AMT Hardballer

The AMT Hardballer is a clone of the .45 ACP Colt M1911. It was made by Arcadia Machine and Tool Arcadia CA, commonly known as AMT, from 1977. The Hardballer was the first entirely stainless steel 1911. Other features included adjustable rear sights and lengthened grip safety. A version with an extended 6/7 inch long slide is also available. The Hardballer was the first 1911 made in stainless steel.

The AMT Hardballer is not looked highly upon by gun experts or collectors. Collectors who acquire a Hardballer may, depending on the condition of the slide and frame rails, need to have the rails built up and re-cut. The original finish was also a bit rough on the rounds (Rounded parts of the gun), especially on the frame and lower front of the slide. The flats of the slide were usually polished but not to a high shine. The front strap was also serrated to improve the grip.

Galling of the stainless steel was a common issue as lubrication technology at the time of original manufacture of the Harballers was not good enough to prevent the galling. Galling occurred due to the alloy used as well as the hardeness of the alloy being the same for the frame and slide. Typically 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 also be prevented by electroless nickel plating of the surface. Typically either electroless nickel plating the frame rails or slide rails will take care of the problem in virtually all cases.

Popular culture

The Terminator carried an early AMT Hardballer Longslide with a laser sight.

The AMT Hardballer longslide appears with a laser sight in The Terminator, as one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's weapons.

The trademark weapon of the anti-hero Agent 47 in the Hitman series of videogames is the Silverballer (which closely resembles the Hardballer with a shorter slide). There is a modification that can be acquired in the game that allows use of a longer slide, making it look more like the Hardballer. Although normally shown wielding two Silverballers, 47 sometimes has the option to carry only one. In Hitman 2 "Silent Assassin", 47 starts off with dual ballers. In the early stages of Hitman: Blood Money, he only carries one, and throughout the entire first game, Hitman: Codename 47, he has the option to buy an AMT Hardballer.

Agent 47 holding his Silverballers.

In The Punisher (2004 film), Frank Castle Sr. shows his son, Frank Castle/The Punisher, a pair of modified AMT Hardballers, and remarks how they were "pretty good" but had to be re-machined. The Punisher later uses these pistols throughout the rest of the film.

There are actually several 1911 style pistols made by the AMT companyâ€"the Hardballer pistols are more commonly a standard length 1911. The version pictured from "Terminator" is an "AMT Longslide", which is a variation on the 1911 theme.