Guns Illustrated 2011. Dan Shideler
other companies by promoting the color pink. The Bersa Thunder 380 will now be available with optional pink grips.
A new line of Bersa polymer-frame concealed-carry pistols with a slim grip profile is in the works. Planned in 9mm (BP9cc) and .40 S&W (BP40cc), the new polymer-frame Bersas will weigh about 21 ounces, with 3.2-inch barrels. The new compact pistols look good. However, as of January 2010, the new pistols had not yet been approved by BATFE, so all I can do here is give you this advance notice.
BREN TEN
The Bren Ten is back! Really, the exact name, this time. In the last edition of this publication, recall that Vltor had already put into production an improved version of the original Bren Ten as the Vltor Fortis pistol. Since then, the company has acquired the rights to the name “Bren Ten.” Pistols will now be marketed under the Bren Ten name. Bren Ten-marked pistols were planned for May 2010 availability. Standard, Vice and Special Forces variants are scheduled. They are made by Vltor and distributed by Sporting Products, LLC.
BROWNING
Browning doesn’t have a 1911 in its line, but the Hi-Power, introduced in 1935, reached its 75th anniversary in 2010. Special Hi-Power pistols made during 2010 will have commemorative engraving on the top of the slide. Three variants were planned: a Standard model with walnut grips and fixed sights, a Standard model with walnut grips and adjustable sights, and a Mark III variant with composite grips with matte finish and fixed sights. The Hi-Power is available in 9mm and .40 S&W, but all the 75th Anniversary engraved versions will be in the original 9mm chambering only.
New lighter Buck Mark 22-caliber pistols have been added to Browning’s rimfire pistol line. The pistols have fluted aluminum alloy barrels with steel sleeves. Available with 5.5-inch (28 ounces) or 7.5-inch (30 ounces) barrels, the guns are available with either matte grey or matte green finishes.
CANIK
A new line of Turkish-made pistols was introduced at the 2010 SHOT Show. Introduced as the Canik 55 series, the 9mm pistols are based on the CZ 75 double-action system. The basic “Standard” model is accompanied by the self-descriptive “Light” and “Compact” models. Variations from these offerings seem to be identifi ed with sea-life names such as the Shark, the Piranha, the Stingray and the Dolphin. No importer had been named at the time of this writing.
CENTURY INTERNATIONAL ARMS
Century International Arms continues to offer its Arcus 9mm pistols (double-action versions of the Browning HP) and its line of Shooters Arms 45-caliber 1911 pistols, as well as other traditional semiauto pistols. This year, something a bit more unconventional is offered in the form of the Colefire Magnum pistol. The Colefire has the appearance of the Sterling 9mm submachinegun design but is a semiautomatic pistol chambered for the 7.62x25mm Tokarev cartridge. The unusual pistol uses a modifi ed side-mounted Sten magazine that holds 25 rounds of ammunition. Why 7.62x25? Well, during the ammunition shortage that is still continuing at the time of this writing, surplus Tokarev ammo is one of the least expensive and most readily-available kinds of surplus pistol ammunition! The Colefire has a 4.5-inch barrel and is a bit over 13 inches long. It weighs well over four pounds, and should be easy to shoot for even long plinking sessions.
CHARLES DALY
A sad note. KBI, the parent company of Charles Daly and other firearms brands, went out of business on January 29, 2010. As of the time of this writing, arrangements were being made for another company to handle service for guns that had been offered by KBI. In its last year, KBI marketed handguns bearing the names Charles Daly and Jericho, as well as the new line of CD striker-fired pistols.
A company statement expressed hope that another firm will offer Charles Daly products in the future.
CHIAPPA
Introduced in prototype on these pages last year, the Chiappa 1911 22-caliber pistol is now a production item. Styled after the popular 45-caliber 1911 pistol, the concept behind the Chiappa 1911 22 was to provide a 22-caliber semiauto pistol at a cost less than that of a conversion kit for a 45.
The black-finish production pistols fall into three categories, separated basically by sighting systems. The Standard Model 1911-22 has traditional fixed sights. The Tactical model has an angled rear sight that extends slightly to the rear of the rear sight dovetail.
The Target model has a fully-adjustable rear sight. Other options are two-tone variants, which combine the black frame with a slide colored either tan or olive drab. All variants are supplied with double-diamond grips with the Chiappa logo in the middle. Barrels are 5 inches, weight is 32 ounces, and magazines hold 10 rounds of 22 Long Rifle ammunition. A sample target demonstrated by Chiappa showed impressive accuracy.
The Chiappa Model 1911-22 is distributed in America by MKS Supply. Essentially identical pistols, marked PUMA 1911-22, are also distributed by Legacy Sports International.
CIMARRON
For many years, Cimarron has been a leader in providing the superb replicas of historical rifles and revolvers favored by Cowboy Action shooters. Now, for the first time, the company will offer semiautomatic pistols.
Cimarron is working with Armscor to make a true 1911, representative of the period during which the “old west” was gradually becoming modernized. This transitional period is sometimes referred to as the “Wild Bunch” era, memorialized by motion pictures such as The Wild Bunch, The Professionals, and Big Jake.
A few prototypes were exhibited at the Cimarron display at the 2010 SHOT Show.
They had true 1911 frames, without the recesses behind the trigger area. The slides were marked with the original patent dates to 1913 and carried the Cimarron name. Production versions will have, of course, double-diamond wood grips. A company representative said they were looking ahead to a 100-year commemorative version.
C.O. ARMS
New 1911-style pistols have recently been introduced by C.O. Arms, a company based in Millington, Tennessee. The Scorpion model is a full-size model with forged stainless-steel slide and frame. The Stinger variant has a short 3.25-inch barrel and slide, but has a full-size aluminum grip frame length, giving it 9+1 capacity. Caliber? .45 ACP, of course.
Century International Arms markets the 9mm Arcus pistol, a Bulgarian-made double-action modification of the Hi-Power pistol.
Beretta’s series of PX4 Storm pistols now has a new compact version. The new rotating-barrel handgun has a 3.2-inch barrel.
The Chiappa 1911-22 duplicates the look and feel of a full-size 1911 pistol and is chambered for the .22 Long Rifle cartridge.
The appearance of Century International’s new Colefire semiautomatic pistol shows its origins in the Sterling submachinegun design. It is chambered for inexpensive 7.62x25mm ammunition.
A new Tennessee company, CO Arms, offers several variants of the basic 1911 pistol.
Five years ago, CZ-USA brought out a 30-year commemorative for the 1975 CZ 75 design, and possibly the company will also have a similar 35-year commemorative.
The new polymer-frame CZ 75 P-07 Duty pistol can be easily recognized by its unusual large trigger guard.