KevinB
Member
Much thanks for all the help and advice I've recieved here. I am now the proud owner of a stainless full-size Springfield Armory 1911. This is such an amazing platform to own. I really wish I hadn't put off buying one for so long. It seems to perfectly combine beauty with function. I can't describe how much I enjoy this piece. I feel like I own a part of american history. Again, I can't thank those enough who helped me make this decision. So, on to my 1911 story...
For those of you who have not read my previous thread, I was torn between a S&W 1911, a S.A. lightweight, and the S.A. full-size. Well, I spent quite a bit of time shopping around and holding different guns before I made my decision. My intentions were orginally to buy a completely stock gun. However, I ran into a beautiful pre-loved S.A. 1911 at Rangemaster here in Memphis. I had reservations about buying a used gun, especially a used 1911. My thoughts were that someone had butchered the thing and could no longer get it to run. It looked very nice though, and had all the custom work on it that I could want. Even some mods I probably wouldn't have spent the money on if I was doing it myself. But still I was concerned, so I left the shop without it and visited several more stores. Then, later that day. I was standing in front of another counter holding a another stock S.A., looking it over, thinking "It's just not as nice". It was then I made up my mind to go pick up that 1911. I got back to Rangemaster as quickly as I could manage in rush hour traffic. When I walked in I found an older gentleman openly carrying a 1911 in an ostrich skin holster with matching belt and mag carriers. He was standing there holding "my" gun. I had a sickly feeling as I waited for him to set it down and move away. Then a younger guy in jeans and the mandatory band t-shirt steps up, picks it up and procedes to dryfire repeatedly and drops the slide with the release. When he sets it down I slide over and pick it up. Once the shop clears out I talk to the guy behind the counter, and discuss with him my concerns about the gun. He calls over the Tom Givens, the owner of Rangemaster, and Tom tells me a little about the history of the gun. He assured me that the gun was owned by a good friend of his, and he knows everything thats been done to it. He says that there is absolutely nothing wrong with it, that he's shot it personally and its accurate as well as reliable. He also told me that if I was unsatisfied for any reason I could bring it back for a 100% refund. That made up my mind so I told them to ring it up.
I really feel like I got an amazing deal on this gun. I paid just a small amount over the price of a stock S.A. full-size, and it already has all the custom work done. The guide rod has already been changed out for a half length (G.I. style?) one. The frontstrap has been checkered and it feels GREAT. Really improves the grip over the standard frontstraps. It has low-mount Novak night sights. New safety, slide release, trigger, MSH, barrel bushing, and grip safety. It's had a nice action job. The trigger has zero play and breaks at a measured 4 lbs. It came with two Chip McCormick 8 round powermags, and on top of all that its actually been shot very little. I've put 250 rounds of various FMJ through this gun without a hiccup. I feel like it was MEANT for me to get a 1911.
I've sent my order off and I should be recieving my Milt Sparks summer special 2 sometime next week. Along with my first ever Brownell's catolog might I add. There is one thing I think I'm going to do, and thats change out the mainspring housing. I'm gonna try out an arched one. Can I get some suggestions on which one to get?
Again, thank y'all for the advice. Without this board I would probably have never taken the plunge.
-Kevin
For those of you who have not read my previous thread, I was torn between a S&W 1911, a S.A. lightweight, and the S.A. full-size. Well, I spent quite a bit of time shopping around and holding different guns before I made my decision. My intentions were orginally to buy a completely stock gun. However, I ran into a beautiful pre-loved S.A. 1911 at Rangemaster here in Memphis. I had reservations about buying a used gun, especially a used 1911. My thoughts were that someone had butchered the thing and could no longer get it to run. It looked very nice though, and had all the custom work on it that I could want. Even some mods I probably wouldn't have spent the money on if I was doing it myself. But still I was concerned, so I left the shop without it and visited several more stores. Then, later that day. I was standing in front of another counter holding a another stock S.A., looking it over, thinking "It's just not as nice". It was then I made up my mind to go pick up that 1911. I got back to Rangemaster as quickly as I could manage in rush hour traffic. When I walked in I found an older gentleman openly carrying a 1911 in an ostrich skin holster with matching belt and mag carriers. He was standing there holding "my" gun. I had a sickly feeling as I waited for him to set it down and move away. Then a younger guy in jeans and the mandatory band t-shirt steps up, picks it up and procedes to dryfire repeatedly and drops the slide with the release. When he sets it down I slide over and pick it up. Once the shop clears out I talk to the guy behind the counter, and discuss with him my concerns about the gun. He calls over the Tom Givens, the owner of Rangemaster, and Tom tells me a little about the history of the gun. He assured me that the gun was owned by a good friend of his, and he knows everything thats been done to it. He says that there is absolutely nothing wrong with it, that he's shot it personally and its accurate as well as reliable. He also told me that if I was unsatisfied for any reason I could bring it back for a 100% refund. That made up my mind so I told them to ring it up.
I really feel like I got an amazing deal on this gun. I paid just a small amount over the price of a stock S.A. full-size, and it already has all the custom work done. The guide rod has already been changed out for a half length (G.I. style?) one. The frontstrap has been checkered and it feels GREAT. Really improves the grip over the standard frontstraps. It has low-mount Novak night sights. New safety, slide release, trigger, MSH, barrel bushing, and grip safety. It's had a nice action job. The trigger has zero play and breaks at a measured 4 lbs. It came with two Chip McCormick 8 round powermags, and on top of all that its actually been shot very little. I've put 250 rounds of various FMJ through this gun without a hiccup. I feel like it was MEANT for me to get a 1911.
I've sent my order off and I should be recieving my Milt Sparks summer special 2 sometime next week. Along with my first ever Brownell's catolog might I add. There is one thing I think I'm going to do, and thats change out the mainspring housing. I'm gonna try out an arched one. Can I get some suggestions on which one to get?
Again, thank y'all for the advice. Without this board I would probably have never taken the plunge.
-Kevin
