Shiny blued GI spec 1911 for under 1000?

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Thanks again, Bannock, glad to hear that! What i'm understanding from that is that the Colt is better fit and finish wise, but the Cimarron is closer to what i'm looking for (finish type wise)? In that case, aesthetics might win out for me (although I do love Colt, don't get me wrong).

Imashooter, that photo comparison is fantastic, thanks! Both guns are pretty but i'll have to say, my heart leans towards the glossy Cimarron. Also, it is a bit cheaper. Only by 50 dollars or so, but with my budget I could put it towards other things (mags, ammo, etc.). How is the trigger on the Cimarron, especially compared to the original GI guns? I've heard something around 4.5 pounds? How is the break?
This thread has been an amazing resource for me, I thank all participants emphatically! I never could have learned this on my own. - Love from Ray
 
My Cimarron I estimate to be 4-5 lbs. I have 11-12 (I think) 1911s ranging from rocks, tisas, cimarron, norinco, cz, colt, springfield and to be honest, all being bone stock when it comes to the trigger "crispness" and "break", not a dime's worth of difference. Surely they can be modified to personal wants and needs, however, I'm just fine with each of them. I had a couple of pistols I used when I worked that were closer to 2.5 than 3, which I preferred, but I'll take anywhere from 4-7 among the "civilized" crowded populations that are ever so common today. Different times / different conditions. Hope you enjoy whatever you end up with and, post some pics. Now that posted wet looking Colt is beyond beautiful.
 
It doesn't have the high gloss bluing that you mentioned but I took an old Series 80 and put in a flat MSH with the lanyard staple and a 1911 hammer. I know I did not spend more than $50 for both parts. Look on eBay for your parts. If you are comfortable installing them, go for it. I was not and had them installed by a competitor I know who builds his competition pistols.

Kevin
 

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Thanks very much, Iamashooter! I'm perfectly happy with a trigger you described (average quality and with that trigger pull weight). Personally I don't like a trigger much lighter than that. And that Colt is indeed a stunner.

It will probably take a reasonably longish time for me to obtain a Cimarron (assuming I end up choosing it, which is likely I think) because I'd like to save up more, and life's a bit nuts at this time of year for me. Whenever I do procure one, whenever it happens, I will try to post pics (and nice ones too, If I do!).

StrawHat, that Series 80 is attractive to say the least. I rather wish I could see the bluing of the Colt in person to get a feel for it, because in pictures it looks unappealing to me, too matte for my taste. My thinking is that in person it might look different and I might find it pleasing... But If it looks in person as it does in photos, then I'm still leaning towards the Cimarron. I'm just a sucker for a lustrous sheeny blue job.

Funny, your gun has a 1911A1 style trigger, when I am pretty certain the 1991 come with long 1911 style aluminium triggers. Is your trigger aftermarket, or was it an early model, or otherwise--?

Last question I have (hopefully!) on the Cimarron; how hit-or-miss is the quality on those pieces? I've heard that the quality varies quite a bit, but I haven't found a bad review yet. All reviews and opinions I've been able to find have been highly positive of the thing, praising the accuracy, reliability, and fit and finish. Would it be unrealistic of me to fear getting a lemon?
EDIT: I just caught that mention of the CMP and did some googling. I can't believe what my eyes are telling me! Would anyone mind giving me some more info on the 1911s that the CMP will eventually release? Perhaps a price estimate, and how many they'll release (pretty much watever info you can give me)? I expect they'll go out of stock at once whever they're released, for obvious reasons. I was looking for a glossy gun (not parkerized) but depending on some factors, a proper GI gun for the right price would be awesome and personally meaningful to me (my grandfather carried one in Iwo Jima where he was wounded as part of a mortar team). Would all of the guns sold by the CMP be looked over to ensure they aren't too decrepit? Please excuse my ignorance fellas, and thanks once again.

Thanks contributors! -love and peace from Ray
 
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RayTheGreat said:
...StrawHat, that Series 80 is attractive to say the least...
Click to expand...

Thank you.

RayTheGreat said:
...I'm just a sucker for a lustrous sheeny blue job...
Click to expand...

Hold out for what you want, I merely give options.

RayTheGreat said:
...Funny, your gun has a 1911A1 style trigger, when I am pretty certain the 1991 come with long 1911 style aluminium triggers. Is your trigger aftermarket, or was it an early model, or otherwise--? ...
Click to expand...

