John Browning invented or began designing the to be Colt model 1911 automatic pistol and filed his first patent September 14, 1895, for a Firearm: Blowback Pistol. In short, various changes were made until 1911-1912 it was adopted. Later it was changed to military specifications and refined until in 1923 the modified pistol 1911 Government model was completed and in 1925 renamed the Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45 Model 1911 A1. Since 1923 nothing really has been done to upgrade the pistol in the military. Clones with upgrade components are everywhere but few if any have done more than just cosmetics to improve the accuracy of what otherwise is a good shooting platform.

The problem with the 1911 designed by John Browning is: a. It was designed to function loosely as a Defensive Weapon for military applications. b. It was not possible in the late 1800’s to hold tolerances due to the type of steel and machines available to cut it and even though the tolerances were tightened up in the 1930’s. No CNC. No CAD. Loose tolerances. It STILL remained a “defensive” sidearm for very close work.

In 1986-87 while General Manager of Pachmayr Gun Works in Los Angeles, CA , Karl Lippard was approached to revise the 1911 A1 for specific use in the Marine Corps, Delta Force and “Other Government agencies” so to speak. The result was three entirely different pistols: A “NCO Grade Combat”, and “Officer Grade Combat, and a “General Grade Combat” pistol.

The problem at hand was terrorist activity. The Military namely the Marine Corps, had a tired old pistol called the M1911 A1. You could not shoot yourself at 10 feet, they rattled like a can full of stones, had a trigger pull often over 6 pounds, sights so small that it required magnification to see them, excessive recoil to the hand and as I said were not accurate……Fact was, no body could shoot one much less agress live targets danger close. The terrorists had to be engaged and taken down. What could be done about it?

The result was (and still is) the Combat NCO M1911 we call the A2 .45acp.

Karl Lippard redesigned 1911-A1 model pistols for the military at Pachmayr circa 1987 including the Marine Corps fighting knife shown.

Now here we come to the difficult part of the discussion on the “Combat NCO,” of where here to begin. I will try and get that straight without being too pious.
I guess it begins in Vietnam 1965 in a place called Cam Ne 3. Then Corporal Lippard while having been wounded several times, could no longer carry heavy equipment or wear body armor. Nor could he carry anything heavier than a pistol to engage the enemy with. That pistol was a USMC model 1911-A1 standard issue. The shortcomings of THAT pistol and the resulting combat experiences in Cam Ne and An Trac 3 forever made an imprint on the future gun designer. That pistol, eccentual to ANYONE engaged in heads up, face to face combat; HAD to be modified.

Was that put softly enough?

Therefore when the “military” came calling for an “Offensive sidearm weapon”, that heavy combat experience with the 1911-A1 Colt at Cam Ne was applied to their requirement.

The military et al criteria was a “Multiple use Offensive pistol for close combat under all conditions”. HALO operations, Delta Force, Force Recon, SEAL use, all were to be taken into consideration. Concentration was on Terrorists application and engagement. Aircraft assaults against armored adversaries. Use in extreme cold such as HALO insertion the weapon must function and not freeze to the hand; operate in extreme heat of the desert with sand to clog its functionality. They would like the firearm to have more range than 50 yards for open conditions and to “remain essecentually a modified 1911-A1 weapon currently in use”. It had to be suppression compatible…..” In other words, a serious offensive weapon within the confines of a 1911-A1.

The end result was the “NCO Grade Combat”. Why NCO? Well first, an NCO would be the user of such a weapon. Second, an NCO does it all. He goes where he is ordered and gets the job done. Anytime, anywhere, under any conditions. The pistol meets all of the military requirements asked then….and the ONLY ONE that meets it today.

25 rounds from 5 magazines rapid fire at 25 yards fired on a 50 yard target witnessed by the owner: Lt. William Davis, USMC

Fast forward 2006…..Iraq. Afganistan. Individual Marines and Army personnel requested the “NCO” again and would pay whatever the price personally it cost to have it in hand when the chips were down. The 9mm would NOT do on an enemy up on drugs that could not be stopped with a rifle…..So “Fully Cloaked” NCO’s were (are) made to keep our men alive. And why cloaked? The military today will Court Marshal anyone with a personal weapon in combat….Therefore the “Combat NCO”, (which has been requested and used since 1987), is hidden INSIDE the skin of a normal 1911 or 1911- A1, to provide functionality, accuracy, a 2.8 lb. trigger and still be quickly changed to assume the assignment of the owner.

This is a cloaked Colt Government Model 1911 delivered in 2007 for a U.S. Army soldier. External NCO components were not used.

So what is it exactly that comprises a now called “Combat NCO”?

The “Combat NCO” is a malleable shooting platform based on the Browning design. It has over 19 components that have never been sold to the public before and many components never viewd by anyone but an enemy on the receiving end of it. It is best described as a shooting system which exceeds all military requirements. It is a pistol that requires average skill to aggress targets up to, and beyond, 350 yards. It can be fully suppressed, changed to an “Urban Sniper Rifle” firing 5.56mm rounds in 3 minutes. It can laze targets for aircraft and other assets without alteration. It is balanced by an extended nose piece which incorporates other features that retard night blindness during engagement under fire. It is a unimanual operating firearm. In other words, the shooters hand never moves from its shooting position during multimagazine shooting events.

