Cimarron 1911 (blued and chromed) quality questions

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RayTheGreat

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Hello everyone, Ray here, once again.

Sorry for creating a new thread, but the last one's topic rather got buried and I figured this one would be more effective and organized, if that makes any sense. I made this thread in the hopes of having some questions answered and doubts put to rest on the quality of the Cimarron 1911.
Here is a link to their 1911 models >> http://www.cimarron-firearms.com/products/military-replicas/1911-45-cal-1.html <<

I'm interested in the blued model mainly; the nickel model takes second place for me in terms of interest. Based upon the valued and excellent info I've gotten already from Cimarron blued 1911s from my last thread ("Shiny blued GI spec 1911 for under 1000", which I used to look for 1911 candidates that met my criteria. Aside from some doubts and fears I have, the Cimarron seems like it would meet my desires perfectly.

But I have heard bad things about the finish; that it is extremely delicate, over-polished, and scratches very easily. Even though it is a cheap gun, I am a bit surprised by those testimonies, given that the guns are blued by a company in Florida, not in the Philippines (info thanks to the venerable Jimster) . Speaking of you Jimster, you mentioned that your Cimarron is your EDC gun. Jimster, would you mind putting my fears of the finish quality to rest? How durable have you found the finish on your Cimarron? And how about anyone else who has experience with that model? I don't mind some honest wear in a blue gun, but if the finish is as delicate as testimonies would lead me to believe, then I want to choose another model, since I intend to use thoroughly the gun I will choose.

Which brings me to the nickel model; my backup option. How durable in general are nickel guns compared to blue ones? Does anybody have experience with the nickel Cimarron specifically, and if so, would they mind sharing their findings on its durability? For some user context: I do use my guns and cause them to wear (I don't like safe queens!), but I take good care of them and am reasonably scrupulous when it comes to maintaining my equipment's health (including the appearance as much as I can!). Please excuse my ignorance, folks, your wisdom is highly valued and I come with an open mind!

Thank you very much, gentlemen
-Ray
 
Any highly polished gun will show minor wear easily. If you just touch it or breath on it, it will smudge. That's just nature of the beast. I posted in your other thread already. Your thread has made me decide to get the Cimarron in blue. I want to use it a lot and wear down the finish on the edges. I think all 1911s look best when they show honest holster wear and "white" on the edges. It's kind of like a badge of honor. If you just let it sit in the safe you will never want to enjoy it since the finish will smudge at the slightest touch. You could always wear rubbber gloves when you handle it like people do in youtube videos ;)

I have done extensive research on these pistols since I read about them in your other thread. Quality seems to be pretty good with just minor problems.. A weak recoil spring, a defective slide lock, defective grip safety, etc. From what I read cimarron gets you in contact with armscor in NV and every person just about had really good customer service. I say almost because 1 guy complained that his grip cracked near the screw and he was having a hard time contacting the armscor gunsmith. I don't reallt count that though, these grips are crap anyway and need replacing. Anyway you will always find at least 1 person who is either not happy with a product or a company's service. So far I've read nothing but good things which is why i bought it. I read more negative posts on colts than i did on cimarrons and rock islands.
 
But I have heard bad things about the finish; that it is extremely delicate, over-polished, and scratches very easily. Even though it is a cheap gun, I am a bit surprised by those testimonies, given that the guns are blued by a company in Florida, not in the Philippines
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I think you're going to have to get over your finish concerns if you plan on carrying the gun.

This is not a Cimarron, probably a Les Baer, but here is Tiger McKee's 1911. https://shootrite.wordpress.com/2010/09/19/1911-modifications/

Comments from holster maker Milt Sparks http://www.miltsparks.com/questions.php
The act of drawing your pistol from whatever container you choose to carry your weapon in, creates friction at the points of contact, and eventually those points will begin to show signs of wear. For that reason it would be unreasonable to expect that your personal sidearm will remain in pristine condition forever...

If you practice hard your guns finish will wear, or maybe it would be better to say, develop character. You will have to learn to deal with it...

Certain gun finishes are more prone to wear then others and this may be food for thought for those that are concerned about it. Blued finishes are at the bottom of the list in terms of durability and corrosion resistance, but IMHO nothing compares in terms of beauty.
Click to expand...
 
I believe any high lustre blue finish is easily vulnerable to scratching. I've seen several (well, maybe 5-7) polished nickel rocks that are edc and have held up very nicely. Just don't want to get any kind of copper solvent on them. Be nice if they offered assorted stainless finishes.
 
