I almost want to say everything. I own a Colt 1911 45 which was made in 1970 to reflect all the Battles in Europe which is engraved on the slide. Costs less than many decent Commander frames, too. The great gunsmith Bob Dunlap (A.G.I.) Semi-Automatic. The fit of the slide-lock safety is excellent, moving to the safe position with an audible click. Unlike the 1911, the Glock is new enough that it lacks a grounding in historyexcept perhaps as the disruptor of an older order dominated by the 1911. In this case, it would not be a bad idea to paint the sights white, red, yellow or green in contrast. Springfield also offers more than 50 other 1911 models with prices as low as $640. That Llama has fired over 7000 rounds with very decent accuracy. The gun was designed for reliability, simplicity, and pointability (the ability to point the handgun as a natural extension of your body). Over the past couple of months, we at GunPros have released a great deal of content on the world famous 1911 pistol. One of the major advantages of the 1911 is that it can be carried in so-called Condition One status with a loaded magazine, round in the chamber, hammer back, and the safety on. I always liked the look of Rock Island 1911s. Also, there a number of other specifications that changed. My latest is my home defense 1911, a S&W E series in 45 acp. As mentioned earlier, in todays market, the 1911 and the 1911A1 are typically referred to as 1911. Springfield Armorys Ultimate Carry Handgun, Wilson Combat Experior Compact Double Stack. And as a machinist, I am amazed how tight the frame to slide fit is. SAO Full-Sized Pistol Chambered in 22 LR . SAO Compact Pistol Chambered in 45 ACP . This is because between World War I and World War II the original Colt 1911 .45 Government Model underwent its first set of major design changes, ultimately resulting in the 1911A1. (1911BKOC, 1911BKOWC), 8.6 overall (1911BKO, 1911BKOW) / 7.9 overall (1911BKOC, 1911BKOWC) / 7.5 overall (1911BKO9, 1911BKOW9), Thumb safety, grip safety, firing pin block, Blade front, rear drift adjustable for windage, One 7 round magazine / One 9 Round magazine (1911BKO9, 1911BKOW9), Brown checkered Plastic (1911BKO, 1911BKOC, 1911BKO9) / Checkered Wood Grips with U.S. Pistol ordered is 1911 A2 FS HC (14 rounds) I understand the 1911 model,,, FS is Full size,,,,, HC is high capacity but I didn't fathom the A2 Vs A1 designation difference. For example, its common to see 1911s today with flat mainspring housings and extended beaver tails, or versions with diamond-checkered wood grips with easy-to-see thick front and rear sights. All were excellent pistols. By Relatively minor deficiencies in the design were noted by Army Ordnance and those who used the gun for its intended purpose. The 1911 included a number of innovations that were later incorporated into other pistolsincluding the Glock 17such as Brownings short recoil locked breech operating system, which made the use of heavier calibers possible in a relatively small and lightweight package. Walther Colt 1911 .22 L.r. The machining is excellent and it has never given me any ftfs. I like that big 45 hole it leaves in stuff. Ultimately, some competition-driven modifications found their way to carry guns. Properly carried cocked and locked, the Tisas 1911 .45 is brilliantly fast to an accurate first shot. As in blowing the x ring out of the target at 25 yards that would have won me a prize at the old county fair at the machine gun bb stall. The Colt Commander is an outstanding shooter as is the fully loaded Sig. 1911. One was a nickle plated GI. In the hammer section, a beavertail was mentioned and this beavertail is most noticeable on the 1911 because it usually is part of the palm safety. The sole reliability mod I did to them? SDS Imports 1911-A1 Tanker (left) and a Wilson Combat Experior Compact Double Stack (right). This is considered the only safe way to carry a loaded 1911 and only requires the gripping the pistol (to engage the grip safety) and depressing the safety to fire. Stay in the know. You carry it the same way, but can carry in double-action mode if desired as well. For me, I prefer a modern 1911 with a flat mainspring house, a long smooth trigger, diamond-checkered wood grips, an extended beavertail, and tritium sights. However, this upgrade was highly celebrated among soldiers in WWII, as were the extended hammer spurs (beavertails), which were a godsend to shooters with larger hands who frequently experienced hammer bite from the original 1911. Both sucked from the get-go, way too many FTF's. The gear I carried into the field was anything but light and as a medic, I carried two aid bags and another bag for more extensive supplies, should