The Thompson Custom is the company’s latest offering.

It was a huge improvement over the “old” Auto-Ordnance offerings, but the tarnished image associated with A/O continued to plague them, and the decision was made to focus attention on the Thompson brand. first tested the market with a basic mil-spec 1911, and we reported on that pistol in a past issue of On Target. Add-ons, like extended safeties, highly-visibility, low-profile sights, and beavertail grip safeties were, up until just a few years ago, only available at considerable added expense from the benches of working pistolsmiths. There has never been a time where you’ve had so many choices, not only of manufacturers, but also in options and pricing. The point of all this is that Kahr Arms not only had to marshal their considerable expertise and ultra modern equipment to produce quality 1911 pistols, but they have also had to fight to overcome the stigma associated with the name of the company they now own.ĭue to the spiraling popularity of the 1911 pistol, it seems that almost every manufacturer of handguns has decided to become a player in the 1911 marketplace. We’re unaware of any collector groups for these dogs, but there may well be support groups for the unlucky owners – you know, like for parents of troubled children. You see, Auto-Ordnance, which once had a great reputation along with a colorful history, had managed to acquire a less than sterling repute in the manufacture of 1911 pistols. The passing of ownership was, as they say, noted by many and mourned by few. In the case of Auto-Ordnance, it would be best to consider these as liabilities. Along with any physical assets included in the buyout were certain intangibles, among these, name recognition and reputation. In 1999, Kahr Arms purchased Thompson/Auto-Ordnance. Sureshootin’ 1911s – now from the folks at Kahr Arms! On Target, April 2005, -34

Federal ordnance 1911 10mm