Auto Ordnance 1911 Land of the Free 45 ACP 5" 7rd Gray Pistol

Auto-Ordnance built this one for the 250th anniversary of the United States. The base is the company's stainless 1911, finished in matte gray with copper colored infill picking out the engraving and black controls for contrast. The left side of the slide carries "250th ANNIVERSARY" and "2026"; the right side carries "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and "1776". The grip panels are custom engraved wood, a Liberty Bell on the left and a bald eagle on the right, both against a field of stars.

Underneath the artwork it is a 45 ACP 1911 with a 5" barrel, a single action trigger, a TruGlo sight and a seven round magazine - the same layout that has been in continuous production since before either world war. That matters for a commemorative gun, because it means this one can be shot and carried rather than kept in a case, and parts, holsters and magazines for it are on every shelf in the country. Engraved and infilled finishes do want a little care: wipe it down after handling and keep solvents off the copper work.