverage of 24-Karat Gold plating, all to Jewelers Grade-Heavy thickness, for lasting beauty and value. As a proper memorial to your service branch, patriotic symbols, inscriptions, and the founding date are deeply etched and 24-Karat Gold plated across the slide. Fourteen individual components are also plated with 24-Karat Gold. Also included is a seldom-seen, collectible, deluxe lanyard, which is a color appropriate to the service branch. The grips are of select exotic wood and are custom-fitted to your pistol. Inset as the focal point of both grips are fired-enamel cloisonnés of the official symbol of your service branch. And to make your pistol a lasting, personal memorial, your name or that of a family member can be engraved on the reverse side of the slide along with other data.

Limited Edition; Fires .45 ACP

The worldwide edition limit is only 1,911 pistols per service branch, in honor of the year this legend was adopted by U.S. military forces. This highly restricted edition limit guarantees immediate rarity and collector value. Even the registry numbers are special, between 1 and 1911, with the prefix “USA”, “USMC”, “USN”, or “USAF”, depending on the branch of service honored. Each was custom-designed to military specifications by Auto-Ordnance/Thompson, the company founded by General John T. Thompson, who helped develop .45 ACP ammunition and the weapon named after him, the Thompson. NRA test firing of this .45 showed accuracy “significantly better than the average as issued M1911.” It fires .45 ACP ammo readily available at your local gunshop and could be used to defend your home, family and, of course, nation.

One For Each Service Branch

Four different .45s—one for each of our armed forces—are available. Each has different grips, historical etchings, medallions, lanyards, case liner colors and Registry Number prefixes appropriate to each service branch, to make each .45 distinctive. Matching registry numbers for all four pistols are available. Your ownership and display of this museum-quality firearm today—and as a treasured family heirloom tomorrow —says you’re proud of America's military power and, quite possibly, your own service and/or that of a family member.

U.S. Army Display Case

Also available is a custom made, luxuriously lined Display Case with locking glass lid and engraved identification plaque to display and protect your Tribute from dust and unauthorized handling.

Reservation Form

I wish to reserve (Quantity) of the "U.S. Armed Forces Commemorative Army .45 Tribute ", a working pistol, at the price of $1,995*. Each pistol is numbered and registered within the limited edition of 1911, and is accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity. Thirty-day return privilege.

Please charge my credit card a deposit of $195 per pistol. I will pay the balance prior to delivery at the rate of $180 per month, with no interest or carrying charge.

Optional Display Case:

I do not wish to order the optional luxuriously lined Display Case at this time.

I also wish to reserve the optional luxuriously lined Display Case. Please add $149 to the final payment.

Optional Personalization:

I do not wish to order the optional personalization at this time.

I also wish to have my pistol personalized. Please add $39 to the final payment.

* All orders are subject to acceptance and availability. If I cancel my reservation prior to delivery, I will receive a full refund, less a commissioning fee of $195. Shipping and handling will be added to each order. Virginia residents please add sales tax.