Cimarron 1911 A1

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exdetsgt

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Just acquired a new, shiny blue steel full-sized 1911 A1 by Cimarron, a company that seems to make mostly replica stuff. As an LEO and Arizona Ranger we carried polymers. No one was allowed to carry a 1911. So when I retired (from the Rangers) last September I immediately went looking for one. However, I had retirement income now and the attendant budgetary limitations, so most of what I found in the local gun shops was out of budget. But a couple of weeks ago I found this one and the price was right: $499. Immediately took it to the range and fired a variety of .45ACP through it, old lead GI issue, local PD lead reloads, new FMJ and JHP - in all over 100 rounds. Didn't seem to care what I stuck into the ACT magazine that came with it. It ran flawlessly. One hiccup: the rear sight was off so at 15 yards it shot about 2 inches to the right.

So I took it to a friend who adjusted the sight and all is well. I'm impressed with the Cimarron's fit and finish and it seems to be a hell of a buy at that price.

Also, I expected a steel full-sized 1911 would be too big and heavy to carry concealed. Turns out it's not at all. I think the narrowness as opposed to the fat double-stack polymer pistol is a significant advantage.

If anyone has one I'd be interested in their views.
 

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Have a buddy that is a Fed. cop for the the VA that bought one and he says, since our last conversation, that he's put about 2500+- rounds down the pipe with only a couple hiccups. Most of those were mag. feeding issues and bad ammo primers. I, myself have never fired or owned one but, from what I've been told, they're a decent, basic, 1911 platform to start with. Along the lines of a Rock Island or so.

Congrats. on the purchase and hope you have great time with her.
 
The guns are actually based on the original 1911, not the "Product Improved" 1911A1.
That said,
Pretty Gun! :)
 
I don't know why they call it an A1, either. My friend, who did the sight adjustment, is also a firearms historian, and he said it's a clone of the 1918 model.
 
MagnunJoe:

I can answer part of your question - trigger pull is smooth with just a tiny bit
of creep.

As for the safety, I have no idea. You could maybe go to Cimarron's website and look at some pictures. Assuming it's a visual difference and not internal.

Also, sorry about posting pictures of just the right side of the pistol. Later on today I'll take a couple of the left side and post them.
 
I never gave it a thought before but that Cimarron 1911 is a "replica" too.
I do hope it is as good as my Cimarron replica SA sixguns through which I have nearly 50,000 rounds with little problems to speak of.
 
I wondered about that, too, Wil Terry. But then, in a sense, aren't all 1911's other than the original Colt also "replicas." I'm not sure where "original" ends and "replica" begins.
 
I've had mine for a couple of years now. I recently sold off all of my semi-automatic pistols; the Cimarron 1911 was the one exception. I will not be parting with mine and I think you'll be really happy with it. Cimarron also has really great customer service.
 
Thank you, I did not know about their "great customer service". In many cases customer service is in the other direction.
 
It looks like it is actually blued and not the ugly black matte finish everyone uses now. Congrats
 
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From what I can tell, it is a copy of the M1911, not the M1911A1. While some folks prefer the older type, I like the A1 changes; my 1911's are for collecting, not shooting.

Jim
 
These are an adjunct to the other product lines imported by Cimmaron (mainly made by Uberti in Italy) that are used for Cowboy Action Shooting competitions. They import and sell Cap & Ball replicas as well as SAA replicas and also replicas of many early period cartridge revolvers (S&W Schoefields, etc) and sell a line of transitional arms (replicas of cap & ball pistols converted to cartridge arms). Folks like me that collect and study this period of transition from cap & ball to cartridge know Cimmaron products well. This is their sole semi-auto for the reason recited below:

There's a subset of CAS called "The Wild Bunch" that use 1911's and other "arms of the end of the old west" in competition. The 1911 (which is NOT an A1 model) is marketed to this group. It's marketed as being and old school 1911 that represents what would have been used in The Wild Bunch shootout. Basically it's standard Single Action Shooting Society stuff shot with 1911's and Winchester 1897 shotguns. Sadly there are no Maxim Guns allowed.

Here's a link to The Wild Bunch shoots with rules, etc:

http://www.sassnet.com/wildbunch/



Cimmaron has a good reputation for their products, all of which are imported and marketed by them. I think that the 1911 is a product of Brazil, but would gladly be corrected if I am wrong.


Willie

.
 
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I could deal with a flat backstrap and the absence of the trigger reach relief cuts, but I do buy the logic that the lowered and flared ejection port was an important upgrade. I would be worried that the 1911 would stovepipe more frequently than the A1.

Am I off base on that?
 
^^^ You're missing the point.

These are DELIBERATELY produced as representative of the EARLIEST standard of the 1911 for the purpose of historical recreation.

They are a replica of an ANTIQUE ARM and anyone buying one ought to be knowlagable enough to understand that.


Arm yourself with one of these, a Winchester 1897, a Krag Jorgensen carbine, a horse, and enjoy.


Willie

.
 
Sir, I understand perfectly fine why someone would want to buy this pistol. Since it appears that the OP intends to carry it for self-defense, I think a discussion about the merits of the A1 modifications is apt.
 
Okay now I want one and a 1887 lever action shotgun, along with my Winchester 30-30. I thought about getting a Rock Island for a long time but now I'll have to check out these Cimarrons. If it's reliable that's all I care about, can anyone recommend a good magazine to use with these. I'm having to play Frankenstein to get my second STI Spartan to run right (file the slide release I think, and if that fails order Wilson's bulletprooof slide catch).
 
I think that the 1911 is a product of Brazil
Click to expand...

It's actually made by Armscor in the Philippines and imported by Cimarron. Like the other Rock Island pistols I've shot, it's a lot of gun for the money and I've never had a complaint about any of mine. Love the polished blue finish on these!
 
On the bottom of the frame just forward of the trigger guard is the following stamping:

APINTL PAHRUMP NV
PHILIPPINES

On the left side of the slide, after the obligatory patent info, is the following
stamping:

CIMARRON F.A. CO.
FREDRICKSBURG, TX U.S.A.

The stamping is very high quality work.
 
The only ones I can find for the price point where it's better not to just up the ante to a Ruger SR1911 is the Nickel Plated version and the black matter version. I've already got two black matted Spartans so if I get one it will be the Nickel version which I'll admit. I like the idea of. I like Nickel plated guns, I just don't know why. Shiney!
 
I, for one, am glad some of these companies are finally making and marketing less expensive 1911s that actually function well. Price point was what really kept me out of that platform for the longest time. As a revolver guy, I just wasn't willing to spend $1000+ on something I wasn't really sure I'd like over the long haul. I've had a RIA Tactical for a couple of years now, and it's never yet had a hiccup. Turns out I do indeed like it.

Hope you enjoy yours, exdetsgt.
 
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