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

attack in a back alley
attack in a back alley

Cold Performance: How to Prepare for the Uncertainty of Self-Defense

Defensive gun use is defined by uncertainty. You don’t know when it will happen, how far away the threat will be, how many threats you will face or what position you will be in when it begins.

Derya Goes Silent: The OBone Suppressor

In 2025, Turkish manufacturer Derya Arms opened a new facility in Florida, enabling the company to produce a number of new products domestically, such as its new OBone suppressor.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 26, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Rifleman Q&A: Understanding a Firearm's Cycle of Operation

The cycle of operation is the mechanical sequence of events that it takes to fire one shot out of a firearm. If one of those steps fails to take place as designed, there is an interruption in the cycle of operation and the gun stops firing.

Review: Sightmark Pinnacle 1-6x24 mm Riflescope

Looking for a performance LPVO without the usual associated cost? The Sightmark Pinnacle 1-6x24 mm might be your answer.

Myths & Misunderstandings About the “Modern Fighting 1911”

The Colt Model 1911 pistol and its derivatives are among the most iconic military handguns ever made. But in 2026, does the M1911 still hold up as a quality defensive arm?

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.