Griffons available from CDNN

[Preacherman]

Some of you sent me PM's and/or e-mails after a recent thread, asking where Griffon 1911-style pistols could be obtained. I told you at the time that I thought they were no longer being imported. Well, I've found out that CDNN is advertising the Commander-style Griffons, including night sights and two magazines, for $389.99.

To order, call 1-800-588-9500. Go get 'em, fellers...

 

[TMB2]

The latest CDNN catalog (2003-4, page 41) has a reduced price of $349.99

 

[Bahadur]

Is it a pretty reliable 1911? Or does it merely serve as quality slide & frame for further customization?

 

[Preacherman]

Right out of the box, it's a pretty reliable piece. I've had one "as is", out of the box and unmodified, and it ran everything I threw at it quite comfortably. I'm in the process of getting another one at the moment, which has been highly customized. As an "out of the box" gun, it's reasonably accurate (4" groups at 25 yards are usual), and pretty reliable. It's also a nice forged steel frame and slide, which are great as a foundation for customizing the gun. Finally, the slide dimensions are pretty much the same as a Colt - I've put a Colt Combat Commander slide and barrel on my Griffon, and it functioned just fine.

 

[denfoote]

Thanks P.M.!!!
I'll run it up the Bosses (wife) flag pole and see if she salutes it!!

 

[Beren]

How do we non-FFL types go about ordering one of these? Do local store owners get a little touchy when asked to special order? What's a respectable markup for going through a local shop? I'd like to add a "banger" 1911 to my collection that I can use as a "learning aid."

 

[El Tejon]

Preacher, no longer imported??? There was a drag on the last container from Suid Afrika (they sat in a warehouse), but have not heard otherwise.

Distributor change? (Gee, in the gun biz, what a shocker!).

Great beater guns. Not for night shooting, but they run just fine. Great first 1911 for yutes.

 

[TMB2]

Beren -
You need a dealer who will do a transfer for you. A typical fee for a transfer is between $10 and $25. You would simply tell the dealer what pistol you wanted to buy and where it can be purchased. Your cost for the pistol would then be the CDNN price plus cost to ship to the dealer plus the transfer fee. There should be no markup.
Gunsamerica.com may list a dealer in your area if you don't have one in mind.

 

[Jaegermeister]

Is the slide ported but not the barrel?

Is the slide ported on these and not the barrel? I read about these a few years ago and that was the case.

What's the deal? Why would the slide be ported and not the barrel. I don't like gunk getting where gunk ought not go.

Again, what's the deal?

 

[Preacherman]

Jagermeister, I can only put it down to an atrophied sense of aesthetics on the part of the designer!

The "ports" on the slide are for cosmetic effect only - you'd never port a 1911 barrel in the places where the ports appear, anyway. Personally, I think they look silly. However, the function of the gun is just fine, and function rather than cosmetics will always dictate my approval or dislike of a gun (heck, I carry Glocks, don't I? ).

 

[Jeff OTMG]

I used mine as a platform for a custom gun. Great frame and slide (forged), even kept the night sights. I replaced the barrel with a Colt Commander take-off from C&S ($50), NM bushing, Sprinco recoil reducer and spring, Bocota wood grips, and all the internals were replaced with Brown, C&S, or McCormick parts.

 

[1911Tuner]

Griffon Slide Ports

After careful consideration, the only conclusion that I can draw from the ported slide/non-ported barrel is for cooling. Which suggests that the
pistol is meant for heavy range use. Mayhaps?

Tuner

 

[Grayrider]

Actually the ports are there for an offering of a ported barrel option that was never imported into the US. I recall the importer stating that when they were first hyping the Griffon. They said the non-ported barrel guns were left with the slide ported so the owner could purchase a second barrel later. Not bad looking guns really. The one I owned had some problems with the mag catch binding on the trigger, but that is easily fixed. I liked the red/green combo on the tritium sights. Not sure about the quality of the parts, but they at least looked good. Not on par with my Pro-carrys, but then the Griffon was half the price.

GR

 

[1911Tuner]

Port Options

Hmmmm...Interesting, Grayrider. Wonder how much the ports lightened the slide...

Tuner

 

[Grayrider]

Not sure. They are not huge, but there are quite a few of them as I recall. In fairness I never had a problem with cycling, nor did my friend who bought it from me. He fixed the mag catch issue and later sold it to fund a Colt.



GR