Legacy of Freedom: Col. North Colt Commander .45 1911 Pistol

by
posted on March 1, 2019
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
north_gun_22.jpg

When NRA President Lt. Col. Oliver North’s Winchester Model 12 shotgun became disabled by shrapnel during battle in Vietnam, it was his .45-cal. Colt 1911 pistol he turned to in order to save his life. “I used the .45 as it was advertised to be used, and I’m alive to tell the story,” he said.

Now Lt. Col. North has lent his signature for use on a Limited Edition run of 100 Colt Commander pistols in .45 caliber, his name engraved in 24k gold on the slide. The pistol will be available to the first 100 people who select it when they sign up for a Friends of NRA Sponsorship at the “Legacy of Freedom” level ($3,500).  

All proceeds will benefit The NRA Foundation which, to date, has awarded more than 45,000 grants to local, state and national programs through funds raised by the Friends of NRA program, totaling more than $369 million. Programs benefiting from these grants include Eddie Eagle GunSafe, Youth Shooting Sports, Women On Target, National School Shield, Youth Education Summit, Refuse To Be A Victim, Youth Hunter Education Challenge, Adaptive Shooting and Law Enforcement Training and more. This Oliver North Colt Commander pistol, Model 04940XE, features a blued finish, brushed-finish polish, and bonded-ivory grips with the NRA Eagle logo lasered on both left and right panels. Factory grips will be placed in each case. 

“[A Commander model], it’s a little lighter than what I carried, but it’s a historic firearm made by a great company … ,” North said. “The great thing about this is it’s made by the same company that saved my life in Vietnam.”

For more information about becoming a Friends of NRA Sponsor and owning this pistol, please visit FriendsOfNRA.org.

Latest

target with holes
target with holes

Skills Check: The Tabula Rasa Method

Too many shooters step onto the range carrying the emotional residue of every missed shot, every bad stage and every ugly drill from the last six months like a tactical backpack full of disappointment. The Tabula Rasa method is designed to change that relationship.

Canadian Law Enforcement Agencies Select Federal Ammunition

Federal Ammunition will supply the Canadian Department of National Defense and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police with rifle and shotgun ammunition, respectively.

Shooting Surplus: Finding Affordable Mil-Surp Ammo in 2026

Today, the market for mil-surp ammo is vastly different than it was even just a few years ago. If you're a military-surplus collector and shooter, what should you look for in 2026? Here's our guide.

Colt Electro-Optics Introduces New Red Dots & Magnifier

No stranger to rebirth, Colt has recently spun off an optics division to make sure that, in a world where optics are considered to be standard equipment, a fully kitted-out gun can be all-pony.

What This Huge NFA Ruling Means for Gun Owners

The recent ruling in Jensen v. ATF and the subsequent lack of an appeal by the U.S. Department of Justice has left many gun owners with questions about purchasing NFA items. Here is some guidance.

Gun of the Week: Smith & Wesson Model 386 Night Guard

In partnership with Lipsey's, Smith & Wesson recently re-introduced two of its classic Night Guard revolvers, the Models 386 and 396, which are chambered for the .357 Magnum and .44 Special, respectively.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.