I had a nickel plated ppk's for 20 yrs and it had almost no wear on it, and was carried in a leather holster every day. It depends on the finish, I used that gun every week at the range. On the other hand, a few days after my gen 4 Glock came home it had holster marks on it, but of course it was not nickel or chromed. Sometimes it's the luck of the draw, but guns wear, that's what they are meant to do. It's usually guys who are new to the sport, who buy a fancy gun, and are afraid to lay it down for fear of getting mark on it.
Don't do that, worse case you can always get it re plated or re blued. Use the darn thing. Every mark is a memory.
 
Thanks for all of the info everybody! What I'm hearing is that these complaints I've been hearing about the blued Cimarron are of the general type of finish on the Cimarron, not on the poor quality of the particular finish on the model? So it isn't the lack of quality in the finish, it is just the type? Is the Cimarron finish any more delicate than other comparable finishes done my other manufacturers, or do they all wear about the same? I'm perfectly alright with owning and using a gun I find beautiful at the expense of a more delicate finish, as long as the finish isn't poor quality in of itself. And I don't mind honest wear, in fact I quite like it. Although, is wear on lustre blued guns different from wear on blued guns that aren't as polished? Exactly how different is it, how different does it look from normal blued wear? I'd love to see some pictures of Cimarrons that have some wear on them; the only pictures I can seem to find are of guns that look new. If anybody could post some images of Cimarrons with wear on them i'd be very grateful! I wonder if the wear on Cimarrons can be comparable to how the GI blued 1911s can look now? (Bold for emphasis). I can't complain if that is so. I agree with you Elano, honest wear has a different kind of beauty! Best of luck with your new baby! And I'd love it if you could post some photos :eek:. (EDIT) And thanks for the info on the nickel plating George! Although I'm trying to not allow myself to be tempted away from a shiny blue gun, I have to admit the nickel-plated piece is alluring as get out...

And If Jimster ever reads this, I'd love to hear from him how long he's carried it and how the finish has worn. Because his gun is truly magnificent. Jimster, is that photo of before you started using it? Because it looks immaculate almost from the picture. In fact, I'll post a picture of his from my other thread. I hope you don't mind, Jimster!
4B3942D2-8D91-4FAA-82E1-767199A7DAE3.jpg
Goodness me, what a handsome piece.
Thanks everybody for helping an ignorant soul become slightly less ignorant! -Love from Ray
 
Here's my trusty soldier after more than a year of daily carry. The wear is on the kydex side of my old Alien Gear holster. My Sticky Holster has cause zero further wear. I'm pleased with the look.
E00F61D4-CE3E-472F-B092-5D049C846F5B.jpg
 
Jimster, that gun looks simply marvelous, I cant say it enough! Thank you for posting pictures. To be candid, I like looking at your 1911 so much I might make it my background picture (the picture I've already posted on this thread!). I'm really impressed with the amount of wear on that Cimarron. I expected much worse. Haha, that is funny! I find it interesting to imagine you posting responses to me, in real time. Wherever you are in Illinois, hello there, and I wish you the best. My grandfather's hometown was Alton, he knew Robert Wadlow, and he also carried a 1911 on Iwo Jima as part of a mortar team. That's part of what makes the 1911 so special to me, especially the GI model.

Best wishes, Jimster! -love from Ray :)
 
As long as you avoid bare kydex holsters, your finish should hold up reasonably well for a long time. Which is fine for me, as plain leather or felt lined kydex holsters are pretty easy to come by.
 
Thanks for that, Ray. Forgot to mention that I used a cold blue on the rear of the barrel where it shows through the ejection port. I think it gives the pistol more of the authentic look that I wanted.
 
Thanks gotboostvr! That eases my fears. I actually intend to carry it IWB in a Sticky Holster, like Jimster. For the forseeable future, kydex is out of the question for me. How well do you expect the finish to last with use in a Sticky Holster? I'd guess better than kydex and maybe even leather? The Sticky Holsters seem to be pretty easy on the finish from what I've heard....

