【WESTERN ARMS】Colt National Match Premium Edition

Western Arms products are gas guns made of high-density plastic, allowing you to enjoy the same realistic weight as a real firearm. The "Magna Blowback" mechanism, which controls the gun's core, provides a powerful recoil shock just like a real firearm, allowing you to enjoy realistic and impactful shooting. It uses safe low-pressure gas and fires 6mm diameter BBs through the same process as a real firearm.

Recreating the National Match, a traditional masterpiece of the Colt 1911 series, alongside the Government Model and Commander, as a blued (blackened) premium model with wooden grips.

The 1911's Traditional Target Model

In the history of the 1911, there are two main types referred to as "National Match."

One is the Colt M1911, custom-tuned by military armorers for the Army Marksmanship Unit to compete in the prestigious National Match competitions. These competitions began in Caldwell, New Jersey, in the early 1900s, and after 1907, they were held at Camp Perry, Ohio.

The other is the Colt National Match Pistol, produced by Colt as their first factory custom from 1933 to 1944 for the civilian market.

This model was an M1911A with an added match barrel, and its internal components were hand-fitted by Colt gunsmiths. Later models featured an enlarged front sight and adjustable rear sight, but production ceased with the outbreak of World War II.

After the end of World War II, in 1957, Colt resumed National Match production. These models received practical aesthetic updates for competition shooting and were given the new name Gold Cup National Match.

Pre-Series 70 National Match

American collectors believe that Colt products until the 1960s embodied the spirit of good old American craftsmanship.

Even in the 1911 series, it is said that after 1970, cost reductions associated with the transition to mass production gradually forced simplifications in finishing. Products shipped before the early 1970s were assembled with hand-finished parts by gunsmiths, and even today, those in good condition are reportedly traded at high prices in the used market.

WA's Premium Edition reproduces the Colt National Match manufactured from 1957 to 1970.

National Match Specifications

Despite being a variation of the 1911, the National Match uses a dedicated slide that differs from the Government Model.

The slide is characterized by a flat-top rib with fine anti-glare serrations on its upper surface, forming a square profile.

The cocking serrations are also angled and wider than those of the classic 1911, improving operability and creating a sportier look.

The Partridge-style front sight features an undercut specifically designed for competition shooting, making it less susceptible to the effects of light.

The rear sight is an Eliason sight, allowing for fine adjustments in both elevation and windage, and its wide sight leaf provides an excellent sight picture.

The bottom edge of the ejection port is lowered, and a case rollover notch has been added. The polished metal chamber cover features the "COLT .45 AUTO N.M." stamping, indicating its match grade.

The traditional straight barrel is machined from lightweight aluminum, taking into account weight reduction to minimize the impact of slide movement, and is combined with a thick barrel bushing.

The trigger hole in the frame is widened on both sides, which is another distinguishing feature from the Government Model.

The trigger is significantly lightened, a wide trigger with broad serrations on its front face, and its built-in adjustment screw style is one of the parts that characterize the National Match.

Anti-slip grooves are machined vertically on the front strap.

Premium Specifications with Wooden Grips

The grip panels, which provide a vivid accent color, are made from rosewood, also known as "shitan" in Japan, a material known for its high density and excellent durability.

Crafted in the traditional full-checker specification with precisely cut checkering, it offers a secure grip while providing the soft, warm feel of natural wooden grips in hand, a unique appeal of natural materials.

At the center of the grip panel, adorned with the distinctive rosewood grain, proudly sits the Rampant Colt medallion.

Higher-Grade Bluing (Blackening) Finish

The simple yet well-proportioned slide and frame, which lack the superfluous decorations found in modern tactical customs, are meticulously crafted using ample amounts of carbon black heavyweight (HW) material, renowned for its weight and texture.

The HW slide and frame are first sandblasted to achieve a matte texture, then the sides of the slide are polished.

This emphasizes the contrast between the matte-finished curved surfaces and the glossy flat surfaces of the slide, recreating a realistic texture rich in three-dimensionality.

The National Match, a traditional variation of the Colt 1911, developed with competition shooting in mind, boasts a style that is similar yet distinct from the military Government Model, which is its charm.

The Premium Edition, with its deep texture that cannot be achieved with painted finishes on standard ABS resin models, and adorned with rosewood grip panels, is the perfect model to add to your collection.

Maintenance of Slide and Frame

The surface finish of carbon black heavyweight material prioritizes the texture that utilizes the material's characteristics, and therefore, no painting or coating processes are applied.

For this reason, unlike painted finishes, the alloy powder layer mixed into the material is exposed, so it may oxidize and discolor over time or with frequent use.

After use, we recommend regular maintenance, such as wiping off dirt (e.g., hand oils) from the material surface with separately sold silicone spray.

【Specifications】

*This product is intended for ages 18 and over.
*This is a gas gun that uses gas and fires 6mm diameter BBs.