Auto-Ordnance D-Day Commemoratives

Auto-Ordnance is commemorating the 75th anniversary of D-Day with three specially engraved and ornamented guns—an M1911, an M1 carbine and a Thompson. “The General’s 1911” ($1,134) is engraved with Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower addressing his troops cut into the slide and frame, and a quote from him, “Only our individual faith in freedom can keep us free,” is engraved on the slide. The right side has Gen. Omar Bradley and Adm. Alan Kirk, and an Army crest is engraved on both stocks. The gun starts as a .45 ACP G.I. Model 1911 with a 5" barrel. The Cerakote finish is in Patriot Brown, with Olive Drab controls and Armor Black engraving. “The Soldier’s M1 Carbine” ($1,391), with Cerakote on the barrel and receiver, has a walnut stock engraved with headlines announcing the invasion, followed by part of Gen. Eisenhower’s address. The buttstock has depictions of the beach landings, the patches of the divisions involved, paratroopers and a map of the landings. “The Ranger’s Thompson” ($1,886), a .45 ACP semi-automatic Thompson M1, commemorates Rudder’s Rangers at Pointe du Hoc (see p. 36). It also honors Rangers on Omaha Beach, where they earned their motto “Rangers Lead the Way!” The Cerakote finish is in Olive Drab, with Patriot Brown controls and Armor Black fill on the engraving. Contact: Auto Ordnance Corp.; (508) 795-3919; auto-ordnance.com.