Model guns made in Japan (3)

Model gun of Colt .45 M1911A1 – a regular version made by MGC

MGC Colt .45 A1911A1 kit model

The above is a box of model gun kit of Government Colt .45 M1911A1 at 1/1 scale made by MGC in the 1980s.  The Japanese words 組立キットモデル (Assembling Kit Model) are written on the right-hand upper corner of the box.

Patent information of the Colt .45 is marked on the gun slide

In the 1980s Modelgun Corporation (MGC) manufactured several kinds of model kits based on the Colt .45 1911 model, including the assembled model and the unassembled model. For the 1911A1 model gun discussed here, on its gun slide, it was marked with following wording: “COLT’S PT F.A. MFG. CO HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A.”. Also, it showed the patent of this gun as: “PATENTED APR 20.1897 SEP.9.1902 DE.19.1905 FEB.14.1911. AUG 19.1913”. If a buyer is looking for a smooth cap-firing function model gun, this gun can satisfy the needs (I call it trigger happy). But for those serious collectors who also pay attention to the internal functioning of the parts, this 1911A1 model gun would be inadequate.

A cartridge is being ejected from the Colt 45

When MGC designed this model gun in the 1980s, it gave priority to the cap-firing functioning. This gun can extract a spent cartridge smoothly just like the real gun when firing, yet it cannot be dis-assembled (field stripping) following the steps of the real thing. This model is less true to the real gun’s design when compared the Colt.45 1970s Series made by the same model gun company which was introduced in my blog on 7th June 2019. When compare these two models, several major differences can be observed:  first is the magazine catch, the 1911A1 model uses a thin metal sheet instead of a small spring to provide the re-bouncing force needed to hold the magazine in place. Second the 1911A1 model cannot be field stripped because the gun’s disassemble method is different from the real gun. I think the reason is that such a design could reduce the production cost. Third, the cartridge extracting system in 1911A1 is much simplified by using only a metal plate when compared with the 1970’s Series which uses an independent extractor. Fourth, the hand grip of the 1911A1 is shorter than it should be.

The magazine catch (note the false screw and the metal plate)

The Colt .45 1911A1 is on the left

When I compare the drawing on the internal parts of the two guns, I notice several major differences. First, the 70’ Series uses a barrel push (number 13 in the legend) which is the key part to start field stripping the whole gun just like the real thing, while the M1911A1 model uses a top ring (number 4 in the legend) thus making it impossible to do the field stripping easily. The second major difference is the cartridge extracting device. The extractor (number 11) in the 70’s series is simplified into a firing-plate (number 25) in the 1911A1. The third part is the magazine catch. In the 70’ Series it uses a spring (number 20) while in 1911A1 it is simplified into a thin metal sheet (number 11).

Internal map of the Colt .45 70'Series

Internal map of the Colt .45 1911A1

In conclusion, it can be seen that MGC was flexible in coping with the market demand. For the Colt .45 1911 model guns, this company could produce a cheaper model and a more superior model to meet the expectation of different consumers groups.