Modern Military Pistols | Rock Island Auction

Just before the turn of the 20th century, the handgun was changing. Hugo Borchardt’s C93 pistol, the Mauser C96, and Luger pointed toward the end of the revolver as a martial gun. John Moses Browning was tinkering toward the inevitable Model 1911.

Wheelguns were being displaced by semi-automatic magazine guns as the military sidearms of the 20th century. Though carried alongside revolvers by the British, Russians and others, these pistols would grow to be mainstays through two world wars and into the 21st century. Rock Island Auction Company will have numerous examples of new military pistols in its May Premier Auction. Let’s take a look at some modern military pistols and a few not so modern pistols.

New Military Pistol: U.S. Marine Corps Kimber DET-1 1911

The U.S. Marines avoided being pulled into the U.S. military’s Special Operations Command (SOCOM) when it was formed in 1987. While the command’s creation brought Navy SEALs, Army Rangers and the Air Force’s Special Operations wings, search and rescue squads and AC-130 gunships under one umbrella, Marine leaders saw their branch already did many of the things the other Special Forces already did.

The Marines were pulled in after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks when the Pentagon realized more commandos were needed with the rise of asymmetrical warfare. The Marine commandant at the time, Gen. James Jones ordered a special unit be stood up to study for two years called Detachment One. Marines saw it as a way to slow walk the process of coming under SOCOM, thinking the issue would fade when Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfield left. Rumsfield remained on and Detachment One became Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) in 2006 and continues to this day.

Special Forces units have the ability to procure mission-based equipment as needed, and that is how the Marine Corps ordered the Kimber DET-1 1911 pistols. This scarce handgun is documented as being from the U.S. Marine Corps Detachment One where they were used for testing. Two-hundred were ordered and in the initial tests didn’t perform as well as needed so they were destroyed. However, an additional 150 pistols had already been ordered but not issued. Following the testing issues, the second run of 150 guns were offered to people involved with Detachment One. These 150 military 1911s are rarer than the World War 2 Singer 1911 of which 500 were made.

This U.S. Marine Corps Kimber DET-1 1911 is one of two ordered by a former member of Detachment One who states in a letter that it remains unfired. It bears the special serial number “DET1-235” as well as “U.S. MILITARY PROPERTY USMC.”

New Military Pistol: 5th Special Forces Group SIG Sauer P220R

Founded in 1961 and based at Fort Campbell, Ky., the Fifth Special Forces Group has an active history that includes 18 Medal of Honor winners during the Vietnam War, of which nine were awarded posthumously. The 5th SFG was also the first American unit deployed to Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks also serving in Iraq and in the Global War on Terror having performed thousands of missions targeting terrorist and insurgent networks.

This Sig Sauer P220R is themed for the 5th SFG with a unique serial number range starting with “5SFG” and slide markings with the unit’s coat of arms laser engraved into the top of the slide and the group’s motto, “DE OPPRESSO LIBER,” and the 5th SFG’s nickname, “THE LEGION,” underneath it. The pistol is one of 200 made by SIG Sauer for the unit.

This SIG Sauer P220R specially marked for the Fifth Special Forces Group has three-dot fixed front and rear sights with tritium inserts, a Picatinny rail and checkered trigger guard.

New Military Pistol: M15 General Officer Pistol

During World War 2 as battle lines became more fluid than in previous conflicts, the U.S. military began issuing sidearms to general officers to protect themselves if they ran into trouble. Beginning in 1944, the Army issued Colt Model 1903 and Model 1908 to generals, and created the General Officers firearm regulations in 1956. Generals must file a report annually that they still have the issued firearm, and can purchase the gun when they leave the service.

The Colt M15, a Colt M1911-A1 modified pistol, became the General Officer pistol in 1972. Just over 1,000 were issued from 1972 to 1982. Modified at Rock Island Arsenal, the gun’s barrel was shortened by about ¾ of an inch and had one locking nut removed. A full-length recoil spring guide was used and sights were enlarged. They received walnut grips with a brass plate bearing the officer’s name.

This M15 General Officer pistol is a prototype with “Serial No. GO” with no following digits on the frame was published on page 121 of “U.S. Military Automatic Pistols 1945-2012,” by Edward Scott Meadows, where it is described as a “General officer prototype with third type slide and serial number markings.” It is one of two in the auction.

New Military Pistol: Beretta M9 General Officer Pistol

When the Beretta 92FS was adopted by the U.S. Military as the M9, it also became the General Officer pistol for the Army and Air Force but had no distinguishing characteristics beyond the G.O. serial number. It was first issued as a General Officer pistol in 1986, a year after its adoption.

This Beretta M9 General Officer pistol was issued to Brig. Gen. Thomas E. Kittler who joined the Air Force in 1984 after serving in the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Illinois. He has served as Chief of Safety, Executive Officer, Squadron Scheduler, Chief of Current Operations, Flight Commander, Chief Pilot, Squadron Commander, Operations Group Deputy Commander, and Vice Wing Commander in his career.

This Beretta M9 General Officer pistol has a blade front sight, notch rear sights and a high polish blue finish with a set of walnut checkered grips adorned by the Hap Arnold wings on the left and the United States Air Force logo on the right. It is accompanied by a Beretta hard case, tag from the USAF gunsmith shop dated “MAR 04 2023” with “B.G. Kittler” in the remarks section, as well as a U.S. Military M9 manual, a black General Officer’s belt, M12 holster, double magazine pouch and trigger lock.

