Marines order Colt .45s

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WEST HARTFORD, Conn., July 23 (UPI) -- The U.S. Marine Corps has contracted Colt Defense LLC for as many as 12,000 M45 Close Quarter Battle Pistols.

The M45 CQBP is the descendant of the Colt M1911, used by U.S. forces in every major conflict of the 20th century. The U.S. Army and other services replaced it with 9mm pistols from an Italian company.

"This is a truly gratifying contract award," said Gerry Dinkel, president and chief executive officer of Colt Defense. "To have the 1911 selected again for U. S. Forces 101 years after its initial introduction is just an incredible testament to the timeless design and effectiveness of the Colt 1911.

"Colt Defense looks forward to another great partnership with the Marine Corps as we renew industry production of the military 1911."

The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity award is for five years and carries a value of as much as $22.5 million.

Colt said the initial delivery order is for 4,036 pistols plus spares and logistical support and deliveries will begin this year.

"The CQBP expands on a long history of MARCORSYSCOM (Marine Corps Systems Command) re-building original Government-issue 1911s, primarily for use by Force Recon and MARSOC (Marine Special Operations Command) units," Colt said.