Auto-Ordnance GI 1911 Winged Warriors Black Sheep

Auto-Ordnance and Outlaw Ordnance have teamed up to offer a series of prebuilt custom 1911 pistols as part of their Winged Warrior series, and the new Black Sheep version pays homage to Marine Fighter Squadron-214 (VMF-214). Better known as the “Black Sheep” squadron, VMF-214 was activated on July 1, 1942 in Oahu, Hawaii and Major Gregory “Pappy” Boyington took command of the 27 pilots of Black Sheep Squadron. By the time Major Boyington took command of VMF-214 he was already a decorated fighter pilot, having downed six Japanese fighter planes as part of the “Flying Tigers” in China.

Born in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho in 1912, Boyington was 31 years old in 1943. Since he was older than the pilots he commanded he earned the nickname “Pappy,” but his skill as a commander and a pilot made Black Sheep squadron one of the most feared fighting forces in the South Pacific during World War II. Boyington was credited with shooting down 28 enemy aircraft, the most of any Marine pilot during WWII, before Boyington was shot down in January, 1944. He was picked up by a Japanese submarine and survived the rest of the conflict as a prisoner of war.

Boyington’s account of the war provided the inspiration for the television show Baa Baa Black Sheep, and he was portrayed in the show by actor Robert Conrad. Boyington was awarded the Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, and Purple Heart.

Certainly among America’s most decorated military pilots, Boyington passed away in 1988 at the age of 75. Auto-Ordnance and Outlaw Ordnance teamed up to create a prebuilt custom 1911 in his honor, and their new GI 1911 Winged Warriors Black Sheep pistol pays homage to Boyington and the other members of the legendary Black Sheep squadron. The canvas used to create this one-of-a-kind firearm is a GI-style 1911, which gained fame and fans as the American military sidearm of World War II and several other U.S. conflicts. Designed by John Browning and carried by nearly two million U.S. troops, the 1911 also played a role in Allied forces obtaining victory over the Axis powers in WWII.

GI 1911 Winged Warriors Black Sheep pistols feature a custom artwork that mimics that of Boyington’s “Lucybelle” Vought F4U Corsair fighter plane. The blue, Stormtrooper White and USMC Red color scheme pays homage to Boyington’s airplane and checkerboard pattern near the muzzle, victory flags, and “Lucybelle” nose art are faithful recreations of the artwork on Boyington’s Corsair. The striking aluminum grips with airplane roundels are made in-house by Outlaw Ordnance, and the engraving mimics the metal and rivet patterns on the Corsair aircraft. The belly of the frame features a bright polished finish with a matte Cerakote finish.

Founded in 1916 by retired Army Colonel John T. Thompson (of Thompson submachine gun fame), Auto-Ordnance has been producing firearms for over a century. Their collaboration with Outlaw Ordnance on the GI 1911 Winged Warriors Black Sheep pistol has created one of the most desirable prebuilt custom 1911 pistols of our time, a gun which will appeal to firearms enthusiasts and history buffs alike.

At the Range

Despite its showpiece good looks, the Black Sheep 1911 is also a well-built, reliable 1911 that’s suitable for a day at the range or self-defense. It’s chambered in .45 ACP and comes with a seven-round magazine. It’s also built to true 1911 G.I. specifications, including a five-inch barrel. Though the artwork is certainly striking this gun is very similar in design to the 1911 pistols issued to millions of American soldiers during World War II.

The Black Sheep 1911 comes with a blade front sight and drift adjustable rear sight that is dovetailed into the slide. The steel slide, frame, and five-inch barrel give the gun an overall weight around 40-ounces, which is very similar to the original 1911s issued in WWII. That heft helps mitigate the recoil of the powerful .45 ACP cartridge, and the Black Sheep 1911 is manageable to shoot.

I had an opportunity to shoot the Auto-Ordnance GI 1911 Winged Warriors Black Sheep pistol as part of Guns & Ammo TV’s annual Product Showcase and I was very impressed with the gun’s overall performance. The John Browning-designed 1911 has proven to be a reliable sidearm that can be counted on to perform under the worst conditions and the Black Sheep 1911 had no issues on the range. The balance is classic 1911, and slide-to-frame fit and finish are superb. Like other Auto-Ordnance pistols the single-action trigger pull was superb.

There’s no doubt the Black Sheep 1911 will serve as a reliable target and self-defense pistol, but this gun is truly a work of art. The detailing on this pistol is superb, down to the engraving pattern on the custom aluminum grips and steel slide and the nose art. Even the details on the victory flags and the checkerboard pattern on the nose art is authentic and striking. I also appreciate how closely Auto-Ordnance matched the features of this gun to the original GI pistol. There are no adjustable target sights, extended beavertails, lowered ejection ports, or skeletonized hammers on the Black Sheep 1911. It’s an authentic recreation of the original G.I. 1911 .45 ACP pistol.

It’s impossible not to appreciate the detail on this pistol, and Auto-Ordnance has done a fantastic job creating a 1911 that pays tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of America’s World War II fighter pilots. The aesthetics of this gun are exceptional, but at its heart it’s a working 1911 pistol. Limited numbers of the prebuilt custom Winged Warriors pistols will be available for sale at a price of $1,870, but if you’re a fan of 1911 pistols, World War II history, aviation, or Auto-Ordnance firearms (or all the above) this is certainly one pistol that you’ll want to add to your collection.

Auto-Ordnance GI 1911 Winged Warriors Black Sheep Pistol Specs

• Action: Single-action semiautomatic
• Chambering: .45 ACP
• Capacity: 7
• Weight: 40 Ounces
• Slide: Steel
• Barrel: Steel, 5-inch
• Frame: Steel
• Grips: Custom Outlaw Ordnance Aluminum
• Finish: Custom Black Sheep theme Cerakote
• MSRP: $1,870
• Contact: auto-ordnance.com