I do not recall replacing the trigger, but, that was a long time ago.

RayTheGreat said:
...EDIT: I just caught that mention of the CMP and did some googling. I can't believe what my eyes are telling me! Would anyone mind giving me some more info on the 1911s that the CMP will eventually release? Perhaps a price estimate, and how many they'll release (pretty much watever info you can give me)? I expect they'll go out of stock at once whever they're released, for obvious reasons. I was looking for a glossy gun (not parkerized) but depending on some factors, a proper GI gun for the right price would be awesome and personally meaningful to me (my grandfather carried one in Iwo Jima where he was wounded as part of a mortar team). Would all of the guns sold by the CMP be looked over to ensure they aren't too decrepit? Please excuse my ignorance fellas, and thanks once again.

Thanks contributors! -love and peace from Ray...
Click to expand...

At this point even the CMP does not know what they will be doing. For one thing, they will be receiveing a lot of worn out pistols, most likely all will have mismatched numbers and have gone through one or more rebuilds. The odds of there being an original 1911 100% will be astronomical.

Price will be whatever the market will bear but a lot more than I would be willing to pay for a worn out pistol. Buy the firearm, not the story, unless there is documentation.

Kevin
 
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The high lustre Colts are no more unless the custom shop gets involved. The "polished" blue Colts today are what I would call a semi-gloss brushed blue; flats only. Very nice but not what you are "lustreing" for. Except for high end pistols and refinishes, I believe the Cimarron is it. I'm not aware of any quality peaks and valleys with the Cimarron. There are better examples of the Cimarron's high lustre than pics I provided. They're highly polished. https://www.google.com/search?q=blu...#hl=en&tbm=isch&q=polished+blue+cimarron+1911
 
Thanks for the great info everybody, this thread has been extremely helpful. I think my heart is set on the Cimarron at this point. Thanks again, contributors - Ray
 
Imashooter, thank you very much for the link! Ironically though, i've already done a bit of research (in the loosest sense of the word) and identified the model of the Colt grips (I figured from the look that the panels were from the 01911). It is a shame they're discontinued but perhaps I could find them still in stock somewhere? I have no idea really, guess i'll check later. They are handsome panels. If i too am disatisfied with the stock Ckmarron grips I could always look into the walnut ones Hogue makes, i think those are good-looking as well, though more expensive. Although if i don't replace the stock panels in the first place, saving 50 dollars is always nice. From the picture he posted, can you tell if Jimster's Cimarron has replaced walnut panels or stock? I find Jimster's grips on the Cimarron really attractive. Did you replace your stock grips due to aesthetics or function, or both? And i would have compared the grips on the 1911Forum page you linked me too, but since i'm not a 1911Forum member i can't enlarge the photos (they are too small to see un-enlarged, unfortunately). Thanks for all of the assistance, Iamashooter, you've been a terrific help!! And Bannock, I don't know when I'll ever get one, but when I do i'll post pictures (and nice ones, if i can help it). Many thanks to everybody, once more!
-RaytheGreat
 
Ray, I got those grips off eBay. They're supposed to be Colt grips. The grips that come with the Cimarron are not the best looking but functional enough.
 
Thanks fellas for the pictures and info! They're worth their weight in gold. If I can i'll try to locate myself a pair of those Colt panels. I agree, they really are an improvement. Thanks again! - Ray
 
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Thanks, I will! I already found that page and bookmarked it. Perhaps I'll jump the gun on it since the stock is limited obviously. I can spare 30 dollars. Thanks again, Iamashooter! -Ray

EDIT: I think I will create a new thread based around the Cimarron to answer some more questions I have about it, I hope everyone is alright with that! Cause the original topic in my current thread is rather buried now. Thanks again guys!! - Ray
 
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Well thanks to this thread which I've lurked in since the 3rd, I have decided to spend my $ on a Cimarron polished up 1911!!!! I bought a new one which has crappy grips on gun broker for $499+30 shipping. Not the best deal I guess but probably fair for what it is. I figure a rock island GI generally runs around $440 with shipping or tax locally so the polished bluing job and nice roll marks to me are worth the extra $100 or so. Both guns need new grips. Thank you all for posting pics and part #s for the grips!!! I will be buying a pair soon as I get the gun broken in.

