Recent content by AlexanderA

Any "limited edition commemorative" is not, almost by definition, a real collectible. These are scams targeting the gullible.

https://inside.safariland.com/blog/walther-ppk-s-in-32-acp-reviving-classic/ With an MSRP of $969, this better be vastly improved from the previous iteration. My early-1970's PPK/S still gives me a bad memory. This was undoubtedly the worst handgun I've ever owned, and that's saying something...

Armscor, RIA, all the same. I started out with the Philippine model that most resembled the WW2 gun, and tried to make it acceptable by changing out parts. (Fortunately I had a stash of parts, including slides and barrels.) I ended up using only the frame (and some small parts), and even that...

Tisas, in its ASF model, has done a good job replicating the WW2 configuration. The biggies are the non-lowered ejection port, the non-beveled magazine well, and the lack of the Series 80 firing pin safety. These are things that can't be "corrected" by swapping parts. Ignore the markings. As...

I forgot to mention that it comes in a really nifty fitted case with cleaning rod, brush, trigger lock, chamber flag, and barrel bushing wrench. (The bushing wrench is not needed because the bushing can easily be removed by hand.) The cases, including the accoutrements, are also available...

The underlying quality is very good, and the price is below what it "should" be, based on that quality. These would make a good speculation, if you wanted to set a few aside.

The Tisas quality is truly impressive. Look again at some of my close-up pictures, above. No visible machining marks, whatsoever. This is just as good, or better, than peacetime Colt production. They're a great bargain, right now, largely because of the weakness of the Turkish lira combined...

Don't assume that clones and reproductions will never have collector value. We've already seen this with muzzleloaders -- some of the early Italian percussion revolvers are worth more than some originals. And as originals reach unapproachable price levels, the reproductions will follow right...

You need to measure the grip circumference, using a tape measure. Here's what I get, measuring at the midpoint of the grip. Most common grip for that model gun, in inches: 1911......................................................................5.375 Taurus PT92 (same as Beretta 92FS)....5.75...

Who dislikes/hates the Beretta 92FS/M9? They are big, clunky guns (compared to, say, the Sig Sauer M17/M18). But the feature I dislike most is the dropping of the hammer when the safety is applied. Highly disconcerting for someone who grew up on the M1911. So I removed the release levers on...

Only because Tisas themselves are making a big deal about copying specifically a mid-war Remington-Rand. Certain parts, such as the 8-rib arched mainspring housing, and the hammer, are markers for R-R.

That's reassuring to know. So my Tisas is correctly fitted. However, on all of my original WW2 guns (Colt, Remington-Rand, and Ithaca, all in excellent condition), the slide can be released with an empty magazine fully inserted. Yes, they lock back, but that can be overridden by pressing down...

Yes, everything except the recoil spring plug. I didn't see any problem with that.

I was specifically looking for one at the recent Nation's Gun Show in Chantilly, Virginia (which is a huge show). No vendor had one, and of course they weren't at the local shops either. So I finally went on Gun Broker and bought one from a seller in Wisconsin, who had it drop-shipped directly...

Part 2 -- The Grips The Tisas comes with two sets of grips: Turkish walnut in a diamond pattern, and plastic. The following picture shows, from left to right, (a) the Tisas walnut grips, (b) the Tisas plastic grips, (c) original WW2 plastic grips, and (d) postwar GI replacement grips. The...