New Military Pistol: SIG Sauer M17 and M18

The U.S. Military wanted to phase out its Beretta M9 as a sidearm and after testing announced in 2017 that the SIG Sauer M17 won the Modular Handgun System competition. The gun, adopted as the M17 is a variant of SIG’s P320 line of striker-fired pistols that can swap out its fire control unit between grip frames of different sizes. The P320 variant was later offered for sale on the commercial market.

This SIG Sauer M17 is documented as issued to 101st Airborne, one of the first units to receive the SIG after its adoption in 2017. This firearm has illuminated night sights, optics mounting point on the slide, “+P” weight recoil spring and Coyote PVD metal finish with coyote-colored polymer. It is accompanied by the original box dated “23-DEC-2019” identifying the pistol as “UDM17-9-SURPLUS” along with two extra magazines, an extra guide rod and action spring assembly, a “M17” marked user’s manual, and an action lock.

A carry-sized version, the M18 was chosen by the Air Force and Navy as their standard service pistol. Both guns are chambered for 9mm. For the Marines, the M18 replaces its Colt M45A1 and Glock M007 pistols.

This SIG Sauer M18 remains sealed in the original blue plastic factory wrapper with its original box, user manual and two sealed 21 round magazines. This firearm is marked with a “TC” prefix serial number only found in U.S. Military contract production.

Portuguese National Guard Contract Luger

Portugal’s Republican National Guard serves as a national security force throughout the country and its territorial seas and is a descendent of the Royal Police Guard that was created in 1801. The Republican Guard came to be after the 1910 revolution when Portugal became a constitutional monarchy. The Guard received this Mauser Model 1906 Luger among a limited manufacturing run of 579 firearms in 1935.

Technically not a new military pistol, this Mauser Model 1935/06 Luger with a holster bears the “GNR” (Guarde Nacional Republicana) monogram on the chamber. Along with the holster, the pistol is accompanied by a cleaning rod, pin punch and a takedown tool.

New Military Pistol: XM9 Trials Star/Colt Model 30 PK

When the U.S. Military went looking for a gun to replace the legendary M1911, it put out a criteria of 85 characteristics that must be met. Nine pistol types were tested, among them were the Star Model 28. Colt expressed interest in partnering with Star on the trials and purchased 20 of the Model 30, a variant of Star’s Model 28, but rejected the Spanish gun after purchasing 20 to review. Colt sold the guns to employees. This pistol is listed by serial number on page 519 of “Star Firearms” by Leonardo Antaris.

This Star/Colt Model 30 PK features fixed white-ramp blade front and adjustable orange-dot tangent rear sights. It is accompanied by the original STAR blue plastic case with manual, cleaning rod and bore brushes.

New Military Pistol: Danish Contract SIG M/49

Denmark’s SIG Sauer M/49 is the company’s all-steel P210 chambered for 9mm. The gun was used by the Swiss Army, designated the Pistole 49, from 1949 to 1975. Adopted about the same time by Denmark, the gun was in service unit it was replaced by SIG’s P320 X-5.

This Danish contract SIG M/49 comes with its blue box marked “SIG P210-DK M-49. The pistol has a fixed blade front and notch rear sights dovetailed into the slide. The slide has a “SIG” proof and the frame is marked “9 mm P m/49” and “Crown/FKF.”

New Military Pistol: Lithuanian Contract FN Hi Power

Late in the 20th century, militaries started looking for guns with double-stacked magazines, like the Walther P38, Beretta 92 or the Browning Hi Power. While most of the double-stacked pistols wouldn’t come along until the 1970s or later, John Moses Browning was developing his gun after completing the Model 1911. He died before completing the final design that was eventually finished by Fabrique Nationale. More than 1.5 million Hi-Powers have been made.

This Fabrique Nationale High Power was made before World War 2 as part of about 5,000 Hi Power pistols made on a Lithuanian military contract. The distinctive “Column of Gediminas” emblem, a national symbol for Lithuania, is present on the top of the slide. the Column of Gediminas can be seen on top of the slide at left.

Definitely Not a New Military Pistol: U.S. Colt Commando

During World War 2, as the United States spooled up its military industries there was a need for guns for non-military guards and police protecting those installations. In came the Colt Commando. The Commando was a parkerized version of the Colt Official Police revolver chambered in .38 Special with a four-inch barrel and plastic grips. The gun was carried by Gen. Dwight Eisenhower and most went to civilian security uses, the OSS and Navy personnel. The two-inch barrel was considered the “Junior Commando.” The two-inch barrel makes this revolver one of only 3,450 believed manufactured during World War 2.

This Colt Commando with a desirable two-inch barrel has “COLT COMMANDO/38 SPECIAL” marked on the left of the barrel and the ordnance “flaming bomb” on the left side of the frame. An accompanying factory letter states the revolver was part of a 1,000 pistol shipment to San Francisco Port of Embarkation, Oakland, Calif., on March 20, 1943.

New Military Pistol for Sale

Some of the pistols mentioned here may be newer than others, but in the vast history of firearms, these are all relative newcomers. They offered new designs or beat out a number of other guns to earn a coveted military contract, making them interesting pieces for collectors. These guns are available in Rock Island Auction Company’s May 17-19 Premier Auction.