Akai Custom Guns, a Florida custom shop that specialized in competition firearms, recently released a pistol created in partnership with Marine MoH recipient Cpl. Dakota Meyer. With his input, they manufactured the Dakota Meyer Special Edition 1911 in .45ACP.
The .45-caliber 1911 is accurate enough to shoot in competition and rugged enough for self-defense or concealed carry said Shay Akai, the company’s owner.
“It was important that it was nontraditional, more aggressive, more modern,” Akai said. “Dakota had some very specific requests. It had to be the kind of gun you would be proud to carry in the sandbox.”
The M1911 is an American icon, in service since before World War I and carried by troops until the introduction of the 9mm Beretta M9 in the 1980s. It has a storied history, and many have an old-school look about them with wooden grip panels.
Meyer, who was awarded the nation’s top valor award for heroism during a 2009 battle in Afghanistan, was consulted on the design. He told Akai he wanted something that belonged on the modern battlefield.
The end product was a no-nonsense-looking pistol that — unlike its predecessors — looks more akin to modern M16 and M4 carbines. Traditional 1911s are a better match for rifles with wood stocks, like the M1 Garand or M14.
One side of the slide reads: “For Those Who Gave All.” On the other side, it reads: “Dakota Meyer, Medal of Honor Recipient.”
Still, looking the part wasn’t enough. Meyer, who is credited with making several trips into the line of fire to recover wounded and killed Afghan and U.S. troops when his embedded training team was ambushed by more than 50 enemy fighters during a patrol, wanted something that could also function in battle. Often high-end guns, especially those crafted for competition, are sensitive to dirt, carbon buildup and adverse conditions. They sacrifice reliability in favor of speed and accuracy. But Akai combined the performance and the reliability expected of a service weapon into the design.
“Reliability is extremely important, but we also expect accuracy,” Akai said. “It will go 1,000 rounds before a cleaning and still function. It is not going to be a Glock, but it will have accuracy that no Glock can achieve.”
A great deal of thought went into cutting the slide with aggressive serrations that allow the shooter to grip and cycle the slide, even when it is muddy or wet. There are also no sharp corners that would catch on gear or clothing, and it was designed for use with either hand. An ambidextrous safety means an injured gun fighter could remain in the fight, operating the weapon’s controls with their off hand.
Other features include night sights; a rail frame for affixing lights and an integrated magazine well for faster magazine changes; A KART National Match bull’s-eye barrel made from 4150 mil-spec steel, the same used to construct M16 barrels; EDM-cut trigger group that breaks at 3 pounds; and IonBond Diamond Like Carbon finish.
When they finally delivered the pistol, Akai said Meyer was ecstatic.
“He called up and said, ‘I didn’t know you were going to send me a pistol more accurate than my sniper rifle,’ ” he said. “You can compete with it, carry it, it can be a nightstand gun — it is extremely shootable. It is a heavier gun, but the feel of it is very soft shooting.”
For $3,500, the package includes a case emblazoned with a Dakota Meyer logo, a special challenge coin and a magazine.
Akai said he hopes to work with Meyer again in the future. He is discussing the creation of AR-15 rifle and concealed carry pistol lines.
PHOTO: Courtesy of Akai Custom Guns
