Went in for a SigPro mag, and came out with a Norinco 1911

[bdb benzino]

Like the title says I had went into the local gun store to buy a 40 caliber magazine for my Sig Pro sp 2022.
When looking around I spotted a unmolested original Norico full size 1911. I knew a few things to look for such as the barrel lugs peening or being soft and a few other key things. It checked out great and had a little finish wear from sitting neglected in someone's holster I'm guessing.
Needless to say priced at only $399 I snatched it up right away.

Before even cleaning it, I took it out to the farm and ran about 100 rounds of various ball and hollow point ammo in it and it was flawless. The only thing it didn't necessarily like was the 200 grain semi wadcutter ammo, but I can get it smoothed out by a gunsmith for that.

All in all I really like it and don't want to change much other than maybe a different hammer and a nice beaver tail safety.
All I did was clean it up, put white on the front sight, grip tape on the front strap, and put on Colt rubber grips. I also put an 18.5# recoil spring in it, as the one that came in the gun felt weak. Also any time I change the recoil spring on a series 70 like gun, I also put in a new extra power firing pin spring.
I like the way it looks and think it looks rather "business like".

I don't know much about Norinco 1911's, so I would appreciate any tips or experiences, thank you!!

 

[bdb benzino]

Here she is!!

 

[tekarra]

Great pickup! If you ask the question on www.canadiangunnutz.com, you may get some replies

 

[Onward Allusion]

Great guns. I had one a long time ago. Ate pretty much anything. Nothing pretty about the factory version but they work and work. Used to be that folks would pick 'em up and use it as the foundation for a race gun. Kinda like what people do with the RIA's now.

 

[CoalTrain49]

My neighbor has one. He's 85 and going to have to get rid of some of his guns pretty soon. If he offers it up for sale I'm going to buy it from him. They don't look like much but from what I can tell they are about as close to a 60's gov't model Colt as you can get without actually buying one. I just hope he gives me the opportunity to buy it.

 

[Devonai]

My Norinco ran like a Swiss watch, ate FMJ and JHP from various and sundry mags, and never missed a stride. I regret selling it, you will not regret keeping yours.

 

[CNobbe]

I came across a truly "like new" Norinco 1911 at my local shop.. Was still wrapped in plastic bag covered in oil and had the box and paperwork with it.

They wanted $499, figured I'd wait til it hit 30 days and would be $450. Figured wrong, sold in a day.

 

[readyeddy]

My experience with my Norinco has taught me to keep gunsmiths away from it if at all possible.

 

[loose noose]

Nice find, my buddy has one that he has had for over 30 years, and it still is shooting like the day he bought it.

 

[Lost Sheep]

My experience with my Norinco has taught me to keep gunsmiths away from it if at all possible.

Care to share why? What happened to yours?

Lost Sheep

 

[Lost Sheep]

Great guns. I had one a long time ago. Ate pretty much anything. Nothing pretty about the factory version but they work and work. Used to be that folks would pick 'em up and use it as the foundation for a race gun. Kinda like what people do with the RIA's now.

I heard the same thing about the first wave of guns.

I knew a few things to look for such as the barrel lugs peening or being soft and a few other key things.

Norinco was imported for a while and many were valued as platforms for competition guns, then import was banned for a while, then resumed. Are there differences between the two populations of guns, and, if so, how can bdb (or anyone else) tell the difference?

Curious mind wants to know. Thank you.

Lost Sheep