2026 Q2 Restomod: 50 DELTA 1911’s
Custom Serial Numbers DELTA4501 to DELTA4550
As the Cold War crept into the final decades of the 20th century, warfare began to take on a new shape from what had been seen even during America’s involvement in Vietnam. With international tensions at an all-time high and the rise of global terrorism, there came a need for a specialized, small group of operatives that could act more as a scalpel, than a sledgehammer of major troop deployment. These soldiers would need to be highly trained in unconventional tactics, mission-tailored skills, and incredible marksmanship.
Colonel Charlie Beckwith, a Green Beret who studied with the British SAS, recognized the shifting battlefield of modernity and lobbied for the creation of a special forces unit who could work secretively and autonomously from the “Big Army” during high-stakes (usually highly-classified) operations. In 1977, 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta was formed. Since its conception, “Delta” has been shaped into the perfect fighting tool, adapting to mission-specific requirements and changing tactics as the Cold War came to a close and GWOT rose in its place.
However, one thing has remained a consistent hallmark of the Unit since its birth: marksmanship.
It is said that no military unit in the world has as much ammunition allocated for training as Delta Force, with superior marksmanship across all weapon platforms being paramount. Although the Unit was proficient across the battery of U.S. and foreign weapon systems, even today they remain known for one in particular: the M1911.
Historically, the founding of Delta in the late 1970s parallels the rise of practical competitive shooting internationally. Uniquely, the Unit yearned for knowledge from experts in their field, with firearms being no exception. Jeff Cooper’s Columbia Conference in 1976 began somewhat of an arms race within the custom handgun realm and the Unit was not immune to that. Competition shooters like Jerry Barnhart and Rob Leatham were brought in to train operatives, not on tactics, but on performance shooting itself. Because of this, the Unit demands for marksmanship outpaced the rack-grade GI 1911s, and began to call for custom guns that mimicked the competition guns in the civilian world. Purpose-built, operator-spec’d M1911s that operate at the highest level of accuracy and reliability.
In truth, any early Delta M1911 would have been just as at home in a Blackhawk helicopter as it would have been on the IPSC course, with notable features like adjustable sights, ambidextrous safeties, magwells, and precision fit barrels being the norm. Many operators had guns built to their preferences, and early Delta guns were built with National Match components on USGI frames (as our RestoMod exemplifies). As these parts ran out, the new generation of Delta M1911s would be built from Caspian frames and slides with Kart barrels.
The two-tone guns were a short-lived collection of pistols built for Delta, and brought into focus by Larry Vickers in the Vickers Guide 1911 book.
“The black/green finish is a Walter Birdsong spray-on/bake-on Teflon-type finish that was all the rage in the late 1990s and was widely used throughout the industry at that time. It can rightfully be considered the predecessor of finishes that are common today, such as Duracoat and Cerakote. The Birdsong finishes provided good lubricity and corrosion resistance but were relatively soft by current standards and showed wear quickly…in part due to the wear issues, relatively few black/green Delta 1911 pistols were made – they ended up being a short run of pistols to test the concept.”
Vickers Guide – https://www.vickersguide.com/1911vol1
Prototype show, production units will have custom serial numbers
Our gun is a recreation of the limited concept, two-tone Delta pistol. Like the original Delta 1911, our gun is a two-tone pistol, with an olive drab frame and with the slide, barrel, and small parts being finished in bead blast blue.
Like all of our RestoMod’s, we’ve painstakingly recreated the National Match “hard slide” rollmarks from the original gun on our slides, with USGI style rollmarks on the frame, just as the original guns would have been marked.
While the pictured gun in the Vickers Guide shows a fixed Novak rear, we have elected to finish the gun with a BoMar style adjustable rear sight. Adjustable sights such as these were highly sought after by Delta operators due to their training and experience from the competitive shooting world, which included 25 and 50 yard bullseye shooting with their 1911. Delta is known for their excruciatingly difficult 25 and 50 yard qualification drills with their sidearm, including single handed 50 yard drills. Delta appreciated the capability to tune the sight to the shooter. This understanding of Delta’s training history and preferences compelled us to honor their traditions.
On the frame, we’ve used our Delta hammer, a checkered arched mainspring housing, frame scallops, and 20 LPI front strap checkering. Additionally, the gun is complete with a three hole speed trigger, Delta hammer, and Swenson style ambi-safety. The frame is extended with a period correct bolt on style magwell, and is completed with the actual original stocks used by Delta – the Herrett’s Hardballer 16LPI walnut checkered stocks.
Gunslingers
Iron Cowboy Gun Shop
Wichita Gun club
Battlehawk Armory
Modern Warriors
The Bunker Gun Shop
Tag Firearms
Steel Luxuries
SMP Outdoors
Atlantic Guns
$5,295
Only 50 DELTA 1911s have bee produced and they are in final finish and QC and will be ready to ship to your ffl in April/May 2026. To order your DELTA 1911, use the link below. We will contact you after your order confirmation for your FFL. Sales tax will be added for orders shipped to PA , IN or NC.
NOT available in CA or MA
Out of stock
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