Sorry, but have to ask
- Thread starter wildburp
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I bought mine this year and have had zero failures. I never owned one in the 90's so I can't compare. Perhaps I just got lucky.
My one complaint is that the finish seems pretty poor. The finish is already wearing (matte black) and I am seriously considering a trip to Tripp to get it chromed.
I am not well versed in the art of 1911 but I bought 2 this year
a S&W full size SS and a Para commander size I've run 500 rds of various shaped bullets swc,hp round nose both cast and jacketed and not a hitch the Para's 7 rd mag would not drop free but it fed got a new mag and alls well.
a S&W full size SS and a Para commander size I've run 500 rds of various shaped bullets swc,hp round nose both cast and jacketed and not a hitch the Para's 7 rd mag would not drop free but it fed got a new mag and alls well.
I have a few 45's - some stock, some tuned - some a little tuned, some a little more tuned. In my book the #1 criteria for a fighting gun is reliability and all my guns have that going for them. I should preface this w/ the fact that I have no race guns...I would not use a race for for SD/HD 
1911 guy
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Kimber?
Apparently the part about steel internals and a real extractor got missed. The reason I'm sending it in for the work is that no manufacturer makes a handgun with everything I want and nothing I don't. So, I got a drawer full of parts and a little cash building up. Kimber doesn't offer the sights I want, most of their models have FLGRs and precious few handguns anymore come stock with frontstrap checkering. Tuning is a major issue on a carry gun, also. Even my POS Charles Daly has been to a 'smith to make sure everything runs correctly. It isn't going to be a silk purse in this reality, but that doesn't mean I trust somebody making 10 bucks an hour to make sure everything is just right.
Apparently the part about steel internals and a real extractor got missed. The reason I'm sending it in for the work is that no manufacturer makes a handgun with everything I want and nothing I don't. So, I got a drawer full of parts and a little cash building up. Kimber doesn't offer the sights I want, most of their models have FLGRs and precious few handguns anymore come stock with frontstrap checkering. Tuning is a major issue on a carry gun, also. Even my POS Charles Daly has been to a 'smith to make sure everything runs correctly. It isn't going to be a silk purse in this reality, but that doesn't mean I trust somebody making 10 bucks an hour to make sure everything is just right.
re:
Lemme see now...If they took all my old Colts and left me with a hard decision...I'd have to pass. Although there are many current-production pistols in the pipes that do run well and provide accuracy that's more than adequate for the intended purpose...there are none at the present that I'd
be comfortable in choosing to be the only one for the rest of my life.
Colt Colt Colt!
Now...If I had the option of any 1911 clone, my hands-down choice wouldn't be a Colt. It would be a low-mileage mid-1944 to end of contract run Remington Rand. This isn't to suggest that Colt didn't make a good pistol...and the early Colts were truly fine pistols...It's just that, near war's end, the Rands were considered by many to be a bit better in overall quality...and they were producing them for about 8 or 10 dollars less per unit than Colt was.
Yes. You'll give about 1800-2,000 bucks for a nice late-production Rand.
You'll give as much or more for a high-end Baer or Wilson or Brown. There's the question of using a collectible piece of history for yeoman service, but
that's a personal decision. I don't let the historians dictate what I feel comfortable in carrying...and there are a lotta nice Rands around. The one that occasionally rides on my hip isn't going to make a signifigant impact
on the numbers...and in all liklihood, it'll find its way into a collection eventually, sans a bit of the finish.
The alternative is to find a decent mismatch. One that's a bit rough but mechanically sound. There are a good many around. A Colt-Switch&Signal or an Ithaca-Rand, or some such. Have a good smith tighten it up a little, and retrofit a good barrel. Replace the springs, and possibly a new spring-tempered extractor from Cylinder & Slide or Bar-Sto. Put some sights on it, if your eyes demand that...or leave'em alone if they don't...your call. Get a dozen or so good magazines, and you'll probably never really need anything else as long as you don't try to put 25 or 30 thousand rounds a year through it.
I have one such pistol. The slide and frame are Colt, but the gun was in pieces when I bought it...and there were a few missing. I was able to replace the missing or worn parts with real NOS USGI parts, and the barrel is
made by Kart. After about 6 or 7 hours spent bringing the gun into acceptable shape, and fitting the barrel, it's smooth as butter, dead reliable with any reasonable ammo I can stuff in it, and it'll shoot into about an inch point five at 25 yards from a rest with PMC hardball. After an initial investment of 75 dollars, and another 150 spent in the rebuild, I have less money tied up in it than an RIA...and though it's not ever gonna be a contender for the cover of Guns & Ammo...I wouldn't trade it even up for a 2,000-dollar Baer.
Here 'tis. The long WW1-era trigger has since been replaced with a
milled/one-piece, checkered short trigger from an early Colt and an era-correct slidestop...but this is pretty much all there is to it. My take-it-to-the-wall, bet-your-life, 225-dollar "Go to" 1911A1 pistol. Ugly...ain't it?
