Author Topic: What decent 1911's are available at a reasonalbe price? (Read 3400 times)

Savage · « **Reply #30 on:** October 16, 2009, 03:06:51 PM »

Prices vary in different markets. The "Combat Commander" , is a good base gun that needs a bit of work to make it a real shooter. I'd likely put a couple hundred bucks in it to make it suit my tastes. Around here $450 would be about right for the base gun. I wouldn't pay extra for the name. The Lightweight Commander would be worth considerably less to me. The early aluminum frames sometimes cracked due to work hardening from firing.
In another area, a Commander might bring a little more, maybe even a little less. Many think if a gun has a Colt roll mark it's magically worth serious money. Not always so, youngsters! Oh yeah, I have bought, sold, and traded a few. Haven't always gotten the best end of the deal either!!

Savage

jjeff · « **Reply #31 on:** October 16, 2009, 04:22:05 PM »

Yeah, the Combat Commander is a great "base" gun that could do to have fixed combat sights added, barrel throated/feed ramp polished, and a match barrel bushing and Wilson Combat Dyer "Group Gripper" installed. Not the DGG with full length guide rod, but the hard-to-find/discontinued model that replaces the standard recoil spring plug. That would suit my taste really well. No need, in my opinion for any other superfluous add-on's. As a matter of fact, that's exactly what I've done to the several CC's I've had over the years. Today, I would still trust that combo to protect me, and others to whom I'm responsible, very well indeed.

Savage, I know that prices vary from region to region, but I don't think I've seen a Colt CC sell for a a "little less" than $450 in over 20 years and I've lived in lots of places during that time. Don't know where "around here" is, but I might want to give your area a look-see as all this talk about Combat Commanders is getting me thinking about getting one again. Wouldn't mind finding one for 4 bills or so! As you might guess, I've been around the superlative 1911 semi-auto of any ilk for a several decades, and have bought, traded, sold, reacquired, traded off, swapped, etc. a number of them over the years.

And as far as the Colt rollmark is concerned, as Bill Wilson writes on page 25 of his 1991 book The Combat Auto, "... I advise you to stick with the Colt. I know, I know - everyone says the clone guns ... are just as good, maybe better, but the fact of the matter is that if I lay down a brand new Colt and a brand-new "brand x" and tell you that you can have either one, free and for nothing, which one are you going pick up? I thought so."

williamlayton · « **Reply #32 on:** October 17, 2009, 12:52:30 AM »

I am not a fan of OK weapons. I like good weapons.
Sigs are probably the best weapon---right out of the box, assured accurate, assured reliable---that I own.
The thing with Colts is that the weapon is of good quality steel and good quality workmanship. It is not, as far as I am concerned, too be trusted without some bang time----may be, may not be----but it can be and a person will have a weapon that they can put their confidance in, just like a Sig.
The same can be said of a number of others also.
I bought a LW Commander last year, in a 38 super. Not my first 38 super. I have come to look at this package with great favor. It is slim, compact and carries all of the firepower I want.
A diversion into changes in thinking----I still favor the .45 as the best round a person can choose for self defense. It carries stopping power and penetration results that I like.
I found myownself--in this advancing age I am in--likeing the controlability and range time comfort of the Super to my extreme liking. I like the fact that it carries the impact of the .357 in a 1911 platform.
Now I am not selling any of my .45's and I still shoot them. I just don't carry them as often as I use too----getting old is not for the weak and infirm, takes some amount of guts.
I am using the Colt Combat Commander for the build weapon of my BBQ gun, and for the reasons stated above.
Blessings

drdougrx · « **Reply #33 on:** October 17, 2009, 04:06:44 AM »

This contiues to be an interesting thread. Does anyone have an opinion on Para's GI Expert???

jmayton · « **Reply #34 on:** October 19, 2009, 08:35:16 AM »

The Springfield GI-45 is as basic as it gets, and is a great gun. Mine had some ejection issues, but Springfield fixed them and now it runs just fine. It'll probably get a new trigger, sights, frontstrap checkering, beavertail, and beveled mag well, but as it is, it shoots great. It was originally $450 new about 8 years ago.

