Unknown 1911
- Thread starter nootimus
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tangomike706
Member
Pending a larger picture , I'm going to guess that what you have is a Regent Arms 1911
gyvel
Member
Yes, the Regent R100, made in Turkey by fine craftsmen.
I made the mistake of buying one based on the "glowing" reports in the American Rifleman, touting the "strict NATO specs" used in the manufacture, etc.
What I got was a big POS with crudely cast parts that exhibit a LOT of hand fitting, and a slide that is so loose on the frame, it makes the worst WWII beater seem like a Gold Cup. In addition, the disconnector was causing the slide to hang up during return to battery and also not allowing the hammer to thumb cock at times. The pistol was clearly unsafe so I ended up replacing all the internals, except the trigger which is an odd size whose opening isn't big enough for a standard 1911 trigger.
It sits under the front seat of my pickup now.
Lotta lessons learned from this mistake.
I made the mistake of buying one based on the "glowing" reports in the American Rifleman, touting the "strict NATO specs" used in the manufacture, etc.
What I got was a big POS with crudely cast parts that exhibit a LOT of hand fitting, and a slide that is so loose on the frame, it makes the worst WWII beater seem like a Gold Cup. In addition, the disconnector was causing the slide to hang up during return to battery and also not allowing the hammer to thumb cock at times. The pistol was clearly unsafe so I ended up replacing all the internals, except the trigger which is an odd size whose opening isn't big enough for a standard 1911 trigger.
It sits under the front seat of my pickup now.
Lotta lessons learned from this mistake.
Nushif
Member
You know ... something struck me here.
"parts that exhibit a LOT of hand fitting," ... it was probably a bad gun, no doubt, but isn't hand fitting supposedly a good thing?
At one time, "hand fitted" was a sign of qualilty, and it still is when done by some master craftsmen. But the buyers of such products recognize that their guns will have to be serviced by the same very expensive workers or by others similarly skilled and expensive. There are no "drop in" parts.
For a supposed factory product, it is not good, since it means that the parts interchangeability achieved by factories a century and a half ago no longer applies; there is no guarantee that a replacement part will work or can even be made to work properly in place of a hand-fitted part working with other hand-fitted parts.
In countries with low levels of technology and low wages, it is often much cheaper to hire hand workers than to buy precision machinery and tooling, and that seems to be the case with Turkey, as it once was with Spain. The cost saving is passed on to an extent so the product is cheap - until an American gunsmith, who does not work for $2 a day, has to replace that hand-fitted part.
Jim
For a supposed factory product, it is not good, since it means that the parts interchangeability achieved by factories a century and a half ago no longer applies; there is no guarantee that a replacement part will work or can even be made to work properly in place of a hand-fitted part working with other hand-fitted parts.
In countries with low levels of technology and low wages, it is often much cheaper to hire hand workers than to buy precision machinery and tooling, and that seems to be the case with Turkey, as it once was with Spain. The cost saving is passed on to an extent so the product is cheap - until an American gunsmith, who does not work for $2 a day, has to replace that hand-fitted part.
Jim
PT92
Member
Had mine for a few months now ($340 NIB) and its been a great entry-level no frills 1911A1. I have to agree with the American Rifleman review on this one. IMHO, it at least reaches the durability/quality of the Phillipino 1911's.
And don't underestimate the quality of the Turkish imports across the board including my buddy's reasonably priced shotgun for example.
And don't underestimate the quality of the Turkish imports across the board including my buddy's reasonably priced shotgun for example.
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Nushif
Member
I dare say you have probably never been to Turkey. Unskilled craftsmen? Two bucks a day? Low Tech? Where are you getting this? FO-...
In any case, before I say any more. Sad to hear you got a bad gun.
WNC Seabee
Member
Which hits harder, the 1911 or MacInnis' slapshot?
wow6599
Member
If you ever want to sell the MacInnis banner let me know...........I bleed blue.
PT92
Member
Yeah--I was there that night when they retired Al's #2 Jersey. What a player and gentleman he was (glad he plays a major role in the Blues Organization still today).
I find the full-size 1911A1's kick to be very tolerable compared to some of the compact models.
-Cheers
PT92
Member
Yeah--I indeed treasure that banner. I think this will be our year provided:
1) no major injuries
2) they get bought
Let's Go Blues!
1) no major injuries
2) they get bought
Let's Go Blues!
Hunterdad
Member
I love my regent. It gets used every week for my pistol league. I've done just a couple of things to it.
Cop Bob
Member
Yup,, if the "Craftsman" doing the fitting has a clue...You know ... something struck me here.
"parts that exhibit a LOT of hand fitting," ... it was probably a bad gun, no doubt, but isn't hand fitting supposedly a good thing?
gyvel
Member
Yes, it used to be. In this case it was it was "fitting" for the sake of trying to make the parts work.
This isn't the first Turkish POS I have had the misfortune to own. I had a Sarsilmaz 12 ga that was a jam-o-matic as well.
Oh, well, live and learn.
Hand fitting on a gun that is supposed to employ a majority of precision cast parts in this day and age is NOT a good thing.
The whole concept of precision casting is to allow the assembly of component pieces without the need for "hand fitting",,,,
The whole concept of precision casting is to allow the assembly of component pieces without the need for "hand fitting",,,,
Janos Dracwlya
Member
One of the gunsmiths I have work on my guns carries a Regent. I know he's replaced at least a lot of the parts, but I don't know whether that was because the internals were of poor quality or he just wanted to customize it.
PT92
Member
I must admit that I don't personally know of someone that owns one besides myself (by know, I mean non-cyber like entity), but I know that mine as well as many other owners Regent 1911s have been just fine (this applies to people that I do personally know in my are that use Turkish shotguns at my trap range).
I just think there are lemons in every lot of everything that is produced everywhere in the world.
-Cheers
orionengnr
Member
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Yep, but it is the percentages that count. One of 100 isn't great, especially if you are only selling a few hundred or a few thousand of them.
One bad one out of ten thousand...them's bettin' odds.
PT92
Member
Yep, but it is the percentages that count. One of 100 isn't great, especially if you are only selling a few hundred or a few thousand of them.
One bad one out of ten thousand...them's bettin' odds.
True--Not to play Ralph Nader (for those of you on the board that are old enough to know who he is), but I wonder if there's a "Legitimate" web site that reports return percentage, replacements, etc. for all of the gun manufacturers out there?
-Cheers
Hi, Nushif,
My comments were not intended as an insult to Turkey or the Turks. But the fact is that today, in moderate price production guns, "hand fitted" is not a good recommendation. I did pull the $2 a day out of a hat because that was what workers who "hand fitted" Spanish guns a while back made. When a part broke on one of their guns, the factory shipped what amounted to a lump of forged or cast steel and an American gunsmith (at $20 or more an hour) had to file and fit the part. There were a lot of very unhappy customers when they got the bill.
If Turkish factories are now using CNC machines and turning out absolutely interchangeable parts, good for them. But then no one would call their guns "hand fitted", would they?
Jim
My comments were not intended as an insult to Turkey or the Turks. But the fact is that today, in moderate price production guns, "hand fitted" is not a good recommendation. I did pull the $2 a day out of a hat because that was what workers who "hand fitted" Spanish guns a while back made. When a part broke on one of their guns, the factory shipped what amounted to a lump of forged or cast steel and an American gunsmith (at $20 or more an hour) had to file and fit the part. There were a lot of very unhappy customers when they got the bill.
If Turkish factories are now using CNC machines and turning out absolutely interchangeable parts, good for them. But then no one would call their guns "hand fitted", would they?
Jim
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