“This type of .45 Automatic pistol was designed by one of my tribe almost four hundred years ago. Learning its use is a New Canaanite rite of passage.”— Joshua Graham
The .45 Auto pistol is a single-action, semi-automatic, magazine-fed handgun that utilizes .45 Autoammunition. While the .45 AP improved sights modification was cut from the game, the sights are still present on the weapon's default model (pre- and post-modified versions). This gives the .45 Auto pistol luminescent sights, and as such, it is very effective in caves and dark areas.
Furthermore, it is considered an improved holdout weapon and can be taken into weapon-free locations with a Sneakskill of 50 or greater. It is also the strongest silenced holdout weapon that can be brought into weapon-free locations once the AP silencer mod has been added.
Durability
The .45 Auto pistol can fire a total of about 745 standard rounds, the equivalent of 107 reloads, from full condition before breaking. When modded with the heavy duty slide, it can fire a total of about 1,120 standard rounds, the equivalent of 160 reloads, from full condition before breaking.
.45 Auto pistol improved sights – it appears as though there may have been an "upgraded iron-sight" mod available for this weapon but it was cut from the final release, and the weapon's default model uses them instead.
Joshua's Pistol Whippin' .45- a unique non-playable variant used by Joshua Graham. It differs from A Light Shining in Darkness by being used as a melee weapon.
It can be purchased from Joshua Graham. Two or three of them will reappear in his inventory after he arrives at Sorrows camp.
Four can be stolen from Joshua Graham's desk in Angel cave. It is easiest to do this undetected by using the "grab" key to bring in to an unoccupied area, then taking it.
Some of these are used by tribals in Zion.
There is one in good condition in a footlocker behind Joshua Graham in Angel Cave.
They are sometimes found on the bodies of White Legs, though they are not seen using them while alive.
Notes
According to Joshua Graham, it is based on a nearly 400-year-old design from one of his Mormon ancestors and is the trademark weapon of the New Canaanite tribe.
Behind the scenes
The .45 Auto pistol is based on the Colt M1911, although it is not an exact replica.[1]
John Browning, the real-life inventor of the Colt M1911 on which the .45 Auto Pistol is based, was in fact a member of the Mormon Church and was born in Ogden, Utah.
Bugs
PC Sometimes, when both modifications are attached to the .45 Auto pistol, it will not show in first person or third person view while in the Mojave Wasteland. [verified]
Playstation 3 If both mods are attached and you use a weapon repair kit on it, the weapon stops degrading from use and can continue to be repaired past 100% increasing its value and condition. [verified]
PC If loading a saved game from the main menu in which you have the .45 Auto pistol equipped and drawn, the reload animation takes twice as long as normal. This can be solved by switching to another weapon, then back again. [verified]
PC Sometimes when aiming down the sight while in first person view, the gun will disappear entirely. Switching to another weapon, then back seems to fix the issue. [verified]
PC Sometimes, when ED-E repairs the weapon with both modifications, the condition will actually degrade instead of improve. [verified]
Sounds
Gallery
.45 Auto pistol with the heavy duty (HD) slide modification
.45 Auto pistol with the silencer modification
.45 Auto pistol with both modifications
.45 Auto pistol with the non-playable iron sights
.45 Auto pistol with the heavy duty (HD) slide modification and the non-playable iron sights
.45 Auto pistol with the silencer modification and the non-playable iron sights
.45 Auto pistol with all the modifications and the non-playable iron sights