1911 Advice Needed. The same old... But Different.

[Robusto]

Hi all-
For my birthday my father has offered to buy me a 1911. He took notice that every time we go to the range I rent one, so he offered to buy me one. When we were talking about it, I said that I was thinking an old Colt. I was thinking maybe a good condition WWII era piece, as I am a bit of a history buff, and love tangible pieces of history. He replied; “don’t you want a nice one? Now, being that he is footing the bill, I replied, “well, a nice spring field would be great.” To which he replied; “Yeah, but I meant a nice one…Like one of those Brown Bears”? Brown Bears, I thought… Oh, do you mean an Ed Brown or Les Baer, I said. Yeah… one of those, he confirmed.

Now, ever since his heart surgery he has been unusually generous, and I know that buying me a top notch 1911 (or any nice gun or thing that I am interested) would make him feel good, but I feel bad accepting a gift that costs that much. He said that he wants to, but I still fell like it is too much.

So, what do I do? I would be happy with an old Colt or a nice Springfield or Kimber. But he wants to buy me a high end 1911. Should I let him? Should I talk him into buying me something else? What would you do?

Thanks for the help

 

[Black Majik]

I think a Colt WWI Repro would fit the bill very nicely. Plus it won't break the bank as much as a Baer/Brown/RRA/WC/NH.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Ed Brown would be real nice He wants you to have it Make him happy

 

[passintime]

Don't stifle the gift. Get something you will be happy with and something he will be happy buying you. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity and he wants to bless you.

 

[Zedo]

Baer makes "race guns" -- which are for competition. I'd be like driving a Ferrari to the corner for a jug of milk.

Vintage WWII Colt military go for near as much -- which would be like driving a Pearce Arrow to the corner for a jug of milk.

Springfield "loaded" is nice -- reasonable. I've never been a fan of Kimber. I think they're over-hyped.

But talk to your dad about what you're shopping for. He's the one who wants to buy one -- for you.

 

[possum]

i know i will make you happy and it sounds like he would be tickled pink to get it for you. i wish my dad was that awesome. let him get it for you. and just think that will last you your lifetime, and one day you can give it to one of your kids.

 

[frogger42]

Take a look at the new Dan Wesson Valor. It is an awesome gun that is top notch and beautiful, but it costs about half of the others listed. That way he can feel good he got you a great 1911 and you can feel good that he didn't spend enough to make you feel guilty. They can be had for around $1299.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Your Dad intends this to be an heirloom of sorts (I think)...get one that will last several lifetimes. In order of my preference...there are others to choose from, but these are my picks.

1. Baer Thunder Ranch Special
2. Wilson Combat CQB

 

[PCFlorida]

If it makes Dad happy (and I'm sure it will make you happy) by all means go for it. It will be a gift you will cherish and give you fond memories that will just make you call him up for no reason other than to tell him how much you like shooting it.

 

[weisse52]

+1 on the Colt WWI repo. Well made guns that are a work of art. It should help the history buff.


If that does not work for you then go with the Baer! A work of art in it's on right.

 

[BlindJustice]

I'd also recommend telling Dad you'd really like
the Colt Re-issue WWII model - heck they're out of the
Colt Custom shop, as are the other re-issue models,
70 Series and WWI.

This choice gives you something that is true historically
in form but you'll also have no worries about reducing a collector
piece's value.

Randall

 

[rellascout]

I would not get a WWI repo. They are not that nice and there have been issues reported with the finish.

Get the carbonia blue WWII. Classic look with a fair price tag and you won't feel bad shooting it.

 

[Kman]

Suggest a nice gun, you don't need a $1500 piece, then buy lots of ammo and range time to spend with HIM and the GUN. When he is gone it won't matter if it was an Ed Brown or a Lorcin, the time spent together is what will be remembered.

 

[cjw3cma]

Take Dad with you when you go to look at / pick out the 1911. Let him handle as many as you have the time to look at and get him to express what he thinks about each one. Having your father help pick out his gift to you would make (in my opinion) one of the most remembered times of all.

Good luck with your choice and maybe a picture of the one you get along with your Dad and you in the photo - a great picture.

