Sidearms & Scatterguns USAF 1911 Match spec
- Thread starter rojo
- Start date
Re: USAF 1911 Match spec
The Air Force Marksmanship School at Lackland Air Base in San Antonio sent their gunsmiths to the Army Marksmanship Unit at Fort Benning for their training.
The Air Force Team built their pistols to National Match standards and engraved their pistols "AF PG" on the frame for "Air Force Premium Grade." These guns were noted for their superior quality and were made by gunsmiths like Charles Petty and Ken Hallock under shop supervision by Bob Day.
This is from Bill Jenkins' book <span style="font-weight: bold">US Military Match and Marksmanship Grade Automatic Pistols: </span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">US Air Force, .45 Caliber, M1911A1, Air Force Premium Grade match pistol, S/N 1568185.</span></span>
"Frame is a 1943 Remington Rand that was originally reworked as a Springfield Armory National Match Pistol. The front strap has been milled like post 1959 SA NMs. The frame has been stamped SA, NM and the T. The frame is stamped "AF PG" in two locations. The letter "R" (assembler's code) is below the magazine release button on the right side of the frame. Grips are fully checkered walnut.
The arched mainspring housing was originally ribbed and has been heavily stippled.
The trigger is a long style, blued steel construction with vertical serrations. It has a cross drilled setscrew to anchor the trigger stop adjustment screw. It is marked "AF" on the right side.
The slide is a Colt postwar commercial type. It has been fitted wih an Air Force style front sight and a low base Triangle adjustable rear sight. the slide is marked AF 8185 (the last four digits of the receiver's serial number). The barrel is a Colt manufactured match type designed specifically for the Air Force. It is marked "Colt 45 AUTO 4." Below this has been stamped "AF H 8185," meaning Air Force, hard-ball and the last four digits of the receiver's serial number. the barrel bushing is a Colt made, special design of the Air Force and is marked "AF." The hammer is flat sided, checkered, and has been polished on the sides."
Other Air Force variations may have the barrel stamped, "AF W 1234," the W designating Wadcutter bullets and the last four digits of the frame's serial number, and others may have the frame's entire serial number stamped.
This is one of the detailed pubs the Army gave out at Camp Perry. There's another by the USAMU that gives all the gunsmith procedures.
The Air Force Marksmanship School at Lackland Air Base in San Antonio sent their gunsmiths to the Army Marksmanship Unit at Fort Benning for their training.
The Air Force Team built their pistols to National Match standards and engraved their pistols "AF PG" on the frame for "Air Force Premium Grade." These guns were noted for their superior quality and were made by gunsmiths like Charles Petty and Ken Hallock under shop supervision by Bob Day.
This is from Bill Jenkins' book <span style="font-weight: bold">US Military Match and Marksmanship Grade Automatic Pistols: </span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">US Air Force, .45 Caliber, M1911A1, Air Force Premium Grade match pistol, S/N 1568185.</span></span>
"Frame is a 1943 Remington Rand that was originally reworked as a Springfield Armory National Match Pistol. The front strap has been milled like post 1959 SA NMs. The frame has been stamped SA, NM and the T. The frame is stamped "AF PG" in two locations. The letter "R" (assembler's code) is below the magazine release button on the right side of the frame. Grips are fully checkered walnut.
The arched mainspring housing was originally ribbed and has been heavily stippled.
The trigger is a long style, blued steel construction with vertical serrations. It has a cross drilled setscrew to anchor the trigger stop adjustment screw. It is marked "AF" on the right side.
The slide is a Colt postwar commercial type. It has been fitted wih an Air Force style front sight and a low base Triangle adjustable rear sight. the slide is marked AF 8185 (the last four digits of the receiver's serial number). The barrel is a Colt manufactured match type designed specifically for the Air Force. It is marked "Colt 45 AUTO 4." Below this has been stamped "AF H 8185," meaning Air Force, hard-ball and the last four digits of the receiver's serial number. the barrel bushing is a Colt made, special design of the Air Force and is marked "AF." The hammer is flat sided, checkered, and has been polished on the sides."
Other Air Force variations may have the barrel stamped, "AF W 1234," the W designating Wadcutter bullets and the last four digits of the frame's serial number, and others may have the frame's entire serial number stamped.
This is one of the detailed pubs the Army gave out at Camp Perry. There's another by the USAMU that gives all the gunsmith procedures.
