I ordered it about a week ago and got to handle it for the first time
yesterday, fill out the paperwork and start my 10 day waiting period.
The fact that I own more guns then the sporting goods store that I am
buying it from and have a CCW here in Komiefornia does not seem to enter the equation, you still have to wait.
It is model number PW9142L and is listed on the Springfield website in
with their "GI .45 1911-A1s" and though it has a 4" barrel instead of the
5" Government model one would expect that it would be pretty much a
stock Colt Clone. In fact Springfield has this to say about these
series of guns.
"Springfield's GI .45 1911 is nearly identical to the service pistol
issued to US troops during WWII. If you are looking for an
impeccably reliable .45 with strong collector appeal, this is the pistol
for you."
http://www.springfield-armory.com/prod-pstl-1911-GI.shtmlWell it is a nice looking and handling gun. Let me
say that I only had 5 minutes to handle it today so this is only a first
opinion.
Stocks are plain wood, quite serviceable but nothing fancy.
Finish is nice parkerizing. In the darkness of the shop (to me at
least, I stopped by the gunshop to see if it was in at the end of an hours walk in the noon time sun) I saw no flaws.
Trigger pull seemed to be all of 5-6 lbs. Heaver and not as crisp as my
Kimber. Oh well I have a sear and hammer kit looking for a home.
Slide to frame fit has little to no slop. Feels very nice, not like
some of the old GI (loose as a goose) 45s I have handled in the past.
Sights are "Low-profile military". A hell of a lot better then the
sights put on 1911's (and probably A1s), usable but will probably be
replaced in time. At 47 YOA (48 in a few days) I find that the slightly
larger sights on my Kimber are much nicer. Younger eyes would probably
not need to change them.
Grip safety and hammer make me think my hand is going to bleed. I'll
give it a try but I think either a Commander style hammer or a beaver
tale safety is going to come and stay.
Barrel and bushing. The fit is horrible. Wait a minute there is no
bushing. what in the world.... When did "nearly identical" to the 1911 Government
model mean a Bushingless design along with a full length recoil guide
rod? Now I am a bit pissed. I'll probably write to Springfield and ask
them what in the world they are doing and may see if they will refund my money or send me a real 1911.
I ordered the gun sight unseen and in fact if you look at the photo of
it on Springfields website it shows a barrel bushing design. I guess
they had to "improve" it. Shooting will tell, unfortunately you might
have to shoot a hundred of them for 10 or 20 thousand rounds each to know if they improved the design or not.
Grendel
Molon Labe
