1911 Pistols: Myth vs Reality And My Experience

[TFOGGER]

Think about the guys we consider to be the most influential gun designers: Mikhail Kalishnikov, Eugene Stoner, Gaston Glock. JMB designed more successful firearms than all of them combined. No contest. MOST modern semiauto pistols are based on the tilting barrel lockup/short recoil design of JMB.

[Bailey Guns]

OK...I'll be controversial. I don't think Kalashnikov was a top 25 firearms designer. His only real claim is the AK-47 and later variants of the same gun and the idea of an intermediate cartridge was already widespread. I'll give him credit for designing a gun from ideas already in use that worked well, was easy and cheap to manufacture and that inspired a nation.

[Zundfolge]

Ok, so for all you guys that have not had problems with your 1911s how many of you have one of the many inexpensive rebranded Armscor 1911s? You know, Rock Island, Citadel, Charles Daly, ATI, STI Spartan, etc.

I like the idea of a CCW 1911 (I still think a CCO chambered in 10mm would be about as perfect as one can get), but for what one costs from a "guaranteed to work flawlessly" manufacturer, I could have a pretty nice non-1911 type gun (plus leather and ammo).

[Bailey Guns]

I've heard really good things about the PI-made guns from Armscor (and other brands) but I've never owned one.

I think I'd spend a few extra dollars and buy a Remington R1911 if I were looking for an entry-level 1911 that wasn't going to break the bank. I've seen them new in high $500s. Pretty hard to beat in my opinion.

[TFOGGER]

OK...I'll be controversial. I don't think Kalashnikov was a top 25 firearms designer. His only real claim is the AK-47 and later variants of the same gun and the idea of an intermediate cartridge was already widespread. I'll give him credit for designing a gun from ideas already in use that worked well, was easy and cheap to manufacture and that inspired a nation.

Maybe not one of the top designers, but certainly one of the most influential: The AK is found in every theater of war since WWII. You can't argue with the success of the design, even though it's dogshit simple. Kind of the same principle as the 1911, simple, elegant, reliable, and effective for its intended use. The problems with either arise when people try to make them something they're not.

[Bailey Guns]

Absolutely. His one design was a homerun, that's for sure.

[duke_39a]

I bought a Kimber Custom Classic in 45 back in 1997 while I was still in college back in Oregon. This was shortly after Kimber started making them. I thought it was the "tits" but it frequently had "Failure to Feeds". I chalked it up to the ubiquitous (it means: present, appearing or found everywhere. That's my big word for the day) "Break in period". It usually stopped about a 1/8th to 1/4 of an inch out of battery. Drove me nuts. I put it away for several years while I was too busy on Active Duty to mess with guns. I pulled it out again after I transitioned from Active Duty and started trying to make it work, changing springs, slide stops, and other parts, reading what I could (10-8 forum / Modern Service Weapons are great sites) to figure out what was going on. I finally decided to make it a project gun that would get top end parts, and a real gunsmith that knows the 1911 to rebuild it, hand fitting parts and making sure it worked. Over the course of 18 months I bought good parts such as 10-8, Ed Brown, EGW, Cylinder and Slide, Wilson, etc. When I got it all together I started my search for a smith. I found Steve and Whispering Pines. He showed me several of his 1911's that he had built for competition guns. We discussed what I wanted and in our discussions we talked about what I wanted, how to do it, and he asked great questions. I chose him. I wanted a combat gun. Reliable, not so tight that I needed a hammer and a bushing wrench to take it apart, but it had to retain that smoothness of a tight fit gun. He took his time but in the end it came out great. I still need to get it refinished but it has yet to have a stoppage since I got it back from Steve. Now that I have some time it will probably spend more time out at ranges and hopefully start seeing some competition use. Someday it will be an heirloom to pass down to someone in the family or sold to make rent.

[lead_magnet]

I've personally owned two, both were Springfield "loaded" models, one was stainless the other was parked. The parked one was more reliable than the stainless which would jam about every 3rd or 5th round. The parked one I would get about one jam every box of ammo or so, could never trust either of them so I sold them. That being said, my dad has had a Springfield 1911 literally since I was born and It has never had an issue at all, and he never (literally never) cleans it. Seems to me like they are hit or miss.

[sroz]

Ok, so for all you guys that have not had problems with your 1911s how many of you have one of the many inexpensive rebranded Armscor 1911s? You know, Rock Island, Citadel, Charles Daly, ATI, STI Spartan, etc.

I like the idea of a CCW 1911 (I still think a CCO chambered in 10mm would be about as perfect as one can get), but for what one costs from a "guaranteed to work flawlessly" manufacturer, I could have a pretty nice non-1911 type gun (plus leather and ammo).

Got an RIA GI compact & a Metro Arms commander. Never had a malfunction with either one. Not up to the quality of most American made 1911s and heavy, but I've come to rely on them. Occasionally carry the RIA and they both make good range guns.

[<MADDOG>]

Ok, so for all you guys that have not had problems with your 1911s how many of you have one of the many inexpensive rebranded Armscor 1911s? You know, Rock Island, Citadel, Charles Daly, ATI, STI Spartan, etc.

I like the idea of a CCW 1911 (I still think a CCO chambered in 10mm would be about as perfect as one can get), but for what one costs from a "guaranteed to work flawlessly" manufacturer, I could have a pretty nice non-1911 type gun (plus leather and ammo).

While I myself haven't had issues, the 35% of owners on this thread have.

I'll spend the money on a pistol that is known to work (lemons aside), and spend the money saved from buying a non-1911 platform on ammo. And while I can understand the historical and accuracy perspective of the platform, I just can't see the advantage of a 1911 versus the newer Glocks, S&W's, XD's, Sigs, etc for "serious" use. I'd even venture to say I like the High Power more-so than the 1911, but that's my opinion.

Also, in my opinion, the non-disputable crown of Mr. Browning's invention/design is the Ma Deuce. The only weapon that comes close is the MG42/MG3.