Blackhawker · « **Reply #35 on:** October 25, 2009, 10:45:01 AM »

Well, I got my 1911. I went low budget and got a Metro Arms Corp. American Classic 2. Although low budet price-wise there's a lot on it for the price: High vis/three dot sights, extended slide release, beaver tail grip safety, skeletonized trigger and hammer, and I think it's got an ambidextrious safety too. None of that stuff however, except the sights and maybe the beaver tail really make a difference to me. The only bad part about it are the grip panels. They look awful and I think they're plastic or some kind of polymer. Those will be replaced right away.

I haven't fired it yet since my three day wait hasn't passed yet. I'll give a report when I get it to a range. Gotta load up some ammo too.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot the price: I got it for $380.00. Not bad for a 1911 .45 purchased in 2009.

By the way, in my research for one of these low priced 45's, I found that Armscor (a Philippinne manufacturer) produces Rock Island, Charles Daly and High Standard. Metro Arms (also a Philippinne manufacturer) produces the American Classic series and Firestar.

Blackhawker · « **Reply #36 on:** October 29, 2009, 06:57:41 AM »

Well, I picked up my pistol yesterday and took it to the range. What occurred was NOT what was expected. To avoid cluttering up this thread, I've posted a range report at this link:

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,186931.0.html

Savage · « **Reply #37 on:** October 29, 2009, 07:30:36 AM »

Sorry you had such a bad experience with your pistol. It seems that, like me, you ended up with a not so good example of Philippine craftsmanship. You did the right thing of course. Sending the pistol back for service. In all fairness, any production pistol can slip by QC with issues. I'm thinking it's likely one, or a combination of little things. Like a faulty extractor combined with a rough/dirty/out of spec chamber and a rough breech face. It will be interesting to learn how their customer service deals with your issues.
Good Luck,
Savage

Blackhawker · « **Reply #38 on:** October 29, 2009, 08:48:54 AM »

Quote from: Savage on October 29, 2009, 07:30:36 AM

Sorry you had such a bad experience with your pistol. It seems that, like me, you ended up with a not so good example of Philippine craftsmanship. You did the right thing of course. Sending the pistol back for service. In all fairness, any production pistol can slip by QC with issues. I'm thinking it's likely one, or a combination of little things. Like a faulty extractor combined with a rough/dirty/out of spec chamber and a rough breech face. It will be interesting to learn how their customer service deals with your issues.
Good Luck,
Savage

I'll be sure to let everyone know how things go with customer service. I'm sure people here would like to know for future reference. I agree, things do get past QC now and then and every now and then someone out there gets a "lemon". Unfortunately, I got the lemon this time.

On that subject and speaking of lemons, the reason why I've steered clear of Taurus is due to the same reason, only it seems that the lemon here is more than once in a while. As reported to me by a very knowledgeable dealer/gunsmith, a common thing seen on several recent 1911 pistols made by Taurus is to see the locking lugs on both the barrel and slide completely shear off. No kidding. He says he's seen some work like a champ but then there have been all but too many have the locking lugs shear. Then there is the customer service issues that seem to be popular with Taurus these days. When he heard that I was in search of a 1911, he quickly told me to stay clear of Taurus. Albeit there are lots of them out there that work great, I guess Taurus let a few go with locking lug issues.
I guess one never really knows what one will get until it's put to the test. Even today with quality standards etc, sometimes it's still a crap shoot.

rawhidekid · « **Reply #39 on:** October 29, 2009, 04:52:32 PM »

Sorry I didn't read this thred before you bought it. Maybe my story would have helped, I don't know. I bought one of those magic Phillipean .45's. Why do I say majic? No one else could hit the broad side of a barn with it, but it tore out the bull for me. I normally would be happy about this but the trigger was heavy so I asked a gunsmith friend to take a look. He said the parts were cut so thin he would have to replace both the hammer and sear before he could work on it.

