Produced as prize pistols for the 2013 Best Ranger competition: the Army special-ordered two M45A1s wearing the old Colt Rail Gun roll mark, since the M45A1 roll mark would not exist for another year and the Army was not about to present their best Rangers with a USMC-marked pistol. The guest of honor for that year's competition, former Secretary of State and retired General Colin Powell, presented the pistols to the winning two-man team. Mechanically a regular production pistol of the era with a different slide: Cerakote, all FDE, letter-stamped trigger guard. Two exist; one resides in the MiMoSA Research collection.
| Roll mark | COLT RAIL GUN |
| Production | Regular production |
| Finish | Cerakote |
| Colors | All FDE |
| Pistol box | Not documented |
| Shipping box | Not documented |
| Special edition | Best Ranger Prize Pistol |