 

[eatont9999]

Hard to say. No one has ever bought me something that expensive in my whole life. You must have a very good relationship with your dad and I think it would mean more to him than you might think. I would say go for it. Let him buy you something you both agree on. If you hate the expensive 1911s, tell him. If you think it is too much, but he insists, take it. I would "bronze" a WWI or WWII 1911 just because I would not want to wear it out and it is a piece of history. You may want to go with the newer 1911 so you don't feel guilty shooting it.

Good luck!

 

[KyJim]

Provided it doesn't create any financial hardship, accept the gift graciously. Sometimes it really does feel better to give than retrieve. Having said that, then suggest the Colt reproductions if that's what floats your boat. Just realize that the repros are just that. They are not really designed with hollow points in mind, don't have the lowered ejection ports, have the small GI sights, and so forth.

 

[johncantiusgarand]

I would not get a WWI repo. They are not that nice and there have been issues reported with the finish.

Get the carbonia blue WWII. Classic look with a fair price tag and you won't feel bad shooting it.

What are you talking about? Colt doesn't/never did make a carbonia blue WWII. Colt made two WWI repros recently--a carbonia-finished one that is now discontinued, and one still in production that is identical except for a black oxide finish. The WWII reissue was parkerized, and that, too, is now discontinued.

As to the Colt WWI repros not being nice, I did pass on one of the early carbonia models that just happened to be poorly fit. But the majority of these models are very nice indeed. By the time I had funds for another pistol, the carbonia was discontinued, and I bought one of the black oxide models. I also own two 1991's and a Colt WWII reissue, and the black oxide WWI reissue is the nicest of the four.

Robusto, I tend to side with the others here who have encouraged you to take your dad up on his offer to get you a premium 1911. But if you decide that you just don't feel right having him spend that much money on you, the Colt WWI's are peachy and would probably appeal to your love of history. The sights, however, for historical accuracy's sake, are tiny.

P.S. Although it is a fact that the repros weren't designed with hollow points in mind, most owners (including me) of the recent Colt repros--even the WWI reissue with it's non-dimpled barrel--report that they handle hollow points just fine.

 

[Johnny Guest]

Best of both worlds - -

My last pistol purchase was new-production "Colt Govt. Model Series 70. Model 01970A1CS." Illustration and details at AJC Sport Shop.
I am extremely pleased with it. Old-style innards, as produced from 1912 to 1982, without the firing pin "safety." Classic lines - - No ski-jump safety, no forward slide serrations, no holes in trigger, standard flat hammer, handsomely checked, double diamond wood stocks, polished flats on slide and frame, nice dark finish. Steel trigger and steel arched mainspring housing. Comes with a spare magazine. New touch: High visibility fixed sights. Trigger is the best I've seen on a non-match-tuned .45.

This pistol has dignity. Functioning has been flawless with three different JHP loads, 230 FMJRN and jacketed 200 gr SWC. Hits point of aim for me. Good groups at 25 yards.

It is a genuine Colt -- not cheap, but in today's market, the price is surprisingly reasonable -- I paid slightly over $800 for mine. It is a pistol you can take out of the box, clean it, and shoot an IDPA match with it. After 200 rounds, I carried mine on the street with no misgivings whatever.

I've written elsewhere about this pistol. I'm even more impressed with it than I was at first.

There are a lot of nice 1911-style pistols on the market, but this one is outstanding. I wouldn't swap it for some costing several hundred dollars more. I know I'd be proud to give one to MY son.

You have a really nice dad there, Robusto. Whatever your peronal choice of pistol, he's very generous. Good luck to both of you.
Johnny

 

[Aguila Blanca]

Ed Brown, Les Baer, Wilson Combat, Nighthawk Customs all build some fine 1911s. Despite that, even if someone else were paying for it I would still choose a Colt over any of the above. I might move up to a more expensive Colt, but I'd still choose a Colt. First, just because it has the Colt name, but there's more. For a variety of reasons, over the past three or four years I have had an opportunity to handle and shoot a LOT of different 1911s, ranging from true entry-level offerings to a few that most people could not even imagine the price of. The high ticket pistols were ... "nice." Some were even "very, very nice." But for all that, when you hold a Colt in your hand it just feels different. You just know that you're directly connected to nearly 100 years of American military history, and there's just no other handgun and maker that can say that.

