45ACP pistols. The unknown, the rare and the prototypes.

[Luke Duke]

Wow! Obsessed Much! great article though
. I have a Glock 21

 

[Sistema1927]

I may have missed them, but I didn't see either of the Argentine .45s.

The Sistema 1927, a Colt 1911 clone, and the Ballester Molina, a 1911 look alike but with few interchangeable parts.

 

[Jeroenw114]

Updated with most suggestions. Thanks!

Added:
- Astra A-75-80-90-100
- IMI SP-21 Barak
- Mauser M2
- Republic Arms PatriotFEG GKK/45

The Colt Agents suggested by lonestar57 I find very interesting and I will add them soon.Although I wanted to avoid adding all kinds of 1911 copies, these would fit being so little made.

The Sistema 1927 and the Ballester Molina I will look into.
I wanted to avoid mentioning all 1911 copies made around the world. Then the list will be long.
Maybe military 1911 clones like the  Argentine .45s but also the Kongsberg demand a separate thread.

Till later!

 

[Empe]

A great read for sure and very informative ...many of these I've never even heard of.

Great write up !

 

[Jeroenw114]

Updated Star with model PD as member serger suggested.
Added the Colt double actions as member lonestar57 suggested. In section “The failed projects of Colt”
Also found another experimental Colt DA prototype. Added in section “Remarkable items from lesser distant past”
Added Ballester-Molina as suggested by member Sistema1927 at section “Regular but discontinued production”
And last but not least I added the Arminex Trifire in section “Ceased production, failed projects and prototypes”. Completely overlooked this one till now.
Oh, again not last! Found the Rudd Automatic Pistol. And a sheet metal Colt 1911. (Member mikerjf suggested the liberator, well, this is the Liberator on steroids)
Added to section “Ceased production, failed projects and prototypes”


More suggestions are welcome. Most is out there, written about before.
Remember, goal is not to list all 45ACP pistols but the one we do not know, the prototypes, small series, etc. (Semi-automatic pistols) A lot of people will now some, but not al.
What I have learned that there were lot’s of people dreaming, experimenting and investing largely in their dreams and most time it does not work out. Not only in 45ACP of course. I have greatly respect for those man. I can fantasy about guns, improved and better than available, and sometimes I am tempted to make a 3D drawing (I am 3D engineer) but I know I have not the passion, time and money to make it work.

Have a good new year's eve and all the best for 2024

 

[DWalt]

Did I miss the EAA Tanfoglio Witness in .45 ACP? Another CZ variant, a fairly close copy of the Bren Ten. Others here complained about the Llama large frame .45. I owned one for around 30 years, never had anything bad to say about it. Not a Colt by any means but it functioned reliably for me. Nothing on the Llama interchanged with the 1911, so you can't call it a clone.

 

[John F.]

I might have missed seeing it here, but in the mid-70's, there was a
DAO Davis compact .45 semi-auto. I tried to get my Dad to buy one,
but he wouldn't.... Probably a good decision, as they didn't last long.
Excellent post -- WELL DONE!! Thank you!
John

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I would distinguish between prototypes and inventors' model, pre-production models, short production runs, marketplace and/or business failures-Dornaus and Dixon and the Bren Ten, the Hudson H9, e.g.
Mossberg was going to get into handguns in 1980-81, the US Arms Abilene and the CAC .45, for whatever reasons those plans did not come to fruition. The CAC was designed by Bo Clerke, those who have handled it said it was a real Rube Goldberg design.