the SHTF. The gentleman above asked about a favorite 1911? Cimarron 1911A1 45 ACP 1911. vs. Winchester Super Suppressed 45 ACP SUP45. Shoots really good. The Army would have frowned on it if I had tried to keep it or send it home in hold baggage. When I arrived in country (overseas), long, long ago and far away, I was issued, and carried for the duration of my tour, a 1911 that looks very much like the one the author reviews in this article. The pistol fed both the Federal 230-grain Hydra Shok and the Hornady 185-grain XTP without issues. View Deal . Where I pointed, the bullet went. The extended tang grip safety was morphed into todays widened beavertail types. For $700 I got a tight, smooth hand fitted gun with excellent series 70 trigger. Semi-circular relief cuts were installed at the rear edge of the trigger guard on both sides of the frame. There were five major visible changes to the .45, as well as many other and less obvious ones. The 1911 and 1911A1 are INCREDIBLY similar, it's like the difference between a M16A1 and the A2. The 1911A1 is just a modern, more accurate, more r I have replaced the spring, thats it. Black. USS Washington. Didn't perform much better after several boxes & ramp polishing. By the time WWII began, the 1911A1 was far more common among Allied forces in the US and Europe. Wilson Combat 47D, ETM 8 rounders, and their new ten round ETM magazine variant. So very accurate oob. Read Next: Seven Serious Concealed Carry Handguns. Now if I could just get hold of a M-14. Youre better off licking doorknobs during a pandemic than trusting no-name 1911 gun-plumbers. in 1918. with both weapons I was the deadliest sailor on the planet however I knew Mr. Charles would eat my lunch if I slacked off. Hope this helps. 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The grips are unattractive and plastic. However, I think the Tisas is good to go. This is one of those questions that can be answered by doing the research yourself, for less effort on your part than the effort of posting a quest A forum community dedicated to all 1911 firearm owners and enthusiasts. Check Price . These are impressively fitted and have ZERO machine tools marks inside or out, forged slides and frames that are heat treated BEFORE machining. Its my go to when I open carry and my favorite auto at the range. I will only focus on the good memories here. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo, Our friend MTShawn and his family need our help, cancer sucks Thread about it and how to help, Wilderness Survival, Hiking and Camping Forum, Second Media Inc., 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. Interestingly enough, the modern Colt pistol that evolved from the early days of both 1911 and 1911A1 designs has many of the early features, but also some completely new I had it customized years later. RIA, buy with confidence. Loved that weapon. Read Next: Why The Model 1911 Will Never Die. The Tisas is as accurate as most GI guns. Check Price . In the past few years, they have partnered with Tisas in Turkey to supply well-made M1911-style handguns to the U.S. market that have built a following through a combination of good reviews and affordable pricing. Affordable GI-style 1911s that are reliable can be had from SDS Imports, Springfield Armory, Colt, and others. The sights are small and hard to see. The original GI .45 was designed to meet accuracy standards of a five-inch, five-shot group at 25 yards and a 10-inch group at 50 yards. Yes and no. A forum community dedicated to survivalists and enthusiasts. Tags: 1911, handguns, pistol. At $1499, Colts Combat Unit model may not be any more reliable or durable, but the shooter interface is greatly improved as is pride of ownership. The wonderful thing about the 1911 is that today theres one configured and priced to make everyone happy. The combination of the standard GI grip safety and GI hammer will painfully bite the web of large hands. Custom-made 1911s are the most precise fighting pistols made by man. Many of these folks are very experienced. I think it cost in the low 300 range when I got mine. My newest, being the Tisas A 1 Service, is no disappointment at all. vs. Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Walther Colt 1911 A1 vs Walther PDP F Series 4" Walther Colt 1911 A1. 