The only other pistol I'd seriously consider in a situation like yours, if he really really wants to buy you a top-flight 1911, would be a Guncrafter's 50 GI Model 1, with the .45 caliber conversion. It is ... incomparable.

http://www.guncrafterindustries.com/model1_50gi.shtml

 

[Babalouie]

Here's an idea. Instead of one top end 1911 get a set of Springfields with sequential serial numbers, one for him and one for you. Then agree that he'll leave his to his grandson/daughter and you'll leave yours for your grandson/daughter, etc. etc. That way every father/child generation will have a matching set of 1911s!

 

[orionengnr]

I don't know your family, I don't know your father's medical condition, I don't know a lot of things....

If I had to take a guess, his thought process might be something like:
"I can will him my money after I'm gone, or I can give him something of value now, and enjoy seeing him enjoying it."

If that is the case, then either a "Brown Bear" or an original WWI/WWII 1911 (not a reproduction) would be a great addition to your collection--the former because it is an object of utility and beauty, and the latter for the history and pedigree.

There was a guy walking around the gun show last weekend with two 1911s, one was 1918 and the other in that same general era. I think he was looking for $1500-1600 for the pair. Condition good, but well used. I'm not a collector, so I have no idea if this was a good, bad, or indifferent deal, but my point is that I believe you could get a real functioning historic piece in good shape for ~$1000, and if history trumps modern perfection, this might be the way to go.

I also like Babalouie's "generational heirloom" idea.

 

[R12GS]

Is your Dad looking to add another son to family? I can already feed and bath myself, very low maintenance.

FWIW I like the idea of a Colt WW1 Reproduction. I'm not sure though just how much shooting you would actually do with it though. Its just too nice for a daily carry or shooter. You may want to get an Ed Brown or DW Valor and shoot one of those.

 

[mljdeckard]

I've jeered many times about serious custom guns. I carry a Kimber that currently retails for about $700, and it's so good I think I'll be buried with it. I shot a Nighthawk custom at a local range that retails for $2700, and I have absolutely no idea what it has that makes it worth triple the price. My dad just bought a Springfield G.I. model. It cycles reliably and hits the mark. I REALLY think that the law of diminishing returns kicks in on 1911s at about $1000.

BUT, if you are in a position where someone else is footing the bill, and specifically ASKED if you wanted a really nice 1911, I would go to a good range where you can at least handle, and hopefully shoot a Les Baer, a Wilson, a Nighthawk, and/or any of the other high-end custom guns out there, pick some brains, see if you can find some staff who have something besides their own opinion to back up their recommendations, and buy what feels best.

If it was ME, I'd get a Kimber or SA, and spend the rest on a basic pistol course at Thunder Ranch or ammo.

 

[Magnumite]

Robusto, from the perspective of being a Dad and in good health so far, I'd say your father wants to give you something that goes far beyond a gift. You two shoot together, he sees your direction and wants to enhance your joy and companionship in a manner no words can express. Memories will be forged into that pistol stronger than any steel made.

You are a considerate, gracious son, so you may consider asking him if he can actually afford the "Brown Bear" and if so, that will lend legacy to the pistol as well. If your heart is set on a military 1911 pattern pistol, the new Colt repros are hot items as listed earlier. You may even offer to do a special favor in return.

My son has been shooting with me for several years and he will soon be 14. He is beginning to shoot competitively on the club level. I am building a learning 1911 for him now, seeing what works for him. Then when the time comes, I'll build him "the 1911" for him - the best I can muster. It is THAT important.

I did an at home cold blue after blending this rough puppy of a pistol and you should have seen him oogle over it. So I feel your Dad's passion.

 

[Ditto_95]

Ed Brown pistols are made to be shot and carried.
That would be my suggestion. It will last as long as you do and always run.
Get one and take your dad shooting with it as often as you can.