Читать книгу Gun Digest 2011 онлайн

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However, the maker of the first, the original pre-war National Match pistol, could hardly have been satisfied without a match pistol of its own. Colt, in 1957, brought out an improved version of its early National Match 45, called the Gold Cup National Match. It was a highly-developed pistol for competition shooting. It became the standard by which .45 target pistols were judged.

Surprisingly, it was not the only newly-made target-oriented .45 autoloader available. The Spanish Llama pistols (copies of the 1911, but not part-for-part copies), were imported by A. F. Stoeger since 1951. In 1957, the Llama line also introduced a target version in .45 caliber. Before that time, a number of gunsmith shops had begun specializing in “accurizing” .45s for target competition.

As the 1950s went on, then began what has been called “the Golden Age of Surplus.” As countries around the world updated their military equipment, they cleaned out their armories. Military equipment, including firearms, was sold on the world market. A large portion of the guns came to the country with the greatest degree of personal freedom — the United States. Some of the pistols that came in as surplus were 1916 and 1927 Argentine .45s. Many were “accurized” and used for target shooting. Norwegian 1914 .45s also made their appearance. Also coming in were a smaller number of the British 455-caliber Colt 1911s. To make the .455s more salable, they were advertised, “Will shoot .45 ACP.” (Yes, they would, but not very accurately.)