1911 Blue Steel

[Dudemeister]

So I'm planning on getting a 1911 style auto with my income tax return, but I can only spend about $600-700 of it, preferably less. Here is what I want in mine:

1. 9mm.
I don't want to start yet another caliber. I'm already reloading for .45LC, .38SPL, 30-30 Win, and will probably start reloading 9mm. BUt at the moment I still have about 4000 rounds of 9mm, so I'd rather use it up rather than buy more ammo.

2. Should be classic 1911 style, single stack preferably

3. Blued steel. I'm not a big fan of parkerized, flat, military style finishes.

So given those parameters, what should I be looking for.

Thanks.

 

[rellascout]

There is nothing under NIB $700 that will meet your criteria. The blue finish in 9mm is the killer.

 

[mesinge2]

rellascout, is correct. Plenty of parkerized but blued, not so much

Blued steel. I'm not a big fan of parkerized, flat, military style finishes.

If you had not said the above I would have said the 9mm STI Spartan

 

[rellascout]

If you had not said that I would have said the 9mm STI Spartan

I would not call the a STI a classic styled 1911. LOL Good guns but classic styling they are not.

 

[mesinge2]

I missed the word classic, sorry.

 

[rellascout]

I missed the word classic, sorry.

No need to say sorry. Your recommendation is spot on. For a 1911 in 9mm the STI is almost impossible to beat. IHMO

The RIA tactical is close but that too is parked.

 

[mesinge2]

The closest thing I can think of is a Colt 38 Super, but that is not 9mm and well above $700 for a new one

 

[Dudemeister]

Thanks all for the input so far.

When I said "classic", I didn't mean it in that sense, rather what I meant was the look and feel of the 1911. What I'm not looking for is something that is double stack, fat frame.

If it happens to have skeletonized triggers, hammers, beaver tails, and tactical rails I'm OK with that.

I want something that has parts interchangeable with standard 1911s, I want to be able to buy standard grips for it, or maybe a conversion kit, that sort of thing.

As to the finish, what about stainless steel? I'd expect that to be even more, but you never know.

 

[mesinge2]

Here's a nice looking Commander 9mm from Para. They go for about $700:

 

[ninja45]

Stainless steel will be more expensive than blued steel.

 

[mljdeckard]

Yeah, 9mmville is much more exclusive than the rest of the 1911 community, there won't be as many options. People who want them are willing to pay for them, so there aren't any base model options.

Is there a Fusion kit in 9mm?

I honestly think that with your setup for reloading and wanting to have something in a classic style, you would want a .45. If it's just not what you want now, I strongly suspect you will want one eventually.

 

[Dudemeister]

OK, assuming I'm willing to go down the .45ACP path, what are my options then?

 

[mljdeckard]

My Kimber Custom II is the best gun I have ever owned, but there are haters. I would look at an STI Spartan, also look at some of the RIA offerings to see if they have a finish you like.

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

No personal experience, but the American classic II would fit the bill if you are ok with .45 Acp. (hint, if you reload, its like $7 a box using cast bullets, and that's assuming you have to buy them.)

http://www.americanclassic1911.com/classic-ii-model.html

 

[Dudemeister]

No personal experience, but the American classic II would fit the bill if you are ok with .45 Acp. (hint, if you reload, its like $7 a box using cast bullets, and that's assuming you have to buy them.)

http://www.americanclassic1911.com/classic-ii-model.html

Hmmm...

I just read a few reviews of this gun (American Classic II) as well as its other version, the Firestorm, and from what I'm reading, these are a real bargain, and very well made guns.

Given that the street price is also in the low to mid $400's, this just might be it. I'll have to go check one of them out. Hopefully one of my local gun shops might have one.

Anyone here have any experience with these Philippine made guns?

BTW, for that "classic look", the American Classic (as opposed to Classic II), seems to be it:

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

I did see the classic, but I personally think the deep blue on the II is much nicer. Both look like a good deal to me.

 

[rondog]

Good luck in your search, I love blued finishes too! But they just don't seem to be easy to find, and certainly not one of the more "affordable" finishes. I have a RIA that I had blued, and while it came out great, it cost me $250 also, just for the polishing and bluing.

If you want one that's gorgeous, send it to the Colt's Custom Shop, but I hate to think what this one cost.....I think this one's awesome, photo is someone else's gun from another forum. I wet myself every time I look at it.

 

[Kingofthehill]

I have an American Classic II (Metro Arms) and its blue and not only is it blue, its actually done very well. It is a 4" Commander model and my carry gun with over 3k shot and its an amazing 1911 for $500 and change.

Problem is they don't offer it in 9mm. I can't think of anything that is sub $700, blued and 9mm for under $1100

They also sell one with the traditional G.I. sights if you want htose. This is just a pic online

 

[Hondo 60]

Anyone here have any experience with these Philippine made guns?

Yup! I've got well over 1,000 rds thru mine & just love it.
I've gotten lotsa compliments from others that've shot it too.

The current issue of American Handgunner has an article titled "Beer Budget 1911s"
The writer found the American Classic II to be the best of the bunch - so much so that he bought the gun Metro Arms sent to him to review.

The only thing I replaced was those hideously rough grips.
The ones on my gun are from Altamont.

 

[TennJed]

Not too classic looking but doesn't Taurus make blued and stainless 9mm 1911 for around that price point?

 

[AC1911]

I'll add another vote for the American Classic II. Mine has fed all ammo I've tried, not a single problem. Very well made guns and the blue finish is amazing, nice and shiny.

 

[wojownik]

Since you're willing to look at the .45 path as well, folks are discussing the Cimmarron 1911, manufactured for them by Armscorp.

Seems to meet all the rest of your criteria:

1. you said you could consider .45 instead of 9mm
2. Single stack classic 1911 style (literally 1911, not 1911-A1)
3. available in a high luster blued steel

Seems to run in the $550-$600 range. I have no first hand experience with the Cimmarron 1911's, but they seem worth some investigation.