A Slide Stop must extend back far enough to be operated by the shooting hand. A common feature on Frank Pachmayr Signature model combat pistols in the 80’s.

Here is shown a standard length, an extended length and a Brazier NCO length Slide Stop.

That also means that the “Slide Stop”, and “Magazine Release” must be accessed with the shooting hand while the exchange of magazines and subsequent control of the weapon is dedicated to the other hand. I say other hand because the firearm is ambidextrious. A shooter MUST (as at Cam Ne) be able to shift to another hand with equal ease if wounded. (FBI Florida shootout could not) The magazine must jettison clear of the firearm by way of a weighted device AND, if stuck, to be removed by the use of it. That part is forever called a “Cam Ne” from that experience.

The “Cam Ne” and “Combat NCO” sights are part of the shooting system. Now available for your gun are the NCO components that make the difference. Barrel, links, sites front and back or the entire gun!

The sites must not reflect back to a shooters face in all possible angels of engagement. A NCO doesn’t. It has the ability to engage targets in “double tap” to 100+ yards, and, engage effectively to 350. (Using the NCO/Lippard/Elmer Keith methods)

Test report witnessed of the first “NCO Grade Combat” to 400 yards is shown above.

Recent testimonial: “This weapon is not only everything you billed it to be but way beyond. Holly shit this 45 is great. I finally shot it this last weekend. I was impressed buy the groups at close range but also at my 100 yard range. Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ” Steve Hammers, COS, CO. 11/26/2007.

Well there ARE a host of M1911 clone pistols made today. Most like Kimber, Springfield, Thompson, Dan Wesson, all main materials like frame and slide etc. are made outside of the United States. Just look on the frame next to the grips for that information. The Combat NCO is made here in Colorado Springs one at a time. Tested by the man who designed it with retired Marines on the bench with him making the guns. We use the finest parts and components made for the pistol and as a result, will repair at no charge the pistol for the lifetime of the owner.…..Uuuuuh, how is that? You send us a gun through normal wear that fails to function properly and we will service the gun for free…….
What if the owner shot 100,000 rounds through the gun?We don’t care if you shot 150,000 rounds we would like to service it. Our Patented Parts and or designed components are designed to extended the life of the M1911 by 1000%. That’s One Thousand Percent! 165,000 rounds to you. Now it is probable the barrel will not last that long but the NCO will. So you call the ball. If what you need is a NCO and not a cheap substitute, think again about the Lifetime warranty. The only Pistol on earth that has one. The only Pistol on earth that is an NCO with the accuracy we claim and the warranty to back it up when you have done your worst to wear it out……..Whisper to me who makes the finest M1911 in the world. Its called a NCO and its made in Colorado.

The “Combat NCO” frame and recesses have been altered to function up to -76 to a plus 1200 degrees fahrenheit. The barrels made by Joseph Brazier have the new “Lippard Military and Lippard Wide Link” to insure absolute return to battery extending pistol and barrel life from a conventional of 15,000 rounds to well beyond 100,000 rounds. (The “Wide Link” is a elaboration and variation of Frank Pachmayr’s design)

Patent Pending “Lippard Wide Link, Lippard Military” left and center. A conventional Colt 1911 A-1 link of today, right.
There are 7 Patents or Patents Pending by Karl Lippard on the 1911/Pistols/Cannons/Shotguns. No other pistols use NCO Patented components.

The “Lippard Military Link” allows for new barrel or conventional barrel installation without alteration. The “Lippard Multi Caliber barrel” (not shown during patent application) allows for changing of worn barrels in less than 3 minutes. Further, the Combat NCO fires unaltered 3 calibers of munitions. Only the Hardball Military ammo is discussed. However, the other two make the “Combat NCO” THE MOST LETHAL PISTOL SYSTEM IN EXISTANCE to any range where the human eye can decern a target.

Welllllll, ….is there more?
Uuuuuh….YESSSSS, there IS! …..But this WAS a general answer to the question.

Is the “Combat NCO” available today?…

Since 2008 for civilians, yes it is. Largely they are hand made to order, in small quantities with critical components of S7 VAC tool steel. Price is $5,000.00 each with the order, (plus extra’s) from Joseph Brazier, Ltd. ……And as all Marines and Army who are using the pistol today know, the man from “Cam Ne” builds and shoots the gun personally first, has been in harms way, and together with them joins the shooter where the metal meets the meat…… How many guns are made today and shot but the man who designed it?

These boys are military and share something in common. They all screw into a part that makes them silent.

The Marine Corps “Combat NCO”. Now you know something about what it is and the men perhaps who carry it. But like its namesake the Marine NCO, you have no idea of its full capability.

A cloaked NCO comes in unexpected containers.

Alone the military version lacks few accessories.

Combined with a knife designed for Marine Corps hand to hand combat system these tools come with training manuals for proper use and are not available for export.

For more information here read: “Combat NCO” Pistol Debut in .45 ACP, here in the “News” catagory.

Note: Joseph Brazier, Ltd. et al, extends it services and technology to the military for free and to the limits of its ability, to all men fighting in combat, anytime, and anywhere , it is requested.