Norinco 1911A1

[Silvanus]

The search function didn't exactly give me the answers I was looking for...

I'm currently looking for a 1911 pistol... But there are not nearly as many brands available in Europe as you would find in the USA. I don't want an expensive custom gun. I owned a LesBear for a couple of month, which I sold later (at a profit ), because I prefer simple, rugged and reliable handguns that I don't mind getting some scratches and wear marks on.

I was thinking about a Springfield mil-spec or similar Colt, but they are hard to find here and importing American guns is not easy right now.

So I decided to have a look at the Norinco pistols and heard they were very reliable shooters and, except for the rough finish and look, pretty well made pistols.

But there are a couple of things that I really don't like about them... First, the sights. They are too small and would be the first thing that I'd want to replace if I bought one. And the safety, it's also a little too small for my taste. There are probably a couple of other things I will change to customize the gun to my personal taste.

What I wanted to ask you folks on this forum is if these pistols are really as good as they say on the internet, and more importantly if it is easy to change out the small parts and if most aftermarket products even fit this gun? Would I need a dedicated 1911 smith for this ( which probably doesn't even exist in my country) or should most "normal" gunsmiths be able to make those minor modifications on my pistol?


Thank you for taking the time to read this rather lengthy post I'm sure some of you guys (and girls ) have an answer for my questions.



edit: also if some of you own a Norinco, which brand of magazines seem to work best with them?

 

[silversport]

I don't own one but everything I have read over the years about the original Norincos is that they are made out of good steel that may have been railroad tracks at one time so it is VERY hard and that they adhere to John Browning's and Colt's specs so that most everything you can buy that is spec will fit...they also share (at least in the GI) smaller sights and the spur hammer and grip safety...I can't speak to if any gunsmith who hasn't worked on 1911 type pistols can help you but hopefully more will chime in to help...
Bill

 

[rellascout]

Great guns but a lot of people will not mill the slide for you, which will be required to put better sights on the gun. The steel is very hard and shortens the life of the tools used. It is the only 5100 series forged steel 1911 in that price range. This is why Wilson stopped doing work on them.

IMHO the one's made in China are better than the Regent versions. These are not Norks but people are marketing them as norks. They are cast frames.

You can swap out most of the smaller parts they are real 1911A1 pattern pistols so aftermarket parts will work. I recommend Ed Brown and C&S parts.

As far as mags go mine shot well with Wilsons, Chip Mccormicks, & Colts. Any decent mag will fire properly in a Nork.

If you are going to change the sights you are looking at about $200 US to mill the slid and have sights installed if you can find someone willing to do it so it might not be worth it when you compare it to a Colt.

 

[Silvanus]

Thanks for the advice That's what I was worried about, the fact that some people might not be able/willing to do work on the gun that requires some fitting (like installing non standard sights). I'll have to ask around first if anybody can work on this gun before I make a purchase.

 

[Oro]

There's no compelling reason you have to mill the slide to change the sights. You can just install a stock-type swaged front sight. Installing three-dot tall combat sights is a snap and an excellent sighting system - it's what I did to mine when I got it new way back when.

However, let me point out if it's your intention to swap out sights and internal parts to "upgrade" the gun then you'd be better off buying a Colt instead of getting a Norinco and dumping money into it. Here in the US, a used stock Colt 1991a1 with tall combat 3-dot sights and excellent stock parts runs about $200 (or often less) than a comparable used Norinco, and about $150 or less more than a Springfield GI. If the cost difference is similar there were you are, go for the Colt. Look for the 1990's vintage 1991a1 models with the Parkerized or matte blue finish; they are usually substantially cheaper than higher finish guns of earlier and later periods, offer a less fancy finish you won't mind putting some honest wear on, and they are mechanically identical with no sacrifice in quality compared to other Colts.

However, if your buying options are limited - and I imagine the used gun market in Luxembourg is pretty limited - the Norinco is not a bad gun. I debate selling mine occasionally but I've had it almost 20 yeas so it's started to become a memento that's hard to part with.

 

[HisSoldier]

Is this a case where

The steel is very hard and shortens the life of the tools used.

As a machinist I see that as interesting. I'm not familiar with the alloy, is it a work hardening alloy? Is this a case where feeds and speeds haven't been readjusted?

 

[G.A.Pster]

You don’t need sites on a 1911, point and shoot. ;D

 

[Oro]

As a machinist I see that as interesting. I'm not familiar with the alloy, is it a work hardening alloy? Is this a case where feeds and speeds haven't been readjusted?

The skinny on this I've heard, and I'm NOT a machinst so am repeating what someone more expert said, is that the issue is not the steel. The issue is the way the front sight was silver-soldered (or something) in instead of just being swaged. So the issue is limited to only the cutting of a front dovetail. Personally, I have cut down the tangs on one for a beavertail and the steel was not appreciably different than anything else I'd experienced.

Besides being second hand, that info also pertains to the guns imported to the US prior to 1994. I can't say that the manufacturing techniques used then still prevail.

 

[CoRoMo]

...if these pistols are really as good as they say on the internet...

Hard to say because I don't have one, but I've read a lot of impressive remarks here from members like 1911Tuner, Jim Watson, Jim Keenan, and Jim V. One or two of these guys has even claimed to use a Norinco as their personal defense gun. I think that says a lot, but it still makes me wonder why these pistols still don't sell for more these days.

I'm continuously intrigued by this pistol since I've always wanted something that wasn't much to look at, but was embarrassingly reliable and ridiculously durable. It may be just that, but when I mentioned the Norinco 1911, to the most well-respected gunsmith in my neck of the woods, the ol' guy pretty much kicked me out of his place and told me not to ever waste my money, or his time, on one of those pistols.

 

[Bentonville]

They are reliable guns with the desired GI ergonomics of a 1911, as stated. In addition to the points you have concerns about, I would mention that the trigger is very gritty and rough. I owned a Norinco and loved it except that to get it like I really wanted it, I would have had to spend enough that I could have purchased a Colt as already mentioned in this thread. I bought several GI magazines which worked fine. This was several years back. Many folks who do use these pistols regularly are skilled at making necessary adjustments which makes it easier to set it up like they want it. I am not skilled at much of anything so I sold mine and bought a gun that didn't need much additional attention.