LAPD SWAT 50th Commemorative Colt Rail Gun 1911 .45 ACP 5″ Pistol MFD 2017
SOLD FOR: $4,500.00
LSB#: 240219MA001
Make: Colt
Model: Colt Rail Gun Government Model, LAPD SWAT 5oth Anniversary Commemorative Issue, 81 of 133
Serial#: CLA41540081
Year of Manufacture: 2017 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber/Gauge: .45 ACP
Action Type: Semi-Automatic Single Action Pistol fed by Detachable Magazine
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights/ Optics: The front sight is a blade with a white dot dovetailed to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a Novak square notch with two white dots dovetailed and screw-set to the rear of the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition/ Grip: The grips are two-piece VZ checkered rosewood double-diamond panels. The grips have no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Black Cerakoted Stainless steel
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 10 out of 10.
Overall Condition: The pistol retains about 99% of its finish. There is no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The slide has barely perceptible play to the frame. The slide has a Series 80 firing pin safety. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, it may need a thorough cleaning to meet your maintenance standards.
Box Paperwork and Accessories: This pistol comes in a wood display case decorated with a laser-engraving of an LAPD Lieutenant’s badge, a single 8-round magazine and a Colt Archives letter confirming that this pistol shipped June 18, 2017 to the Los Angeles Police Revolver And Athletic Club (LAPRAAC) in Los Angeles, California as one of 133 units. Also included is a letter from the previous owner Burbank Chief of Police Michael Albanese.
Our Assessment: Colt’s 1911 served the United States military through two World Wars and several other conflicts, is still in use by some units today, and has become popular with law enforcement, competitors, and recreational shooters across the nation. The design has seen some updates including a firing-pin block safety, higher profile sights, and more ergonomic grips, but the basic design and fantastic trigger remain the same after more than a century. Due to its popularity and long life, the 1911 has also been a popular choice for custom pistols, with a wide variety of sights, barrels, parts, and popular modifications.
This example is among the most advanced Colt Government Model pistols produced thus far, the Rail Gun. In addition to the picatinny accessory rail on the dust cover which gives the model its name, it has dovetailed night sights, skeletonized hammer, extended beavertail grip safety, front and rear slide serrations, under-cut trigger guard and ambidextrous thumb-safety. A beveled magazine well allows for more reliable reloads and the pistol has a National Match barrel which should ensure precision.
Made in 2017, this Colt Rail Gun is one of 133 made to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Special Weapons Attack Teams. Established in 1967, the name was quickly altered to “Special Weapons and Tactics” in an effort to make the teams, specially trained to respond to high-risk situations involving armed and dangerous individuals, appear less violent. LAPD SWAT teams would go on to participate in some of the highest profile police incidents in Southern California such as the North Hollywood shootout. This pistol’s serial number incorporates “4154”, numbers associated with two of their earliest and highest profile incidents. In 1969, SWAT would respond to the Black Panthers’ headquarters at 41st and Central. In 1974, members of the Symbionese Liberation Army engaged in a shootout with police at 54th and Compton. The numbers 41 and 54 now flank “SWAT” on a banner below an eagle on the unit’s logo.
This one was owned by Michael Albanese who was a member of SWAT and had a career with LAPD that lasted almost four decades, he now serves as the Burbank Police Departments Chief of Police. Chief Albanese’s highest profile incidents were the arrest of OJ Simpson and the North Hollywood shootout. For fans of Colt, 1911s, law enforcement or SWAT more specifically, this pistol will be a welcome addition to your collection, and will display well with its display case. Please see our photos and good luck!
