Mort Künstler Vietnam War Tribute Pistol

by
posted on December 9, 2015
americaremembers_mk_11.jpg
America Remembers has announced a 500-run limited edition Mort Künstler Vietnam War Tribute Pistol. Künstler is a renowned American artist known primarily for his paintings depicting the Civil War, but also include dramatic interpretations of other American historical events. 


This historic Tribute is issued on a working Colt Government Model .45 cal. pistol, featuring artwork based on six of Künstler’s Vietnam paintings. The Colt .45 was a trusted firearm for those who served in Vietnam, especially with the unpredictable terrain in an unknown country divided by decades of bitter history.



Each pistol is decorated by craftsmen commissioned specifically for this edition by America Remembers. Both sides of the slide are polished and decorated in 24-karat gold and nickel with blackened patina highlights. The hammer, slide stop, thumb safety, barrel bushing, grip screws, and magazine release are all also decorated in 24-karat gold.



The right side of the pistol features three paintings from Mort Kunstler. To the right, a firefight takes place behind a marshy bank of high grass, where medics attend to wounded men. Those who served as medics heroically risked their lives to care for those who were injured in combat. The center image features Americans in a patrol boat. The men on the boat guard and defend against an attack from the shore. Danger was ever-present on the Mekong Delta, especially with the dense cover provided by the grasslands and swamps on the riverbanks. To the far right, the words LEST WE FORGET, NONE COULD HAVE DONE IT BETTER are scrolled inside a banner. Behind this background is the bamboo and elephant grass that were so much a part of the everyday landscape for soldiers.

To the left of the center image is the painting Indiana Rangers, which represents members of the Company D, 151st Infantry division, one of the Guard units deployed to Vietnam, on duty in the jungle. Mort Künstler’s signature symbolizes his approval of this honorable Tribute to our veterans.

Featured as the center image on the left side of the slide, American ground forces fire into the chaotic blaze of battle, causing enemy forces to flee. The scene to the right features a combat scene depicting a battle in the thick elephant grass, which can grow as tall as seven feet in Vietnam. This grass covers hundreds of meters of jungle terrain and grows in clumps under the trees along riverbanks, with edges that can cut like razors.



To the far left, three Americans fire from— and jump from— a helicopter flying close to a swampy marsh, with a field of grass and long tree line in the distance, capturing a tense moment as the warriors aboard the helicopter fire at the Viet Cong amid the grassy swampland. At the muzzle end, you’ll find the banner, HONORING ALL THOSE WHO SERVED IN VIETNAM. In front of the hammer is a map of Vietnam with bamboo in the background.

For more information, visit americaremembers.com

Latest

Argentinian Auction Piece
Argentinian Auction Piece

Rifleman Q&A: Argentinian Auction Piece

"I purchased this .22-cal., six-shot, double-action revolver with a very good bore at auction. The barrel is 1.5" long, octagonal and engraved. Can you tell me more about it?"

The Rifleman Report: Magnificent Milestones

The last major milestone that I remember marking our nation’s founding, the 1976 bicentennial, occurred when I was a high schooler, a year before I enlisted in a nearby military academy’s Junior ROTC program.

 

NRA Partners With Specialists To Enhance Hearing Health

Start Hearing and SoundGear have partnered with the NRA to promote hearing health, safety and protection among members.

Bill Bachenberg Elected NRA President, Doug Hamlin Unanimously Reelected as NRA Executive Vice President & CEO

Today, the Board of Directors of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA), elected Bill Bachenberg of Pennsylvania as President of the NRA and Doug Hamlin as NRA Executive Vice President & CEO.

Review: Garmin Xero C1 Pro Chronograph

Garmin is a longtime provider of useful electronics for outdoor enthusiasts, including handheld GPS units, archery optics and smartwatches. Near the end of 2023, the company expanded its offerings in a fresh direction by offering its very first chronograph, dubbed the Xero C1 Pro.

The Armed Citizen® April 28, 2025

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

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.