I was really close to buying a parkerized armacor gun but then I thought why not just get what I want! Like the OP I also wanted a polished blued 1911 GI style. I settled on a colt model 1991a1. Buds has then for around $750 with free shipping. I found one locally to handle and was actually somewhat disapponted. The price tag was over $900 however the gun didn't quite feel right to me. For one the bluing was not really polished, more brushed looking and only on the flat parts. The curves were all satin. Ok I can live with that, they are shooting guns. Then I noticed the sharp lines all over. It was as if they blued the gun without buffing off the edges after machining. To me it just didn't feel like quality being so sharp and defined. I didn't quite put my finger on it till I looked online and MANY people were complaining about the sharp edges on new ones which older guns didn't have. I noticed this difference when comparing a new 80 to an older 70. Moving on, the trigger on the colt felt mushy!! I don't know why, but it wasn't crisp at all. I saueezed what seemed like a 1/8th of an inch takeup before the hammer dropped. I picked up a springfield right beside it and did the same. The springfield trigger felt CRisp and almost no takeup.

All this led me to a realization that to get the colt how I wanted, it was going to take a gunsmith knocking off the sharp edges, polishing up the gun, and rebluing to that sweet colt look we are after. I contacted 2 shops which informed it would be around $300 to polish and reblue a brand new colt. Okay not bad so we are about $1050 into a new colt with a "royal" or "master" polosh and bluing. That's at the top of my budget but doable. Well then comes the trigger... That was the deal breaker. Already I could get the Cimmaron for nearly 1/2 the price of a similar colt. Of course the could would have been a nice piece and held it's value but then I might be aftaid to shoot it!!! I bit the bullet and went for the Cimarron luster blue of whatever it's called model 1911p. I'm really hoping mine is as nice as yalls was!!!!
 
Congrats Elano. Hope you like it and like all Armscor pistols, that great lifetime warranty and the boyz in Nevada handle the warranty work / customer support.

Heck yeah RayTheGreat, get a thread going. ;)
 
Wow Elano, that's awesome! It put a large smile on my face to know something good came out of this thread. May your new Cimarron serve you well! I'd appreciate it if you could let me know via the new thread I started what you think of it (especially the finish)! Funny, I was eyeing that same Cimarron gun that was listed on Gunbroker that you got (There has only been one in the past several days at that price). If the gun was new I think considering the MSRP that you got a decent deal, and I agree that the bluing is worth the extra cash (at least for me it is). I'd guess it is new, they don't often sell used in my experience although there is one on Armslist (although for the price it is selling at, it really isn't worth it). (EDIT: just saw you bought it new, nevermind! :p)

For those who are interested in purchasing a Cimarron 1911, they can be a bit hard to find at first. I'm including links for those who need them, I hope they help anybody. Both models, blued and nickel-plated, sell for a little over 500 in the links below.

The polished blued model (the model that is the star of this thread) > https://www.gunsamerica.com/9588147...P-5-FS-8-SHOT-POLISHED-BLUED-WALNUT-1911P.htm

The nickel-plated model > https://grabagun.com/cimarron-1911-a1-45acp-5-nickel-8rd.html

Haha ok, Imashooter, I got one started :). Especially for guns like the Cimarron with not too much info available easily, these threads are a gold mine of information!
-love from Ray
Thanks again everybody.
 
Ok. I finally got it!! Sorry Ray I didn't realize you had your eye on the same pistol thought the thought did cross my mind. :( If it makes you feel better the one that I got the grips are terrible. They are just plain crap wood. Probably some philipeenes rubber tree ;) I wouldn't pay more than $0.50 a piece for these junk. They would probably make good kindlin though in case I get stranded. Ba dum cha!! Good thing is grips are readily available.

Anyway the gun came in a bag full of grease. It took about an hour to clean the gun up...

Pics.... These DO NOT give it justice. Please excuse the crappy mag and cheesy grips.

AFA8F561-94D2-412C-AB0C-B09F8B407ADF_zpskiccm8g9.jpg

213BE087-2B97-4BD7-9C4F-6B96494E4010_zps7vz2f3nq.jpg

42767906-B5A8-40E3-834D-1E4CB6A8DF9A_zpskslrrelw.jpg
 
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Beautiful pistol and congratulations. The first thing I did was change the grips. That Phillipino wood has a wrong color to it. Aren't you pleased with how nice the internal parts are? Nothing sloppy about the quality of these Cimarron/Armscor pistols.
 
Yup, that's what I used. They really give that pistol the right look.
 
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