Tisas CMP 1911A1: Most Accurate WWII Reproduction 1911?

[amd6547]

CMP is actually a lot easier to buy from now than they used to be.

A few years ago, CMP had M1 Carbines, a favorite of mine. They had been returned by a foreign military. So, I went through the process, jumped through the hoops, and finally got my approval to buy one.
CMP North Store is about an hour or so drive away from me. One of my best days ever, driving up there and picking out my own Carbine off the racks. Ended up with a nice, early Inland for a bargain price.

 

[tercel89]

I am a bit confused here. I saw that the original poster said that Tisas is making a 1911 for the CMP. I thought that the CMP was a program that you could join and buy old surplus guns. Tisas makes very inexpensive but well made guns. Why not just buy a new Tisas without going through this ?

 

[Jim Watson]

Because it won't have CMP written on it.

 

[tercel89]

Because it won't have CMP written on it.

What is so big about having that written on it ?

 

[twofewscrews]

I am a bit confused here. I saw that the original poster said that Tisas is making a 1911 for the CMP. I thought that the CMP was a program that you could join and buy old surplus guns. Tisas makes very inexpensive but well made guns. Why not just buy a new Tisas without going through this ?

According to a Tisas rep. the CMP requested a couple of minor changes which Tisas said yes to.

CMP's website includes "Manganese Phosphate Slide, Frame & small parts" whereas Tisas ASF model only lists the slide and frame as being parkerized.

I'm in no hurry and I wanted to support the CMP. For me, this is a range toy not a tool so if it takes three weeks or three months to enter my possession I don't care.

I'd also like to see if the Tisas rep. was lying or not and there's a couple of people on here with the ASF model who I'm sure also want to know if there's any difference beyond the roll marks.

 

[CapnMac]

I was very tempted by the Auto Ordinance offering

As was I, and the US$400 price point made it an easy decision.

Looks the part, right out of the box. Not really a Service Pistol competition in the same way as Service Rifle, so, as an "occasional shooter" it suffices.

 

[twofewscrews]

As was I, and the US$400 price point made it an easy decision.
View attachment 1263197
Looks the part, right out of the box. Not really a Service Pistol competition in the same way as Service Rifle, so, as an "occasional shooter" it suffices.

They go for double that much now

 

[AlexanderA]

What is so big about having that written on it ?

For some people, this represents the "official government stamp of approval." I don't see it that way. The CMP gun, and the non-CMP ASF, are identical (except for the tiny letters "CMP"). Identical price, too. You'll probably get it faster if you don't bother with the CMP bureaucracy.

 

[Mark_Mark]

CMP is actually a lot easier to buy from now than they used to be.

I get the paperwork for government surplus firearms. To full-fill paperwork requirements and such. But these gun are made in Turkey. you would think they would want to spread their name of CMP to get more positive exposures, especially with the recent political change.

 

[tercel89]

I recently bought 2 of the same kind of Tisas 1911 that is posted here. Both were $299 from Classicfirearms. Looks like they still have them for the same price. I got one and realized how well they were made. All small parts are milled and not cast. So I bought another one. These are a great deal and I'm sure that a bit later these prices will go up drastically just like the Canik striker line of pistols did.

 

[AlexanderA]

I recently bought 2 of the same kind of Tisas 1911 that is posted here. Both were $299 from Classicfirearms.

For that price, these must be the standard Tisas GI "U.S. Army" version and not the ASF. That one sells for $479 from any outlet. The notable differences are that the ASF has a non-lowered ejection port, and a Parkerized rather than a Cerakoted finish. (The standard army version is still a nice gun, just not the one that nitpicking collectors would go for.)

 

[King Medallion]

About the closest to a GI I have or ever will have is my Colt 1991A1. Accurate and goes bang every time. Never done a ting to it except load it. And add wood grips.

