What, you thought the world didn't need another highly decorated, ridiculously limited-edition handgun? Think again. SK Customs, a purveyor of firearms as art (or at least as extremely shiny objects), has announced its latest creation: the "Kingdom of Aztlán" series. The inaugural offering is a Colt 1911, and like a Hollywood blockbuster, it has a title that practically screams historical epic: Huitzilopochtli. This isn't just any old .38 Super; it's a tribute to the Mexica people, better known as the Aztecs, and their patron god of war, the sun, and migration. Only 500 of these will ever exist, so if you're a completist, you might want to start making friends with people who own a safe.

The inspiration for this pistol comes from a story as old as the Mexica themselves. Aztlán, a mythical homeland, was supposedly a sort of Eden to the north of the Valley of Mexico. Legend has it that the Mexica, guided by divine signs, packed up their bags and embarked on a perilous journey. The goal was to find a new home, and a god with an exceptionally long name was there to help them. This pilgrimage eventually led them to a marshy island in the heart of a lake, where they founded the great city of Tenochtitlán in 1325. Whether Aztlán was a real place or just a nice story to tell the kids remains a matter of historical debate, but it’s a foundational part of Mexico's cultural identity.

At the center of this mythological road trip was Huitzilopochtli, the powerful deity of the sun and war. He wasn’t a god you'd want to cross; described as a demanding and fierce figure, Huitzilopochtli was the original life coach for the Mexica. He's credited with commanding them to leave Aztlán and promising a promised land. The divine sign they were looking for? An eagle, perched on a cactus, devouring a serpent—the very image that now graces the Mexican national emblem. It’s the kind of divine GPS signal that’s tough to misread.

Huitzilopochtli's role went far beyond a one-time migration. In Mexica society, he represented the daily struggle of light against darkness. To ensure the sun rose each day and the world didn't fall into a cosmic abyss, he required constant nourishment through ritual offerings. Under his divine guidance, the Mexica transformed from a nomadic tribe into an imperial power, building one of the most sophisticated civilizations of the pre-Columbian Americas. Together, the legend of Aztlán and the influence of Huitzilopochtli symbolize both the origins and the grand destiny of the Aztec people, proving that a good origin story is essential for any aspiring empire.

Now, onto the firearm itself. This limited-edition production is a Colt 1911 Government Model, chambered in the popular .38 Super cartridge. Each pistol will be engraved with its unique edition number, ensuring that you and 499 other people can be reminded that you own a very specific gun. The entire package is polished to a high shine and finished with a deep Colt Royal Blue, because nothing says reverence like a mirror-like surface. Select areas and controls are treated with 24-karat gold plating, which is a surprisingly common feature on historical tributes of this nature.

The artistic flourishes are where this handgun really earns its keep. On the left side of the slide, a scene of the Aztec migration unfolds. You can see the sun rising behind the Chapultepec Hills, a reminder of the journey’s end, with the snake from the national emblem closest to the muzzle. The Mexican eagle watches over the scene, while the classic Colt serpent logo is cleverly integrated into the design, because why have one snake when you can have two? Traditional Aztec symbols provide a subtle background texture, creating a contrast to the blindingly shiny gold-plated art.

The right side of the slide is no less detailed. A hummingbird is featured prominently, a nod to the fact that "Huitzilopochtli" translates to "Hummingbird Left" or "Hummingbird of the South." The name AZTLÁN is embellished in stylized lettering, with the same Aztec symbols providing a textured background. It’s a full-on, two-sided artistic experience, so you’ll have to decide which side you want facing out of your display case.

The top of the slide isn’t left out of the fun. It’s inscribed with the series name, "Huitzilopochtli," along with the Aztec codex for the god. Near the rear sight, a depiction of the Aztec union star shines brightly, also in 24-karat gold. To top it all off, the grips are made of engraved beechwood and feature an artistic portrayal of an earlier Mexican Eagle with the serpent in its talons. An additional set of artistic grips can be purchased, allowing collectors to swap them out and create a different look. It's the firearm equivalent of changing your phone's case.

The guns are expected to start shipping in November 2025. You can take advantage of special pre-launch pricing, but like a good tax collector, SK Customs warns that prices will go up in November. So, if you want a part of this particular piece of history, you might want to consider putting down a deposit before the economic shifts and rising costs inevitably hit, proving that even a goddess of war is subject to the whims of the market.