492.99 . It is my favorite handgun. The two models are essentially identical. Parts are interchangeable . The A1 is a post WWI product improvement to make the gun easier to shoot for Its all about whats going on under the hood. The 1911 and 1911A1 are INCREDIBLY similar, it's like the difference between a M16A1 and the A2. This was another effort to make the pistol usable in a variety of hands. M1911 vs. M1911-A1 In Brief As the alphanumeric designation indicates, the M1911 was officially adopted as the U.S. Armys first-ever semiautomatic pistol in the year 1911, thus Not recommended. Some of those revolve around the 1911 .45 and mans capacity to injure his fellow man. The Glock 17 was an amalgamation of many different handgun ideas, including the short recoil locked breech system of the 1911. I like having multiple. Models are available in .45 ACP, and 9mm. I learned to disassemble it, reassemble and shoot it. I really don't know. The endless options for customized 1911s are part of what makes the gun so popular, even today. TISAS and Girsan? The grip safety properly releases its hold on the trigger halfway into compression. I used to deer hunt with it. For some makers, the goal was to improve the 1911 and provide a superior product. Once I cleaned and lubed these same magazines, they ran flawlessly in my 1911A1. Drop in fit. Seeing that kind of brings back a lot of memories of the time I carried that weapon. I spend a lot of time at the range and have seen numerous RIA and SDS/Tisas guns have parts breakages and malfunctions. Around 2001 or so Colt upgraded these pistols with polished slide and frame flats, nicer-looking slide rollmarks, stainless barrels, and wood grips (blued models only). Firing at man-sized targets at five, seve and 10 yards, the pistol supplied X-ring hits. vs. Taurus GX4 XL. I still can. I would be surprised if a GI .45 remains in a police holster, but then, some old hand like myself just may be clinging to a trusted pistol that has given good service. kygunco.com . Check Price . SAO Full-Sized Pistol Chambered in 22 LR, SAO Compact Pistol Chambered in 9mm Luger. The precision manufactured, carbon steel slide, sear, and disconnector are heat treated properly for durability over many thousands of rounds. The Glock simply works, and it works well. The 1911 A1 features a curved backing of the grip. The 1911 A1 has a shorter trigger. The 1911 A1 has a longer grip safety tang to prevent pinching. The 1911 A1 has a angled cutout around the trigger to make the handgun easier to shoot for small hands. While these differences are minor, some 1911 purists will focus on those details. 1911 vs 1911 A1 Still a full-sized all-stainless 1911A1, the Delta Elite if today runs Novak white dot sights, an upswept beavertail grip safety, and an extended thumb safety. Accuracy on one was very good, the other moderate. The 1911 can be a target gun, but the GI .45 is a fighting pistol. Inexpensive 1911s have come a long way thanks to modern CNC manufacturing systems. It had a loose slide to frame fit, would not reliably load hollow points. But I have successfully have tested these same ETM 8 rounders with total success, too. He re-upped in the USAF and retired as a Lt. Col. There are several other good brands out there, but this one just happens to be my personal choice. I sure love my Tisa 1911. For Americans, the handgun of the 20th century is Colts Model of 1911, caliber .45. Again, a very accurate, reliable 1911. The Tisas sight picture is similar. That was not stealing as all I did was make an unrecognized transfer of possession from that supply store to my gear, it was still being used by Army personnel) for the 1911. It was my EDC for 30 years. As someone whose grandfather worked with browning on the original 1911 and whose great grandmother fought the Japanese in WWII and whose dad was in the civil war and who is himself in the special forces I know and can tell you this gun is a gun. Springfield Ronin Operator 45 ACP PX9118L. Due to admin errors Dad didnt get the medal officially awarded until July, 1989. I dont even know. No issues whatsoever. The pistol is straight-up GI as far as I am able to determine. I didnt have a lot of money at the time, and it was the only thing I could afford. KIMBER is now my brand by choice. 471.45 . Very little, actually, but heres the list. * Designed in 1924 * Higher than 700,000 serial number * Shorter trigger * Cutouts in mainframe behind Over the years the appeal of the 1911 has evolved. When the Great War began in 1914, some of the guns were in the hands of British officers, and when we entered the war in 1917, it was the established and proven choice of the U.S. military. Accurate as heck. Most of these changes were implemented incrementally over the course of several years, with the final 1911A1 model being settled upon around 1924. I wish I could have inherited that Singer 1911. Dad received a 1911 pistol with a 5-digit serial number 3***2, and a copy of Field Manual 23-35, Automatic pistol caliber .45 M1911 and M1911A1 JavaScript is disabled. 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