AMT Hardballer

The AMT Hardballer is a clone of the .45 ACP Colt M1911, although some components of the action are not interchangeable with other M1911s. It was made by Arcadia Machine & Tool, commonly known as AMT, from 1977. The Hardballer was the first entirely stainless steel 1911 pattern pistol. Other features included adjustable rear sights and a lengthened grip safety.^[1]

Overview

The Hardballer derives its name from round-nose hardball ammunition (solid lead bullet with driving bands or non-jacketed lead bullets).

The Hardballer series of pistols all share a brushed stainless steel finish, wrap-around rubber grips, loaded chamber indicator and a wide target style trigger with adjustable trigger stop. The later Galena-made pistols have an elongated "beavertail" grip safety and a beveled magazine well.

Galling of the stainless steel was a common issue, as lubrication technology at the time of original manufacture of the Hardballers was not suitable enough to prevent it. Galling occurred due to the alloy used, as well as the fact that the same hardness of alloy was used for the frame and the slide. Usually, different alloys and hardening are used to prevent galling. Modern stainless guns are much less susceptible to galling. Galling is a condition whereby excessive friction between high spots results in localized welding with subsequent splitting and a further roughening of rubbing surfaces of one or both of two mating parts. Early stainless steel alloys suffered from this due to the breakdown of lubricants. Galling can be prevented by electrolytic nickel plating of the surface. Typically either electrolytic nickel plating the frame rails or slide rails will take care of the problem in virtually all cases.

Variants

• AMT Combat Government: The Hardballer was developed as a sports pistol but in 1978 AMT marketed the Combat Government, a Hardballer with fixed sights for police departments. Since 1985, this model has been called the Government with the term "Combat" omitted.
• AMT Hardballer Longslide: A version with an extended 7 in (178 mm) barrel, introduced in 1980. It has the same qualities as the Hardballer but with slide and barrel lengthened by 2 in (51 mm).
• AMT Skipper: A compact version of the Hardballer introduced in 1980. It features a 4 in (102 mm) barrel. In 1984, the Skipper disappeared from AMT's range.
• AMT Commando: Originally offered by AMT then improved and reintroduced in 2000 (this date in question) under the Galena Industries brand. The original AMT Commando was a 5 in (127 mm) barreled version and did not have a loaded chamber indicator nor beavertail grip safety. The improved Commando is a compact model of the 5 in (127 mm) Government with a 4 in (102 mm) barrel but retaining the frame of the Government model. It is chambered in .40 S&W and has an 8-round magazine capacity.
• AMT Accelerator: Basically a Galena-made Longslide chambered for the powerful .400 Corbon cartridge featuring a 7 in (178 mm) barrel and an elongated beavertail.
• AMT Javelina: An AMT Longslide chambered in the 10mm Auto caliber with an 8-round capacity magazine.

Popular culture

Most notably, AMT Hardballers with suppressors are signature weapons of Agent 47 from the Hitman_(series) video game series. The movie The Terminator featured a Hardballer Longslide on the movie poster and featured the weapon prominently in the film. Additionally, the Hardballer was featured prominently in the film My Name Is Bruce, though Bruce Campbell refers to it as a ".31 Longbow."It also made an appearance in the video game "Resident Evil 4" as the Killer7.

References

Kuchera, Ben (2010-03-10). "True story: the making of the Terminator's laser-sighted .45 pistol". Ars Technica. <http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2010/03/just-what-you-see-the-story-behind-the-45-long-slide-laser-siting.ars.>

External links

• AMT Hardballer Owners manuals
• Ian's AMT Information site