The Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) show is mere weeks away, but the buzz about what might be unveiled is already ringing the Insider’s bell. One area that stands out is the centennial anniversary of the 1911 pistol.

Colt is producing two limited edition pistols, as well as a one-of-a-kind Custom Shop pistol that will be donated to NRA for sale by auction. The NRA pistol is ornately engraved with gold inlays and ivory grips scrimshawed with Sam Colt’s likeness.

For the rest of us, Colt has created two commemorative 1911 pistols. The first is the Anniversary Model 1911 with gold inlays and engraving, limited to 750 units serial numbered 19110001 to 19110750. Retailing for $2,495, the Anniversary Model comes in a glass-topped walnut presentation case.

The other commemorative Colt is a reproduction of a Colt Model 1918 with U.S. Property markings like the original guns that were made for the government. The slide is marked “Model of 1911-2011,” and comes with double-diamond grips, retailing for $1,150. Colt will make as many as are ordered prior to Nov. 30, 2011.

Meanwhile, Kimber got a fast start out of the commemorative gate in 2010 by introducing a limited run of 250 Centennial Edition pistols, which has already sold out sold through Kimber Master Dealers. The guns feature color-cased-hardened frames and gold inlays with engraving on the slides. Contact a Kimber Master Dealer to see if there might be one still in stock.

Kimber also produced five special-edition pistols that have been donated to five prominent organizations in the industry: the USA Shooting Team, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Safari Club International and, finally, the NRA. The only one of the five to have already been sold at auction brought $10,000.

The Insider was surprised to learn that Springfield Armory is doing nothing for the 1911’s centennial birthday. I’ll get back to this matter later, but suffice it to say that this is an excellent example of how the Illinois-based importer has morphed in recent years to become, as one source put it, “an XD company.”

I’ll look at some other 1911 celebrations in my next Industry Insider. In the meantime, I just ordered one of the Colt limited edition pistols. How can a 1911 fan not.