 

[twofewscrews]

About the closest to a GI I have or ever will have is my Colt 1991A1. Accurate and goes bang every time. Never done a ting to it except load it. And add wood grips.
View attachment 1263496

That's a beautiful piece. . . But if I'm not mistaken those are series 80 and that's a hard pass from me.

 

[trackskippy]

What makes them a hard pass?

Ive had quite a few Series 80 Colts over the years, and never had a lick of trouble with any of them. And truthfully, Id prefer to carry one, and I did, as you have that added level of safety the firing on block brings.

In the past, Ive dropped a freshly loaded Series 70 Commander, that hadn't yet had its thumb safety set, and that was the longest and slowest 3' fall Ive ever encountered. Luckily, the gun didn't go off, but I'll take that extra firing pin block, any day.

And I never encountered any difference in feel or weight in the factroy triggers between the 70's and 80's guns. I always wondered why there were complaints there.

 

[twofewscrews]

What makes them a hard pass?

Ive had quite a few Series 80 Colts over the years, and never had a lick of trouble with any of them. And truthfully, Id prefer to carry one, and I did, as you have that added level of safety the firing on block brings.

In the past, Ive dropped a freshly loaded Series 70 Commander, that hadn't yet had its thumb safety set, and that was the longest and slowest 3' fall Ive ever encountered. Luckily, the gun didn't go off, but I'll take that extra firing pin block, any day.

And I never encountered any difference in feel or weight in the factroy triggers between the 70's and 80's guns. I always wondered why there were complaints there.

Part of my love for the 1911 is the simplicity of the design. On a GI model I want something as close to the original as possible.

If I was getting a "modern" style 1911 for competition or carry the 80s series wouldn't bother me at all, hell for the reasons you articulated it might even be preferred, but this is a range toy and nostalgia piece for me so an 80s style system is a no go.

 

[Jim Watson]

The market shows a lot of nostalgia for small sights, small safeties, tough triggers, and bitey hammers.
I have a real USGI Army Surplus heirloom, my other 1911s are more or less improved over it.

 

[AlexanderA]

The market shows a lot of nostalgia for small sights, small safeties, tough triggers, and bitey hammers.
I have a real USGI Army Surplus heirloom, my other 1911s are more or less improved over it.

And Tisas produces just about anything you might want in the way of a 1911. Given their low price point, high quality, and loads of options, it's a wonder how any competitor could stay in business against them. The only thing that would stop Tisas from taking over the 1911 market would be a high import tariff.

 

[trackskippy]

That and maybe getting them to actually run a decent percentage without having to fiddle or worse.

One thing I haven't yet seen, is any kind of medium to higher volume round count reports on the Tisas and how they are faring in that respect. I have a couple that are approaching 5K or so, and with both, a lot of that ammo was just burned up trying to get the guns to run. Cheap guns are great, as long as they work.

 

[twofewscrews]

Reached out to Tisas to ask them what the difference is between the one they're producing for the CMP and the ASF model. This the response I got:

Thank you for reaching out to us. The difference between the two is that the CMP has the engraving “United States Property” while the ASF does not.

It would seem that Tisas/SDS has no idea what pistols bear what marks

 

[AlexanderA]

Reached out to Tisas to ask them what the difference is between the one they're producing for the CMP and the ASF model. This the response I got:

Thank you for reaching out to us. The difference between the two is that the CMP has the engraving “United States Property” while the ASF does not.

It doesn't say much for their operation when they don't know their own product.

Here is the non-CMP ASF. (This is just as I received it, except that I substituted actual GI grips.) The CMP version is the same, but has the added letters "CMP" on the same line following "U.S. ARMY."

 

[twofewscrews]

It doesn't say much for their operation when they don't know their own product.

Or can't use their own website

 

[PapaG]

Looked at one today. Even marked US Property. Down to that or a RIA 10mm. Have a Kimber Pro Carry but, you know, in my Illinois backwoods I might run into a “Grisley” bear or Boar Hog, or mean raccoon.