TDE Auto Mag Model 180 .44 AMP, 6.5 inch Stainless, El Monte Rollmark, 1970s U.S. Production with 2 Mags and RCBS Dies
This Trade Deed Estates (TDE) Auto Mag Model 180 stands out for its El Monte, California rollmark, stainless-steel construction, and 6.5 inch barrel with a ventilated, serrated rib featuring three lightening windows. Chambered in the proprietary .44 AMP, it uses the Auto Mag platform’s short-recoil system with a six-lug rotary bolt and accelerator. Original-era production totaled roughly 9,000 pistols across companies, with TDE-marked examples particularly noted by collectors. This pistol includes two 7-round magazines and RCBS .44 Auto Mag reloading dies.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Excellent - Clean, mirror finish, no signs of wear.
Bore Rifling: Excellent Rifling - Sharp lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: The firearm shows heavy use, with scratches on the grip, slide, and receiver. The barrel shows prior use, and there are scratches visible between the rifling that may be from shooting or excessive cleaning; the bore remains shiny. Rust is present on the recoil spring system, the front sight, the nose, a rib, and the bolt. Refer to pictures.
What’s Included
- TDE Auto Mag Model 180 pistol chambered in .44 AMP
- 2x 7-round Auto Mag-pattern steel single-stack magazines
- RCBS reloading dies for .44 Auto Mag (.44 AMP): ".44 Auto Mag from .308 Win" (PN 40039) and "Taper Crimp 44 Auto Mag" (PN 19264)
- Misc parts
This Auto Mag carries the left-side rollmark "AUTO MAG .44 AMP MODEL 180 EL MONTE, CALIF. PATENTED" with the circular TDE logo, tying it to the TDE El Monte production period in the 1970s. Original-era Auto Mag production across companies was roughly 9,000 pistols, and TDE-marked examples are well regarded by enthusiasts.
Engineered around the proprietary .44 AMP cartridge, the design uses short-recoil operation with a six-lug rotary bolt and an accelerator. It features top ejection, dual recoil spring tunnels beneath the barrel, and stainless-steel construction for the frame, receiver, and barrel.
The 6.5 inch barrel includes a ventilated rib with three lightening windows and longitudinal serrations. Sighting is provided by an adjustable square-notch rear; front sight configuration varies by barrel assembly.
This full-size configuration offers a 7+1 capacity and comes with two 7-round magazines. Also included are RCBS .44 Auto Mag dies, with boxes labeled ".44 Auto Mag from .308 Win" (PN 40039) and "Taper Crimp 44 Auto Mag" (PN 19264), supporting the cartridge’s historical formation from trimmed .308/.30-06 brass.
The Auto Mag platform used modular barrel assemblies that allowed caliber changes within the system; this example is configured in .44 AMP.