Of course Jimster :). Thanks for all of your aid, you've been a great help! How do you like the Sticky Holster, and has it really not worn the finish at all? If so, that bodes well for me.
And looking back at unchanged Cimarrons, I do notice that difference now. I like the change you've made, it certainly looks more authentic. Although I likely won't mind the stainless barrel myself. In fact I probably won't even change the hammer or thumb safety from the get go, although the grips will have to go right away, and I will buy a magazine without a base-plate. Thanks once again, Jimster! -love from Ray
 
Some people dislike the Sticky Holster but I haven't used anything else since I got it. It's cheap enough to give it a try. I still wear my Uncle Mikes instructor belt to keep things feeling snug. A full size 1911 is relatively heavy but I practically forget it's even there. It doesn't seem to add any wear as far as I can tell. Good luck to you.
 
Hey Jimster, thanks for the info!
You're right, it is really cheap. I'll likely pick one up, and see whether or not I need a belt with it. I go on a lot of fairly long walks so I might need that. Thanks again! Best of luck to you too. - Ray
 
RayTheGreat

My the finish on my bright nickel plated Combat Commander has held up pretty well over the years. A few nicks, scratches, and rub marks to the plating but nothing that I consider worth being concerned about. If it starts to look like it's getting a little dull and dirty I use Flitz on it and it shines right up. Have carried it mostly in an all leather Bianchi Askins Avenger holster.

064_zps4ynft146.gif
 
I'm confused. The gun in No 6 is not a Cimarron, it is a Colt, and a heavily polished and reblued one at that.

Jim
 
I'm confused. The gun in No 6 is not a Cimarron, it is a Colt, and a heavily polished and reblued one at that.

Jim
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That's so awesome :D The copy is so good even colt guys are confused. Look at the horse in the logo of gun #6 then look at the horse on the colt in post #15. The horse in post #6 is a cimarron horse, not a colt horse and the gun isn't refinished that's how they come stock. The owner has changed out the grips, the hammer, and the safety from what I can tell with period correct ones. The beaver tails on the cimarrons are slightly bigger than the 1918 colts. BTW I didn't know anything about 1911 pistols until 5 days ago ;) This forum is amazing!

I'm so glad I got one of these on the way :D
 
Haha, that's great! Funny how big of a difference the hammer, grips, and thumb safety can make in the looks of a gun. Elano, please post pics when you get yours!

To everyone, I'm still debating myself on whether to get the nickel finished gun or the blued model. The nickel will be more durable then the polished blue, which is attractive to me, but for my purposes the blued model should suit me alright, i'm rather confident. I think it's just aesthetics i'm mainly worrying about now; which look I prefer. Can anyone help me to decide? I'm pretty sure I would be happy with both, but I really don't want to get one and regret not getting the other. Getting both is out of the question for me, in my current financial situation, although that would be a good solution. It would be great if somebody could persuade me to choose one over the other, though I fear it will come down to my preference. Life can be tough when a fork presents itself! I wish Cimarrons were more common so I could take a look at one at a local gun shop. Thanks again, everybody, for your help in this thread and the previous one! -Ray
 
Haha, that's great! Funny how big of a difference the hammer, grips, and thumb safety can make in the looks of a gun. Elano, please post pics when you get yours!

To everyone, I'm still debating myself on whether to get the nickel finished gun or the blued model. The nickel will be more durable then the polished blue, which is attractive to me, but for my purposes the blued model should suit me alright, i'm rather confident. I think it's just aesthetics i'm mainly worrying about now; which look I prefer. Can anyone help me to decide? I'm pretty sure I would be happy with both, but I really don't want to get one and regret not getting the other. Getting both is out of the question for me, in my current financial situation, although that would be a good solution. It would be great if somebody could persuade me to choose one over the other, though I fear it will come down to my preference. Life can be tough when a fork presents itself! I wish Cimarrons were more common so I could take a look at one at a local gun shop. Thanks again, everybody, for your help in this thread and the previous one! -Ray
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Get the blued! I'm ganna get a nickel one day too too but I want a REAL colt like banockburn's. I heard the nickle guns show imperfections, smudges, and scratches more than a blued one. So while it is a more durable finish, when it does get wear it will probably catch your eye more. I want my blued one so it will wear some. IMO some white coming through on the edges is so sexy on a 1911. It's not like these guns are showroom $3000 colts, they are asian copies stamped Philippines on the bottom and probably made by a 12 year old kid ;)
 
Thanks, Elano! I think you've convinced me to choose the blue once and for all. I do agree with you about the Cimarron having a good balance of aesthetics and function. Hopefully I won't be afraid to use it and scratch it! I can hardly wait. Thanks everybody for the great info! -love from Ray
 
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