PMCI - March 2021

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TRAINING: VFC 1911 TACTICAL CUSTOM
resorted to carrying police-armoury refurbished models that had
been confiscated from criminals! While LAPD SWAT has become
a “benchmark unit” since 1967, all those original 1911 pistols
have worn out, even with regular repairs and replacement when
available, so the decision to finally purchase new pistols was
made in early 2002.
Of course there were some pretty harsh criteria from the
officers that dealt with criminal activity at the sharpest of sharp
ends, and first and foremost was reliability, that the pistol simply
worked every time, all the time. The pistol had to be “combat
accurate”, breaking four inch groupings with five shots at 25
yards. Following reliability and accuracy came stopping power,
and the .45 ACP cartridge was just the ticket for that, a renowned
and respected “man stopper”. Each pistol needed to have reliable
safety devices, good sights, good ergonomics, and a great trigger.
The testing was rigorous, a gruelling two-years, and every aspect
of the pistols was tested, retested, and evaluated.
Kimber have pretty much been a success story right from
the introduction of the first models back in 1995. In the early
2000’s though Kimber struck it big when they won that contract
for supplying LAPD SWAT, as the Kimber Custom II 1911 was
selected against four other companies that competed against
Kimber for the contract. The Kimber Custom II single-stack .45
1911 (5” Government Model) defeated all comers, and became
the standard issue sidearm for LAPD SWAT operators, and for an LE
contract, it was a big one, 160 guns to issue every operator with
two pistols (more on that later). Each LAPD SWAT Kimber Custom
II came with a reliability upgrade, match-grade barrel and trigger
group, full-length guide rod, Meprolight tritium night sights, a
checkered front strap, front and rear slide serrations (I remember
reading at the time this was so the pistol could be cocked against
the body or police car door if the officer was injured in one arm),
and a matt-black oxide finish. Each pistol also displayed “LAPD
SWAT” markings on the right side of the slide, and special serial
numbers exclusive to the team.
CITY STREETS TO TRAINING RANGES
With the latest release from VegaForceCompany (VFC) in the form
of their “1911 Tactical Custom” though I believe we’ll be seeing
some happy replica collectors, especially given the popularity of
the movie “SWAT” and the more recent TV show of the same
name, and the replica is a lovely handgun in its own right, both
to own and train with!
Although the main character in the original 1975 TV show,
Lieutenant Dan “Hondo” Harrelson (played by veteran actor Steve
Forrest) used a classic single-stack 1911A1, the movie of 2003
saw Sam Jackson step into the “L-Ts” role, and along with the
other members of the squad including Jim Street (Colin Farrell),
he carried the Kimber Custom TLE II, both with and without the
Surefire 310R weapon light. The pistols were fitted with the 310R,
distinguishable from the issued 610R by the minimal protrusion
past the muzzle, probably due to the majority of the 610Rs and
spare parts being earmarked by Surefire for the “real guys”!
Although the Custom TLE II was correctly replaced in the 2017
TV show with the modernised Kimber Custom TLE/RL II and TLR-
1 Streamlight combo, I’m actually kind of glad that VFC chose
to base their latest GBB on the “Jackson” model to distinguish
it further from the plethora of replica railed “MEU” styles and
“railguns” out there, and it’s definitely a nod to that first-issued
SWAT 1911 which I personally love.
The “1911 Tactical Custom”, just like the real deal, is a striking
looking pistol! It aims to break a few moulds in both looks and
performance, and to my mind it does both very well indeed!
The new pistol is beautifully finished in every respect, living up
to the “Kimber” feel although thankfully VFC haven’t included
trademarks; VFC are one of the 6mm companies that understand
the licencing game well and hold a number of good ones, and to
be frank I would have been slightly disappointed had they added
spurious ones to this pistol model. I all honesty this 1911 doesn’t
need any dodgy trades to help it sell, as it’s good enough, WAY
good enough, without them; the VFC 1911 is totally unmarked,
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