Lemme see now...If they took all my old Colts and left me with a hard decision...I'd have to pass. Although there are many current-production pistols in the pipes that do run well and provide accuracy that's more than adequate for the intended purpose...there are none at the present that I'd
be comfortable in choosing to be the only one for the rest of my life.
Colt Colt Colt!
Now...If I had the option of any 1911 clone, my hands-down choice wouldn't be a Colt. It would be a low-mileage mid-1944 to end of contract run Remington Rand. This isn't to suggest that Colt didn't make a good pistol...and the early Colts were truly fine pistols...It's just that, near war's end, the Rands were considered by many to be a bit better in overall quality...and they were producing them for about 8 or 10 dollars less per unit than Colt was.
Yes. You'll give about 1800-2,000 bucks for a nice late-production Rand.
You'll give as much or more for a high-end Baer or Wilson or Brown. There's the question of using a collectible piece of history for yeoman service, but
that's a personal decision. I don't let the historians dictate what I feel comfortable in carrying...and there are a lotta nice Rands around. The one that occasionally rides on my hip isn't going to make a signifigant impact
on the numbers...and in all liklihood, it'll find its way into a collection eventually, sans a bit of the finish.
The alternative is to find a decent mismatch. One that's a bit rough but mechanically sound. There are a good many around. A Colt-Switch&Signal or an Ithaca-Rand, or some such. Have a good smith tighten it up a little, and retrofit a good barrel. Replace the springs, and possibly a new spring-tempered extractor from Cylinder & Slide or Bar-Sto. Put some sights on it, if your eyes demand that...or leave'em alone if they don't...your call. Get a dozen or so good magazines, and you'll probably never really need anything else as long as you don't try to put 25 or 30 thousand rounds a year through it.
I have one such pistol. The slide and frame are Colt, but the gun was in pieces when I bought it...and there were a few missing. I was able to replace the missing or worn parts with real NOS USGI parts, and the barrel is
made by Kart. After about 6 or 7 hours spent bringing the gun into acceptable shape, and fitting the barrel, it's smooth as butter, dead reliable with any reasonable ammo I can stuff in it, and it'll shoot into about an inch point five at 25 yards from a rest with PMC hardball. After an initial investment of 75 dollars, and another 150 spent in the rebuild, I have less money tied up in it than an RIA...and though it's not ever gonna be a contender for the cover of Guns & Ammo...I wouldn't trade it even up for a 2,000-dollar Baer.
Here 'tis. The long WW1-era trigger has since been replaced with a
milled/one-piece, checkered short trigger from an early Colt and an era-correct slidestop...but this is pretty much all there is to it. My take-it-to-the-wall, bet-your-life, 225-dollar "Go to" 1911A1 pistol. Ugly...ain't it?
What Would I do if that &$## Tuner evil: ) or someone else made off with my old Colts...?
Here is an example of a possibility: Start by looking at the following link...
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=62937971
What we have here is a pistol that someone made up using USGI "real steel" parts and an Essex frame of questionable quality. The Old Fuff's trained eyeballs detects that it has a Colt one-piece short trigger (possibly pre-war, as it's blued) and wide-spur hammer. The slide stop is blued and appears to be an older one made by Colt. The slide is a World War Two USGI made by Ithaca, and Da' Fuff is willing to bet the internals, including the barrel, are also USGI. The whole outfit is at present being offered at auction for $400.00!
Now if this pistol were to fall into the Old Fuff's hands...
It won't because he is going to give some others a chance . He would check out the frame, and if it wasn't up to acceptable standards, buy a new one - say from Caspian. Then he'd take that pile of genuine real-steel parts and pieces and put together a more-or-less genuine 1911A1 pistol like they used to make. Estimated cost would be in the $600.00 range.
There are always deals to be found if you are knowledgeable and keep your eyes open. This is just one of many I've noticed.
evil: ) or someone else made off with my old Colts...?Here is an example of a possibility: Start by looking at the following link...
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=62937971
What we have here is a pistol that someone made up using USGI "real steel" parts and an Essex frame of questionable quality. The Old Fuff's trained eyeballs detects that it has a Colt one-piece short trigger (possibly pre-war, as it's blued) and wide-spur hammer. The slide stop is blued and appears to be an older one made by Colt. The slide is a World War Two USGI made by Ithaca, and Da' Fuff is willing to bet the internals, including the barrel, are also USGI. The whole outfit is at present being offered at auction for $400.00!
Now if this pistol were to fall into the Old Fuff's hands...
It won't because he is going to give some others a chance . He would check out the frame, and if it wasn't up to acceptable standards, buy a new one - say from Caspian. Then he'd take that pile of genuine real-steel parts and pieces and put together a more-or-less genuine 1911A1 pistol like they used to make. Estimated cost would be in the $600.00 range.There are always deals to be found if you are knowledgeable and keep your eyes open. This is just one of many I've noticed.
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