More

I suppose it’s hard to believe, but there are still people out there who don’t know that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II. Despite the many television and print tributes to the brave Allied fighting men, there still seems to be a pretty good chunk of the population that is oblivious to the sacrifices made by these soldiers to preserve our liberties.

Fortunately for firearms enthusiasts, the American Historical Foundation is more than aware of the remembrance and, in its inimitable style, has brought out a set of spectacularly embellished World War II 50th Anniversary handguns and longarms.

The line includes the Colt Government Model, M1 Garand, M1 Carbine and Thompson. Each arm will be offered in two versions, a Collector Edition limited to 500 units each and a Deluxe model of which only 50 per gun will be made.

Let’s take them in order. The Government Model is actually built by Colt to original 1911A1 specifications. It is then embellished by AHF. The Collector Edition is blued with 24-karat-gold etching. The left side of the slide is emblazoned with oak leaves and a banner with the title, “WORLD WAR II 50TH ANNIVERSARY/COLT M1911A1 .45/‘AND VICTORY WILL BE OURS.’” The rear, left-hand side of the slide has a symbol of victory surrounded by oak leaves, surmounting the date “1945.” The custom grips are smooth American walnut with a gold Colt escutcheon surrounded by “WORLD WAR II 50TH ANNIVERSARY.” Other components such as the hammer, safety, slide stop, trigger, magazine release and grip screws are also gold-plated. The Deluxe 1911A1 is totally 24-karat-gold-plated and is covered with oak-leaf engraving and the same slide motto as the Collector Edition, though the symbol of victory will be replaced with the initials of the purchaser or any other specified four initials.

The M1 carbines used for this series are original, specially picked period pieces. The Collector gun has a 21-lines-to-the-inch, hand-checkered American-walnut stock, emblazoned on the right side of the butt with a blue-and-gold cloisonne medallion featuring the Eagle of Victory in gold, encircled by a black ring and the “VICTORY WILL BE OURS” motto. The stock is oiled and hand rubbed to a lustrous finish. The left side of the operating slide is blued, etched and selectively gold-plated in contrasting polished and matte finishes. A rendition of the World War II Victory Medal and the date “1945” set off the words “WORLD WAR II 50TH ANNIVERSARY CARBINE.” The rear and front sights are gold-plated as are the trigger, barrel-band spring and other smaller details, offsetting the gun’s overall rich blue. As is appropriate to 1945, the gun is a late model with adjustable ramp rear sight and bayonet lug.

The Deluxe Carbine, like the other Deluxe guns in this series, is heavily gold-plated. Its receiver, operating slide, front sight, rear sight, etc., are covered with oak-leaf engraving. The stock is ultrafancy checkered American walnut with a gold Victory Eagle escutcheon on the right side of the butt.

Perhaps my favorite of the group is the M1 Garand. Like the M1 Carbine, the Garands used are original World War II-vintage rifles that have been considerably upgraded. Embellishments on both grades of the Garand are similar to those on the carbine, with the addition of a hand-engraved floorplate and triggerguard on the gold-covered Deluxe M1. To me, the Garand is perhaps the most appropriate arm to represent the American GI. General Patton called it the “greatest battle implement ever devised,” and he may not be too far from wrong.

The Thompson, which is a semi-auto, 16-inch-barrel Auto-Ordnance product, is unquestionably the most spectacular arm of the quartet. It too comes in Collector and Deluxe models. The Collector gun, which is blued and gold-etched, is particularly comely, as the large receiver area provides a generous canvas for the American Historical Foundation artisans to display their handiwork. As well as the oak-leaf and 50th-anniversary motifs, the Auto-Ordnance insignia has been carefully worked into the design. The American-walnut pistol grip, which, like the buttstock, has 21-lines-to-the-inch hand checkering, has a red, gold and blue American eagle medallion let into the right side. The right side of the stock, near the receiver, is detailed with the Victory emblem. The Deluxe “chopper,” similar to its exalted compatriots, is heavily gold-plated and deeply engraved.

Unlike many commemoratives offered on the market today, the End of World War II guns are functioning firearms, which can be fired if the owner so wishes. On a recent trip to the fascinating headquarters of the American Historical Foundation in Richmond, Virginia (which houses a superb Marine Raiders museum, among other things), I asked the company president, Bob Buerlein, whether any of his customers ever fired AHF guns. His reply was in the affirmative. He said that many of the purchasers treat them as working guns as well as works of art.

American-walnut display cases are also available as extras from the company. These acrylic glass-lidded boxes are lined with maroon velvet and allow the pieces to be displayed safely on a wall or tabletop.