New for 2018: Auto-Ordnance 'Victory Girls' 1911

During WWII, while fighting men were pushing back Axis forces in the Pacific and European theaters of operation, women on the home front were busy turning out the materials and machines needed to win the war. Auto-Ordnance pays homage to these fighting women with the launch of its new "Victory Girls" custom-made 1911 pistol.

First shown at SHOT Show 2018, Auto-Ordnance started with one of its base-model 1911-A1 GI pistols chambered in .45 ACP. The company then collaborated with Outlaw Ordnance, based in West Monroe, LA, an outfit with whom Kahr Firearms Group has worked with in the past on special-edition guns. Additionally, Outlaw Ordnance is working with Vaughn Neville and Omar "Crispy" Avila on design direction for their new custom guns.

The Auto-Ordnance Victory Girls 1911 is customized with a special laser-engraved scheme that features a WWII-style pin-up model on the left side of the pistol and a "Rosie the Riveter" engraving on the right. Each side of the slide is also engraved with the star-shaped roundel used by the U.S. Army Air Corps during the war. The frame and slide are finished in a battle-worn Cerakote combination of Armor Black and Gunmetal Gray. The wood grips feature textured checkering for an enhanced grip and are cut with a "U.S." stamp.

The overall length of the pistol is 8.5 inches, and the gun is built with a standard Government-length 5-inch barrel. In keeping with the traditional look of WWII-era 1911s, the gun features a thin blade front sight paired with a windage-adjustable rear sight. The overall weight of the pistol is 39 ounces. Each gun ships with a standard seven-round magazine. All of the standard elements of the GI-style 1911-A1 pistol are present, including the straight slide serrations, lanyard loop and textured hammer spur.

Each Auto-Ordnance Victory Girls custom 1911 pistol sells at a suggested retail price of $990.