Posted on 11/30/2012 7:44:34 PM PST by DogByte6RER
Double-barrel 1911 lands ATF approval, importation to begin next year
The ATF has given Arsenal the green light to import their double-barreled, double-everything 1911. Arsenal turned a lot of heads a few months back when they announced their truly unique handgun, the AF2011-A1, but many assumed that the gun would never wind up for sale in the U.S., because it fires two cartridges with one pull of the trigger, making it a machine gun according to federal law.
Arsenal maintained that their double trigger design, and matching pair of sears and hammers, would not raise the hackles of the gatekeepers of the guns, and they were right on the money. From their press release:
"The US Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) has officially granted import permission and sale in the United States of America of the AF2011-A1 Second Century double barrel pistol, with a total score of 120 Points, according to Form 4590.
"Arsenal Firearms Group proudly announces the official distribution to America of the whole line of double barrel firearms and dedicated accessories starting on January the 1st 2013, through the appointed US Importer of Record, Apex International LLC of Middletown, CT and according to a 'Direct Dealer Distribution.'
"The Company wishes to take this opportunity to thank warmly the millions of followers, enthusiasts and supporters in the United States of America and worldwide: they are part of the dream and indeed our main reason to be."
We can't help but be excited about this crazy handgun. Yes, it's ridiculous, we completely agree with that. It's two inches thick and weighs four pounds unloaded. Even with a full set of magazines it's got a capacity of 8+8+1+1 rounds, and it's probably going to cost a cubic foot of money.
It's just… we're so surprised that this gun is going to even be available. How can we not want to get behind one?
Arsenal says that they will have a full line of firearms and accessories and they will launch all of it at the 2013 SHOT Show. This may mean just the AF2011-A1, but we hope it means their Second Century double 1911 chambered in .38 Super and also their highly-anticipated Strizh pistols.
Their Strizh, or Strike One as they plan to market it in the U.S., is a truly 21st century handgun, a striker-fired pistol built on either a polymer or alloy frame designed for law enforcement and competition use. The Russian ministry of defense has already announced that they intend to retire the Makarov and replace it with the Strizh.
Arsenal is a joint Russian and Italian firm that's still just a couple of years old, but they have our attention to say the least. Their designs are innovative and promising, and the wait between now and SHOT Show is going to kill us.
Sweeeeeeeet ... I'd like to get a pair of these!
“Go ahead, punk. Make my day. Go ahead, punk. Make my day.”
;)
It’s double-double tap hardware!
Oh NO. Now I have got to buy one or two!!!!
Interesting gun tho I doubt it’s real practicability.
On the other hand it would give a double tap each time.
Looks like an awkward and ungainly piece of crap.
Repetition can often be the best education.
Dumbest gun ever. What happens if you only pull one trigger? It only has one slide. One round fires, the other doesn’t.
I guess that it would be a great conversation starter, but the conversation would start with “You spent how much on that ridiculous contraption???”
Maybe...but it will really be a head turner at the range.
Crazy machinists. I’m in!
ATF trying to strut confidence in a fight, giving patriots a bit more power when pitted against all their hollow points.
Is there a purpose to this contraption?
I think it only has one trigger so both barrels would fire. Of course one could just load one barrel and I doubt there would be enough recoil to function the gun.
There is something about this when I look at it that reminds me of teats on a boar.
Definitely a machinist's gun. Can't say it looks very practical, but it is a nice piece of machine work.
Very practical................If you’re a freaking super villain.
Double taps made easy.
What's the recoil is the big question. Firing one round is more then enough for most. Two at a time?????
Sounds like some sales gimic to me, not a serious weapon.
If it is not too clumsy and heavy to handle, I could actually see a use for it.
Two shots more than double the effect. So it should really be a heavy hitter. Recoil would also be doubled tho the extra weight would help some.
How much would this stepson of a gun cost?
What a thing of beauty.
I fired hundreds of rounds through an M 1911 when I was on the unit pistol team back in the late 70s early 80s. We had "rack weapons" that were not modified in any way, and the trigger pull had to be over four lbs. I have two 1911 pistols, one standard and one match grade. I can't imagine two rounds firing at the same time. I've fired a .44 magnum and thought that thing had recoil.
But what happens if the bullets collide in mid air!?
Perhaps the two barrels should diverge at an angle of, say 7* laterally in your example.
You can order it with linked or separate triggers.
If the bullets hit, it would throw them both way off.
I doubt they would tho as the barrels are parallel. Also one would probably exit the barrel a split second ahead or behind the other.
Or when ya get a FTF on one side and a FTE on the other side both simultaneously after the same trigger press! For sure an interesting looking weapon tho.
Ike and Mike think alike. They think it’s ugly.
Or worse a double jam. Oh the fun of having to clear two jams at once in a gun fight. Sometimes simple is better.
I always thought a double barreled Uzi or Sterling SMG would be cool.
for some reason i smell something foul with the atf approval. like something to use for gun control when used in a crime. perhaps i am mistaken. perhaps not.
They should know.
That picture always reminds me of an album cover I once owned by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils.
Now I gotta go find the picture...
We could fill the entire comment section with double barreled trick shot fantasy scenes.
Single barreled weapons built on the 1911 frame were easily gripped by the average person ..... something tells me that it ain't gonna be the case with these puppies.
Didja just call me 4-eyes? Huh, punk didja?
(Clint Eastwood voice) :)
(reply unintelligible due to excessive drool on keyboard)
I agree, how much does this thing weigh?
I agree, how much does this thing weigh?
But, this double barrel 1911 seems great for collection....and "just having one." Kind of like these handguns that are cool, but on the battlefield or back alley I would choose another weapon if I had my druthers:
Although....the little Berreta is one hell of a great size for a concealed weapon!
Agree. Here is yet another one that is really cool......but......well.
I'm with you. I wonder if you can fire one barrel at a time. If so, does the slide lock back when a particular side is out or when both sides are spent> It seems more like an ammo waster than anything else - my 1911 was made in 1914 and is still a fine and reliable weapon - if I needed a second shot, the 1/4" or so separation between barrels wouldn't be helpful - better to just squeeze off another one.
Try and go concealed carry with that monster I think you’d have to wear a brace on your weak side just to stay upright.
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