Читать книгу Gun Digest 2011 онлайн

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In the early post-WWII decades, the only 45-caliber semiautomatic pistols available to give the Colt Government Model any competition were the Spanish Llama (upper) and Star (lower) pistols. Neither design was a part-for-part copy of the 1911, but the guns were look-alikes of comparable size and weight.

The 1905 Colt was the first successful 45-caliber semiautomatic pistol. Having a gun already in production gave the Colt company a head start when the U. S. military tests began in 1907.

In 1971, Colt brought out the Combat Commander, the same size as the original lightweight Commander, but with a steel frame.

Revolvers had been made of stainless steel for some years, but in 1977, AMT brought out the first 1911-style 45 automatic made of stainless steel. The AMT Hardballer was essentially a stainless copy of the Colt Gold Cup National Match.

The failure of DWM to supply 45-caliber Lugers for the field tests gave Savage a chance to reconsider. A semiautomatic pistol would give the company a chance to expand its product line, which then consisted only of the hammerless leveraction rifle designed by Arthur Savage. Savage accepted the contract.