Safari Arms 1911. yea or nay?

[ApacheCoTodd]

This one came across my bow. I have always blown them off as an unknown quantity but since this one's here - I decided to look into them.

I assume that since it's a "phoenix, Arizona" marked model that it's NOT an Olympic product in any way.... Right?

It's up to me to price it and I need to be right with this gal as she's a widowed friend on my Wife.

Condition is very, very good. No accessories.

Input fellas? Give it a second look and if so, what are reasonable offers on this? I have absolutely no intention to low-ball her but don't want to be giving money away should I choose to sell it.

Todd.

 

[bannockburn]

ApacheCoTodd

I think Olympic Arms bought up M-S Safari Arms in 1987 but don't know if they moved the gun making operations to Olympia, Washington. So with the Phoenix, Arizona address on the gun it may be an earlier model. I have been to a lot of gun shows and I can't recall seeing any of these 1911s nor I do know of anybody who actually owned one. Build quality in terms of materials used as well as assembly and overall fit and finish are sort of unknowns with this pistol.

Kind of tough to put a price on it but I would say somewhere between $500 and $600 might be a fair place to start.

 

[CWL]

Safari Arms used to have quite a reputation before being purchased by OlyArms (when they went downhill bc the owner was too cheap to replace the worn frame molds). Collectors used to have a long wait list to buy their pistols. They were hand-fit and function was superb although I don't think they all had match grade barrels. It is comparable to any "semi custom" m1911 now available, possibly better.

I'd buy it if it was offered to me and I collect full house M1911s.

Any idea how old it is?

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

ApacheCoTodd

I think Olympic Arms bought up M-S Safari Arms in 1987 but don't know if they moved the gun making operations to Olympia, Washington. So with the Phoenix, Arizona address on the gun it may be an earlier model. I have been to a lot of gun shows and I can't recall seeing any of these 1911s nor I do know of anybody who actually owned one. Build quality in terms of materials used as well as assembly and overall fit and finish are sort of unknowns with this pistol.

Kind of tough to put a price on it but I would say somewhere between $500 and $600 might be a fair place to start.

Seems reasonable, thanks. Looking around the internet, there really isn't much to rely on. Some say pre-Washington were the good ones - others say the opposite.


Todd.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Safari Arms used to have quite a reputation before being purchased by OlyArms (when they went downhill bc the owner was too cheap to replace the worn frame molds). Collectors used to have a long wait list to buy their pistols. They were hand-fit and function was superb although I don't think they all had match grade barrels. It is comparable to any "semi custom" m1911 now available, possibly better.

I'd buy it if it was offered to me and I collect full house M1911s.

Any idea how old it is?

Thanks. Age? 4 digit serial if that matters but like as not, it doesn't. Being marked as an "M-S" and with Arizona I'm gleaning that it is prior to the 1988 buyout by Olympic.

I dig the sight and some sources are saying they are "K" frame rears.


Todd.

 

[bannockburn]

Todd

I think at the time (late '70s), when they were introduced the Safari Arms 1911s were unique in that they offered some custom features, such as the S&W type rear sight, an extended ambi thumb safety, an extended slide release, a beavertail grip safety, the hooked and squared trigger guard, and the finger groove on the frame (all very reminiscent of the customization work done by Austin Behlert). There was also a slightly smaller model, the Enforcer, which was like a Colt CCO in size. They also sold many of their parts separately if you wanted to customize your own gun.

The only problem here is that at the time you never heard any feedback about the guns, good or bad. I don't recall reading any gun magazine articles about them (not that it would be put to any really close scrutiny anyways), but you didn't see them for sale anywhere and I sure didn't know anyone who had one either. So it's definitely something of an unknown quantity and that should be a consideration in it's pricing.

 

[elde]

I have a couple of Safari Arms 1911s. I negotiated a $650 price on the last one purchased locally at a gun store in TX - they were asking $725. Gun is much like what is pictured condition-wise and is also Phoenix gun. I'm old school so am a fan of the old S&W sights. Have a Clark outfitted in much the same manner. Anyway, I've not had an issue with mine with 400 or so 230 American Eagles through it. And it can do 4" @ 25 yards if I'm having a good day ~ not so great eyesight & not getting any younger. I'd pay $550-$600 just judging from the pics. Much like CWL (above) I consider these to be quality firearms.

 

[rcmodel]

I had a 1911 years ago someone had put that S&W rear sight on.

I loved it.
Except the sight shoot loose or flew off in the weeds every few hundred rounds.

It may be Safari arms did it another way besides depending on a couple of little screws and a pin to hold it on.

but, I doubt it.

rc

 

[vaalpens]

I was just looking at the 34th Blue Book and they have the GI Safari (1991-2000) valued at:
$500/$455/$395/$350/$295/$275/$250 (100%/98%/95%/90%/80%/70%/60%)

Hopefully this additional information helps out.

 

[CWL]

Those Safari pistols were built after it was acquired by Oly Arms. It went downhill from there because the owner did not replace worn molds (Safari used cast frames), so the guns became increasingly sloppy. Only good thing about Oly M1911 pistols was that the former gunsmith of Detonics assembled the pistols, but he was just doing what he could by then with increasingly out of spec castings.

The early Safaris were what we call "semi customs" nowadays and much better quality.

 

[shiftyer1]

I have what I think is an early stainless model safari arms 1911. It was my first 1911 and I have no complaints.

I think I paid around 550 for it several years ago.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Well then, the deal's done and it's mine now.

So first off, it has nothing whatsoever to do with Olympic Arms other than being an early version of the pistols to which OA later bought manufacturing rights.

Picked it up earlier this week and am quite pleased. It is in fact an aluminum frame and as such, loaded, is within not-mattering of the weight of most any of my full sized 1911s when they are empty.

The finger groove works very, very well for me but, as I truly enjoy using Pachmayr finger-grooved grips, that's no surprise. What is a surprise is how perfectly it conforms to my hand and aids considerably in control. The odd squared trigger guard works very much the same in controlling muzzle rise. Color me extremely surprised by the effectiveness of this feature. Some holsters absolutely object to this protrusion.

I don't know that the forward, raised checkering makes much difference but it certainly does not detract from shooting enjoyment.

The threaded barrel bushing is well fitted and likely has a great deal to do with the exceptional accuracy of this pistol as do the simple, yet most effective sights. The rear notch is a bit large for me but I can work with that.

Left side controls are what one would expect of higher end, custom, extended pieces from the day so I particularly value them.

Happy as I am with this one, I'll be looking out for one of the Commander sized Enforcers.

Todd

 

[bannockburn]

Todd

Great to hear back from you with your purchase of the Safari Arms 1911. Good to know also that it was well made and a decent buy for the money.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Checked the weights accurately now.

The M-S Safari loaded with a GI mag and Ball is 2 pounds even and the limber EMPTY is 2.2 pounds and LOADED is 2.6 pounds.

I'm thinking to find a sweet tooled leather outside carry holster for the Safari as my OC gun now.


Todd.