Recommendation for a replica WWII 1911?

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Maybe a WWI like this one would work in a pinch.
 

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I took a Rock Island GI model and put WWII Colt grips, hammer, trigger, grip safety, thumb safety, and mainspring housing on it. Here it is next to my Colt M1911A1 WWII repro.
 

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Second view, can only attach one photo per post from my phone.
 

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It never fails. Every time some company does make a close copy of the 1911A1, the "1911" fans start screaming, "I would buy one if they just put on [a rail, laser, fishscale slide serrations, an extended grip tang, a speed bump, two-inch high sights, extended slide stop and mag release, etc., etc."]. So they do, and then we hear from those who want an exact replica of a GI 1911A1. And some company.... And around we go.

Jim
 
I'm not sure what point you're trying to make above. That there should be only one configuration of 1911 available on the market? That market trends can't wax and wane? Or that a manufacturer can't offer a retro, milspec, loaded and/or tacticool model simultaneously?

Back to the OP, I have a Colt retro ww1 1911 in Carbona blue (O1911). An outstanding replica, but unfortunately not in production and pricey. I also have an Argentine Sistema Colt that is pretty much a dead-on clone for the Colt of 1923. While not ww1, it could be a more affordable option for a interwar model if you can pick one up on Gunbroker or a local gun show.

The Cimarron 1911 that I linked in a post above is another retro build. I've seen them and they are very nice appearance wise ... Couldn't tell you about the internals though.
 
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If you can find a nice Argentine 1927 Sistema for a decent price, they were made on Colt machinery and are as close as you can get other than rollmarks. They used to sell for low prices, but I haven't looked around for one in quite some time.
argy_zps7fykvmyp.gif
 
^^ Nice picture AZ_ ! Looks like my Sistema. With the deep checkering on the hammer and backstrap, this is my favorite "feeling" 1911.

They are trading in the $800 range these days, though I peeked at GB and several are starting over a grand.
 
Cluttonfred, when you hear "matte black", it means the pistol is sandblasted and then blued. It looks like Parkerizing and is less expensive. It is also slightly less durable.
 
Thanks, all, for the input. No strong preference for a 1911 vs. 1911A1 since my understanding is that either would be correct for early WWII issue. I would love an original gun, but I also want something I can shoot (all my WWII rifles are shooters) while waiting to come across that magic pristine veteran's 1911 in an estate sale. I'll also be looking for appropriate Colt, S&W, Webley and Enfield revolvers in .45, .45, .38/200, etc. to have the sidearms to go with the rifles.
 
cluttonfred said:
Thanks, all, for the input. No strong preference for a 1911 vs. 1911A1 since my understanding is that either would be correct for early WWII issue. I would love an original gun, but I also want something I can shoot (all my WWII rifles are shooters) while waiting to come across that magic pristine veteran's 1911 in an estate sale. I'll also be looking for appropriate Colt, S&W, Webley and Enfield revolvers in .45, .45, .38/200, etc. to have the sidearms to go with the rifles.
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I agree if you buy them you should shoot them but in the case of an original military 1911 I might not want to.
I have a nice Springfield 1911A1 I mentioned above and Enfield in 38/200 I like to shoot.

1911_01.jpg

En3s.jpg
 
Show off. ;-) I think if I had a nice, original WWII 1911 or 1911A1 that had clearly been shot before, I'd want to put a full mag through it for fun, clean it well, and tuck it away. Then I'd use my modern replica for shooting the rest of the time.
 
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ArchAngelCD--that's a great-looking Springfield (SAI) and a very early one at that. I'd guess mid to late eighties based on the rollstamp. They dropped the word "OF" very early on and I've seen less than a handful of them, including mine, which is numbered a little shy of 5000.
 
cluttonfred * * * I would love an original gun, but I also want something I can shoot (all my WWII rifles are shooters) while waiting to come across that magic pristine veteran's 1911 in an estate sale. * * *
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Not magical or pristine, but I did acquire this M1911 out of an old vet's estate. :)

1915 Colt M1911.
N15-10.jpg

I call this old warrior the "Pancho Villa" model. Colt shipped it to the Commanding Officer at Springfield Armory in August 1915, which was about six months before Gen. "Black Jack" Pershing took his infantry & cavalry and started off on the Mexican Punitive Expedition. ;)

cluttonfred * * * I think if I had a nice, original WWII 1911 or 1911A1 that had clearly been shot before, I'd want to put a full mag through it for fun, clean it well, and tuck it away. Then I'd use my modern replica for shooting the rest of the time.
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I shot mine a little just to check for function - but only with soft-ball cast loads.
It was thoroughly cleaned afterward, then wrapped it in that rust-deterring oiled paper that Brownell's sells.

You really don't want to run these old M1911s hard, especially when you've come into one that's all original and correct.

As you said, that's what we have the modern specimens for.
 
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I'm very thankful Colt made a small run of the 01911 WWI repro models, and even more thankful the opportunity to buy one fell in my lap! I love this pistol, it's going in the casket with me.

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I'm very thankful Colt made a small run of the 01911 WWI repro models, and even more thankful the opportunity to buy one fell in my lap! I love this pistol, it's going in the casket with me.
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Very nice! Yep, that Repro model is exactly the Old School M1911 you can run hard all day, every day.

Plus, I like the O1911s and O1918s better than Colt's "Anniversary" 1911 that's currently available from places like Bud's. I just prefer the true-to-spec rollmarks on their slides over the Anvii model.
 
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Agreed on the O1911. Here's mine, pictured with grandad's medals. He served with Pershing in both Mexico and WW1.

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Agreed on the O1911. Here's mine, pictured with grandad's medals. He served with Pershing in both Mexico and WW1.
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Nice, but there are two M1911s pictured. What's the one in the top pic?
 
Both are the same Colt O1911 repro, just a bit different lighting. Below is some of the rest of the family.

IMG_2692san.jpg

O1911 - probably an expensive answer to the OP's question

Sistema Colt - I thought this would be the perfect solution for the OP until I saw how much these were going for now - up to and beyond $900.

1991 ORM - the ugly duckling of the family. Having said that though, I did see a current edition O1991 in blue with arched mainspring and lanyard loop. But again in the $900 range - I think it was a limited run from the Colt Custom Shop

Old Springer 1911-A1.
 
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Old Springer 1911-A1.
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Those older S.A. G.I. models, circa mid-1980s-to-early-1990s, aren't bad 1911A1s at all.

Built on good Brazilian tool steel, without ghey MIM-crap internals. Good shooters too ... for being just a basic GI-spec model.
 
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