I've been half-seriously looking at getting another 1911 lately to accompany my Springfield Loaded. This time I wanted a more plain jane GI type pistol. I've been looking into RIA, Tisas, Auto-Ordnance, etc. I was planning on ordering online. I wanted to keep it around $450.
On a whim I stopped by a pawn shop chain which recently started selling guns, and happened upon a used Norinco sitting behind the glass. It looked and felt good, seemed to function correctly, and I've heard good stuff about Norinco quality in the past, so I bought it. Price was $429 before tax, with one Mecgar 7-round mag. It did not have the box or manual, but decent condition examples on Gunbroker are listed between 600 and 800 bucks, so I think I got a decent deal.
After getting it home and comparing to original condition Norincos shown online, I realised the previous owner(s) have modified it in several ways. The finish on the factory Norinco looks like a matte blue, and this gun has a gray color, like parkerized but not dull... yet not really polished either. I think it might be duracoat or cerakote.
The gun also has some non-GI style parts, like the trigger, slide stop, manual safety, and beavertail grip safety. I noticed this before buying, but was unaware until looking further into Norincos that they don't come this way. I will be "downgrading" with GI-type components. Especially don't like the extended aftermarket slide stop... with thumbs-forward two-handed grip the engagement pad on the slide stop digs hard into my skin. No good. I may keep the aftermarket safety though, it feels good and is easy to use. The Magpul grips are some I had laying around and threw on the gun, it actually came with some ugly wooden ones with big fat checkering design and a light and dark stain pattern. I'm ordering some traditional style double diamond checkered wood grips for it.
The trigger on this gun is excellent... easily as good as the broken-in trigger on my Springfield. Lightish and crisp. Very satisfied on that front.
Slide to frame fit is sloppy and rattly, but I kind of like that. It feels like it could get dirty as hell and keep running. The barrel to bushing to slide fit is actually fairly tight however, so I'm expecting decent accuracy.
Something I didn't know about until I got the gun home and took it apart... the design of the barrel link is unfamiliar to me. It has an angled cut on it that I don't know the purpose of. At first glance I was afraid it was broken or something, but it's definitely shaped that way by design. If any of you can explain this to me I would appreciate it.
I will post an update after I get some rounds through the gun. Thanks for reading!
On a whim I stopped by a pawn shop chain which recently started selling guns, and happened upon a used Norinco sitting behind the glass. It looked and felt good, seemed to function correctly, and I've heard good stuff about Norinco quality in the past, so I bought it. Price was $429 before tax, with one Mecgar 7-round mag. It did not have the box or manual, but decent condition examples on Gunbroker are listed between 600 and 800 bucks, so I think I got a decent deal.
After getting it home and comparing to original condition Norincos shown online, I realised the previous owner(s) have modified it in several ways. The finish on the factory Norinco looks like a matte blue, and this gun has a gray color, like parkerized but not dull... yet not really polished either. I think it might be duracoat or cerakote.
The gun also has some non-GI style parts, like the trigger, slide stop, manual safety, and beavertail grip safety. I noticed this before buying, but was unaware until looking further into Norincos that they don't come this way. I will be "downgrading" with GI-type components. Especially don't like the extended aftermarket slide stop... with thumbs-forward two-handed grip the engagement pad on the slide stop digs hard into my skin. No good. I may keep the aftermarket safety though, it feels good and is easy to use. The Magpul grips are some I had laying around and threw on the gun, it actually came with some ugly wooden ones with big fat checkering design and a light and dark stain pattern. I'm ordering some traditional style double diamond checkered wood grips for it.
The trigger on this gun is excellent... easily as good as the broken-in trigger on my Springfield. Lightish and crisp. Very satisfied on that front.
Slide to frame fit is sloppy and rattly, but I kind of like that. It feels like it could get dirty as hell and keep running. The barrel to bushing to slide fit is actually fairly tight however, so I'm expecting decent accuracy.
Something I didn't know about until I got the gun home and took it apart... the design of the barrel link is unfamiliar to me. It has an angled cut on it that I don't know the purpose of. At first glance I was afraid it was broken or something, but it's definitely shaped that way by design. If any of you can explain this to me I would appreciate it.
I will post an update after I get some rounds through the gun. Thanks for reading!
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