Sistema Colt Modelo 1927
Dirección General de Fabricaciones Militares - Fábrica Militar de Armas Portátiles · Pistol · Discontinued · 1927
Also known as: Sistema Colt 1927, Modelo 1927, Sist. Colt 11.25mm Mod. 1927, Argentine 1911A1
Overview
The Sistema Colt Modelo 1927 is an Argentine semi-automatic pistol, a licensed copy of the Colt M1911A1 chambered in .45 ACP. Produced by the Dirección General de Fabricaciones Militares at the Fábrica Militar de Armas Portátiles in Rosario using Colt-supplied tooling, it retains full parts interchangeability with the U.S. government model. The slide is marked 'SIST. COLT 11.25 mm MOD. 1927' and the pistol served as the standard sidearm of the Argentine armed forces for much of the twentieth century.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1105 g (39.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 219 mm (8.62") |
| Barrel Length | 127 mm (5.00") |
| Height | 135 mm (5.31") |
| Width | 30 mm (1.18") |
| Sight Radius | 165 mm (6.50") |
| Action Type | Short Recoil |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 7 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 253 m/s (830 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 477 J (352 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 50 m (55 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 406 mm (15.98") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Slide Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .45 ACP · primary — also known as .45 Auto, 45 ACP, 11.25mm, 11.43x23mm
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Thumb Safety, Grip Safety, Half Cock Notch
- Features: Browning Tilting Barrel, Single Stack Magazine, Fixed Sights, Lanyard Loop
Service history
Operators
- Argentine Army · adopted 1927 · as Sist. Colt Mod. 1927
- Argentine Navy
- Argentine Federal Police
Conflicts
- Falklands War (1982)
Production
Production years: 1927-1966
Manufactured in Argentina under Colt license; serial production continued into the 1960s before being superseded by other service pistols.
Origin
Country of origin: Argentina
Designer: John Browning
Discontinued: 1966
Notes
Distinct from the Ballester-Molina, another Argentine .45 service pistol of the era, the Sistema is a true 1911A1 clone with interchangeable parts. Early and late production quality varied as the original 1927-era machinery handled only softer steel, leading to accelerated wear in some examples. Many were arsenal-refinished and imported into the United States after retirement.
Background
Built on tooling supplied by Colt itself, the Sistema let Argentina domestically arm its forces with the legendary 1911 design for decades. Surviving examples flooded the U.S. surplus market in the 1990s as the army retired and arsenal-refinished its stocks.