Notice that the weapon this Marine is entertaining his new Iraqi friends with is not the much-berated M9, but an updated version of the venerable M1911!

Description of Modifications: “The MEU(SOC) pistol starts out as a stripped government contract M1911A1 frame, as manufactured up until 1945 or so. The frame is inspected, and the feed ramp polished and throated. The entire weapon is dehorned. All internal parts are replaced with current commercial items. King’s Gun Works supplies the beaver-tail grip safety and an ambidextrous thumb safety. This last piece is often thought of as a superfluous device, added on as a derigueur item on hordes of IPSC pistols. Here it has some usefulness. The pistol must fit any operator in the platoon, whether he is right or “wrong” hand dominant. Future rebuild pistols will have a “memory bump” on the grip safety. Currently, many operators are unable to depress the grip safety when having their thumb (properly) on top of the thumb safety. Some, understanding that your priority safety rests between your ears, have taped this useless grip “safety” closed. This is now forbidden, and will continue to present problems until the rebuild pistols are brought on line. Videcki aluminum Match triggers are installed, and tuned to a pull of between 4-5 pounds. Colt Commander hammers replace the standard spur hammer.

Only about 500 of these MEU(SOC) .45s exist, handbuilt by the Rifle Team Equipment (RTE) Shop, MCB Quantico, Virginia. But plenty of shops, like Para-Ordnance and Kimber, are out there, making very fine M1911 derivatives. A weapon like this could enter the general inventory with little more trouble than issuing a purchase order.

By the way, the problems with the M9 are not limited to the military. One of my best friends, a retired cop, tells me PDs across the country have reported similar problems with their 92s (he carried his own Sig-Sauer).