Scared off, I traded it in on a Springfield mil spec and neverlooked back. 8)Good luck on your factory repair, hope it comes back ok. Good shooting.

williamlayton · « **Reply #40 on:** October 30, 2009, 02:24:28 AM »

Here is the way I percieve the problem.
You got it at a good price.
If man made it a man can fix it.
In both cases I read here, both of you guys can have good reliable weapons out of the delivered pieces of malfunction.
Why trade off when you will not get any return? Pay a good Smith to make it a good gun. I will bet the cost will be less than than trading, taking a loss and buying another.
I have just bought a pig in a poke Norinco for $400 and I bet that for another two or three hundred it will be a keeper---and for another three hundred it will be a tack driver.
Don't be afraid too go to a Smith with good reputation.
Blessings

Blackhawker · « **Reply #41 on:** October 30, 2009, 03:49:39 AM »

I agree William, I'm not going to give up on this pistol. Heck, I've only fired one round through it. When it comes back I'll see how it works. If it needs help, there are a myriad of replacement parts out there for 1911's. Plus, I have a friend that can take a look at it. He's a very qualified gunsmith and has worked with 45's for years. He'll know what to do with it to either just get it working good enough or if I really want to spend the money, I'm sure he can make it a FINE weapon too. We'll see what happens when it gets back.

rawhidekid · « **Reply #42 on:** October 30, 2009, 06:45:36 AM »

I understand your point of view, but when a gunsmith tells me the parts would have to be replaced and the srtength of the metal is in question I won't throw good money after bad. As for your Norinco, I remember when they came out your gunsmiths were saying they wanted those for a base for upgrade as they were right on the specs of Colts. Being from China and the amount of other guns that have had soft metal from there I always doubted it. JMHO

Blackhawker · « **Reply #43 on:** October 30, 2009, 10:08:05 AM »

Well, like I said, when I get it back I'll have him look at it and see what's what.

goodwrench6710 · « **Reply #44 on:** November 29, 2009, 08:54:25 AM »

I have an Auto Ordinance It it works good for me. Was Under $400.

BGRooster1 · « **Reply #45 on:** November 29, 2009, 12:21:22 PM »

I have spoke with more who have positive ,than negative things to say about their American Classic/Firestorm pistols.I am one of the positive.Metro Arms makes frames for some well respected "American" manufactures.

Blackhawker · « **Reply #46 on:** November 30, 2009, 06:30:02 AM »

Just for everyone's info, I got my pistol back. I wrote a very LONG write-up about what happened and how things turned out on the range report thread.

LINK: http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,186931.0.html

Chris

Mikey · « **Reply #47 on:** November 30, 2009, 09:22:41 AM »

Blackhawker: dump the pistol, spend a few more $ and get something reliable. Yes, prices may be higher these days but that piece has proven itself to be more problems than promise and I sure as all heck would not depend on it. It should simply not jam like that or eat up the brass.

In the first place, I doubt your pistol was properly serviced, it should have been returned to you undamaged. if your chamber was too tight they should have swapped out barrels for less than the cost of shipping the darn thing back and forth and having a 'gunsmith' come up with a 'too tight chamber in a interchangeable barrel that needs reaming' on a mil-spec 1911 bunch of hooey. The extractor problem also seems not to have been repaired, which could easily have been done for pennies.

You got a lemon. Return it and put your refund to a better 1911. jmtcw.

williamlayton · « **Reply #48 on:** November 30, 2009, 01:06:40 PM »

YUP.
Blessings

rpxr400 · « **Reply #49 on:** December 31, 2009, 02:36:09 PM »

At that price point, I'd say a Rock Island or High Standard - both Armscor products at about the $400 price point.
Also, don't write off used guns. I bought a Kimber Stainless series I at a gun show for $600. I know it's more that you had mentioned in your original post, but if you keep your eyes open and check used guns at the shows, you may find a good deal.