Oh American, How You Tempt Me So!

Status
Not open for further replies.
K

Kylaen

Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2010
Messages
125
Well, I thought I had done it. By Jove there it was, staring me in the face, a great home defense piece. Guncrafter Industries' "The American": http://www.guncrafterindustries.com/american.shtml

Isn't that sweet? Government size, all steel, integral rail, ambidextrous thumb safety, a whole host of other bells and whistles. This thing just oozes muscle and beauty. It's no wonder why they call this baby "The American". And I look at it, and I say, "what finer, American crafted weapon can I defend my home with? I would have to be an idiot to pass this up." Then I look at the pricings page.

$2,895. Two thousand, eight hundred and ninety-five dollars. Dollars. Not Yen, not pesos, not rubles or shekels. You've got to be kidding me. And my mind just explodes. Looks like calling anything "America" means you're jacking up the price by two grand. :banghead:

Why can't anybody give me a 1911 with a rail and an ambi safety, without requiring me to sell myself into prostitution to afford it?
 
Last edited:
Between $800 and $1200, is really the limit, unless I get a second job.
 
$2,895. Two thousand, eight hundred and ninety-five dollars. Dollars. Not Yen, not pesos, not rubles or shekels. You've got to be kidding me. And my mind just explodes. Looks like calling anything "America" means you're jacking up the price by two grand.
Click to expand...

Its a semi-custom handgun, they are not mass produced like SA, Kimber, Colt, nor filled with MIM, etc. etc. What were you expecting?
 
Sam Cade said:
*shrug*

Odd how nobody romanticizes framing hammers.

See my new 28oz Estwing? It oozes muscle and beauty.


Also:
https://us.armscor.com/products/2011-single-stack-tactical-standard-45acp
Click to expand...
There is nothing wrong with a Rock Island. A friend has a milspec RIA 1911. It is a lot of fun to shoot! The 45 cal ammo is expensive if you plan on shooting it a lot. I can shoot my 357 mag for less and I am shooting JSP bullets that are great on the range or hunting. I shot a deer with a 125 gr Fiocchi JSP. The bullet made a good sized wound channel and penetrated 34" of deer bone and flesh.
 
You can get a Les Baer Recon, or a Springfield Professional for less than the price of that Guncrafter American. If I had $2900 to spend on a 1911 it would be going into a Baer, SA Professional, or Jim Stroh / Alpha Precision customized SA Operator long before it went into a Guncrafter.

The Springfield Armory TRP is just over your budget, but the MC Operator is just within it. You can also get a Colt Rail Gun, or a Kimber Warrior within your budget. The Colt and the Kimber are US Made. The SA pistols mentioned are finished in the US from excellent IMBEL of Brazil forged frames and slides.
 
I'd say buy the Rock Island as a base pistol, and spend the extra money customizing it. I took one to Gunsite (new) and ran it for ~ 1,200 rounds without a misfire. Well, no misfires that weren't my own fault, anyway.

The level of finish leaves something to be desired, however. The grips needed to be replaced, and the safety on mine is now gone and replaced with something a bit less pointy. The trigger was crisp from the factory but I had it lightened - no need for work more serious than bending a spring a bit.

I think a Rock Island makes for a solid base to build on. You don't get the bragging rights that comes with some of the premium brands, but if you cared about that you wouldn't have started this thread, and instead you'd be looking for a used Baer. ;)
 
+1 on Rock Island

I have a RIA full size Tactical and a compact GI. They haven't given me any troubles (except self-induced). I was at the range with a friend shooting our 1911s (my RIA against his Wilson custom) and the RIA shot just as well as the Wilson. He had quite a few jams with his while mine ran like clockwork. It doesn't matter if its a $400 pistol or a $2500 pistol, all brands can have issues.
 
I just picked up a SA Range Officer for $800. One heck of an "American" 1911 for the price tag.
 
I'm always a little surprised in 1911 threads how many American 1911 makers names are thrown into the ring - Colt, Springfield, Kimber, etc., but nobody ever mentions Smith & Wesson.

The S&W E-Series 1911TA - Government size, all-steel, black Melonite or stainless finish, integrated rail, ambidextrous safeties, Tritium night sites, beavertail grip safety, custom wood grips, fully checkered front and back straps, 100% American-made, the list goes on and on...

Less than $1,200 from multiple online sources.

My standard S&W Stainless Goverment has been great for the 7 years I've had it. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another S&W if I were in the market for a new 1911.
 
I was just going to say the same thing about the S&W E-series... Those fish scale slide serrations are just so damn sexy along with the two-tone and the bobbed grip!
 
Well, the "problem" with the S&W according to some is the external extractor. I don't mind, but it's an innovation some prefer not to have on a 1911.
 
RIA Tac is a goto with your requirements and pricing.

If you want to go into cardiac arrest over 1911 prices, check out Pistol Dynamics and NightHawk.

-Jenrick
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top