armoury AUTO-ORDNANCE “SQUADRON” 1911
IT’S GOT TEETH!
TAKING A STEP BACK IN HISTORY, BILL TAKES A LOOK AT A “LEGACY MODEL” OF ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS HANDGUNS EVER, THE VENERABLE COLT 1911, THIS TIME IN AN UNUSUAL GUISE COURTESY OF A COLLABORATION BETWEEN CYBERGUN AND ARMORER WORKS - THE AUTO ORDNANCE “SQUADRON” 1911!
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t’s been quite a while since I had a look at a pistol model from Cybergun, even if this one is partly Armorer Works in origin! Cybergun, it has to be said, are huge proponents in the world of airsoft licencing (indeed, their approach has got them into some difficult situations in past years) and guard the licences they have jealously… It’s therefore nice to see them working increasingly with other brands to really make the most of what they have! I’ve chosen the Auto Ordnance “Squadron” 1911 to talk about here because it sings to me in many ways. Firstly, it’s an absolutely classic 1911 singlestack classic, which I love and, secondly because the licence in point is from Auto-Ordnance, replicators of fabulous WWII firearms like the Thompson SMG, and a part of the mighty Kahr Firearms Group! But why is the standard “1911” so important to me? Here I’ll take one of my meanderings down memory lane… The turn of the 19th into the 20th century was an upheaval of change - societal, industrial and certainly in terms of “modern warfare”. It was a time when bolt action rifles were being adopted by armies 72
NOVEMBER 2021
around the globe and the birth of the “Maxim Gun” was revolutionising how battles were fought. Suddenly the individual infantry soldier was capable of levels of firepower that would have amazed their forebears of only a few years before! During the Philippine–American War of 18991902, US Soldiers and Marines fighting the Moro guerrillas were still using the then-standard Colt M1892 revolver but quickly found it unsuitable for the rigors of jungle warfare, particularly in terms of stopping power. Even back then, the Moros often used drugs to inhibit the sensation of pain and they just kept coming, even when shot! The US Army briefly reverted to using the M1873 single-action revolver in .45 Colt calibre, which had been standard during the late 19th century, as the heavier bullet was found to be more effective against charging, drug-crazed tribesmen. The problems prompted the Chief of Ordnance, General William Crozier, to authorise testing for a new service pistol. Enter one of the most amazing gunsmiths to have lived… John Moses Browning! Browning was an American firearms designer who developed many
