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As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, Cabot Guns has unveiled a limited-edition 1911 that literally contains a piece of Revolutionary War history.
The company recently announced the America 250 Limited Edition 1911, a commemorative pistol built around Damascus steel forged from a 4-pound British cannonball recovered from Lake Champlain. Only 50 examples will be produced.
The pistol marks the nation’s semiquincentennial celebration on July 4, 2026, while paying tribute to the people, events, and ideals that shaped the United States.
Table of contents
From British Cannonball to 1911 Trigger
The centerpiece of the project is a Revolutionary War-era cannonball believed to have originated from the battles fought along the Lake Champlain corridor.
According to Cabot, the artifact was recovered in the 1950s and later transformed into Damascus steel through a painstaking process involving master blacksmith Ray Rybar and renowned Damascus artisan Robert Eggerling.
The resulting Damascus billets became custom triggers for each America 250 pistol.
Each trigger is deep-etched and Nitre Blued, creating a striking appearance while preserving a direct connection to the nation’s fight for independence.
Cabot describes the transformation as symbolic. An object once intended to suppress the colonies now serves as part of a firearm celebrating American liberty.
American Symbols Throughout
The historical theme extends well beyond the trigger.
The slide is machined from American-made billet stainless steel and engraved with imagery inspired by the Great Seal of the United States. A detailed bald eagle dominates the design, reflecting a symbol that has represented American strength and independence since the 18th century.
The frame uses 4140 carbon steel and receives Cabot’s proprietary Fire and Ice finish. The treatment creates rich red-brown tones that contrast with white American holly grips engraved with excerpts from the Declaration of Independence.
Blue PVD small parts and the Nitre Blued Damascus trigger complete a patriotic red, white, and blue color scheme.
Cabot also incorporated another piece of early American history. The front sight bead is reportedly crafted from colonial-era half pennies made from solid copper.
Four One-of-One Pistols Also Planned
In addition to the 50 production guns, Cabot says it will create four one-of-a-kind 1911s featuring even greater use of the historic Damascus steel.
Those pistols will stand apart from the limited production run. And they are expected to become some of the most exclusive firearms the company has produced.
A Collector’s Piece for America’s 250th
The 1911 has long held a special place in American firearms history. Designed by John Moses Browning and adopted by the U.S. military in 1911, the platform remains one of the most recognizable handguns ever produced.
Cabot’s America 250 project combines that legacy with materials tied directly to the Revolutionary War.
Whether buyers view it as a firearm, a collector’s piece, or a historical artifact, the America 250 stands out as one of the more ambitious commemorative projects tied to the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary.
With only 50 examples planned, interested collectors might wanna snatch one up sooner rather than later. But with an MSRP pushing $15K, most of us will have to sit this one out.
Learn more HERE.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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