Looking for a GI Style 1911 - for Cheap

[Al-jim19]

The recent thread on “want lists” have me thinking. I want a revolver, a shotgun, and most recently I decided a WWII reproduction 1911 would be really cool addition to my collection. I’m not a particularly wealthy guy so I’m considering cheaper options, specifically the rock island and auto ordnance A1 models. It would primarily be a range gun, but I don’t buy any guns that I could t imagine myself carrying or using for a practical purpose if only occasionally. For this 1911 it would probably be carried at BBQs, in open-carry states, or used as a backup HD pistol somehow.

Who has experience with these pistols? Which do you like better? Are they reliable enough to serve as an “occasionally” carry gun? How much have you typically seen them sell for at your LGS?

 

[WVsig]

Get the Rock or a SA Milspec GI Gun. Both will serve you well. Pass on the Auto Ordinance.

RIA=$400
SA=$550

 

[badkarmamib]

For <$400, it would be hard to beat a Rock Island for a basic 1911. I have shot them, known quite a few people that own(ed) them, and all have been pleased with them.

 

[Tallball]

RIA makes a decent pistol.

I don't know if they're still importing the Tisas Turkish pistols.

Metro Arms (Philippines) are still readily available.

These are owned by my stepbrother, myself, and my FiL, respectively. All of them were priced at less than $400. All of them have been good shooters without malfunction. Of the three the Metro Arms is the nicest, imho.

 

[someguy2800]

Don’t overlook the used rack. You can get Springfield Armory mildpec’s and Remington R1’s for less than 500 used. I cring a bit to recommend anything Remington, but their 1911 are really nice guns for the money.

I can’t recall hearing anybody say anything bad about the rock island guns but I have a deep bias against Asian made guns.

 

[lsudave]

RIA makes a decent pistol.

I don't know if they're still importing the Tisas Turkish pistols.

I have a Tisas, which seems very well-made, and seems to have a matte black duracoat (or similar) finish. Might not be the finish you desire, but mine has been reliable.

RIA makes a decent pistol.

The parent company, Armscor, makes a lot of 1911s for different brands. I recently picked up a High Standard, it's parkerized and quite authentic looking. Also reliable and accurate so far.

Don’t overlook the used rack. You can get Springfield Armory mildpec’s and Remington R1’s for less than 500 used

I second the used option. Both mine came that way; and both were at/below $300.

I can’t recall hearing anybody say anything bad about the rock island guns but I have a deep bias against Asian made guns.

I don't like to comment much on this, but I will say that the Filipinos are a different group from the rest. Their 1911s do tend to be very undervalued.

 

[ttarp]

I'd vote for the Auto Ordnance, looks the part better than the RIA, made in the USA, and is a really good value. Pre Kahr takeover, they had issue, current production is good to go.

 

[JTQ]

... I decided a WWII reproduction 1911 ...

ttarp wrote,
I'd vote for the Auto Ordnance, looks the part better than the RIA,

I agree with ttarp. While everybody has a different "eye" for different details, to me, the RIA is a bad attempt at a 1911A1. While the Auto Ordnance does have a firing pin safety that a real WW II 1911A1 wouldn't have, externally it looks much more like the WW II gun.

Just looks-wise (mostly due to the arched housing that the RIA doesn't have) I'd pick the Auto Ordnance, then, at a higher price it would be a Colt Series 70 (current production), and then the CZ 1911 (whatever they call it and if it is still in production).

Edit to add: I even pick a Springfield Mil-Spec with it's three dot sights and lowered and flared ejection port over the RIA. I'm not saying the RIA is a bad gun, they are a good choice if you want a shooter, but even the Springfield Mil-Spec looks more 1911A1 than the RIA.

 

[Livin_Cincy]

Loads Of Bacon on YouTube bought an ATI. He had some learning pains that don't seem to exist with an Armscor / RIA GI 1911.

 

[bannockburn]

someguy2800

Don’t overlook the used rack. You can get Springfield Armory mildpec’s and Remington R1’s for less than 500 used.

This is probably the route I would go with if looking for a relatively inexpensive milspec M1911. Except for the slanted serrations on the slide this vintage (circa late '80s), Springfield Armory looks very much the part of a G.I. M1911A1.

 

[MedWheeler]

Another vote for the Tisas, if you can find one. I really like mine. It was my "entry" into the 1911 world, so I didn't have anything more upper-crust to compare it to (still don't, simply because I haven't gotten around to shooting my newer 1911, a Stainless Enhanced R1 Commander.)

 

[CapnMac]

Lots of choices out there--but, finding one the way you want it winds up being the problem.
RIA, Armscor, Tisa all catalog GI-style arms, but those seldom seem to land on dealer shelves.

I was lucky, I hunted down various dealers for a while and found a new-production AO I have yet to find fault with.
Certainly can't fault how it looks

$443 out-the-door.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

I would say my best advice other than what has already been given is to research the Filipino manufacturers and who is importing them under what name. I don't recall them off the top of my head.

I also like Tisas but it seems Buds Gunshop was the big seller and prices are going up as stock is going down.

 

[someguy2800]

Lots of choices out there--but, finding one the way you want it winds up being the problem.
RIA, Armscor, Tisa all catalog GI-style arms, but those seldom seem to land on dealer shelves.

I was lucky, I hunted down various dealers for a while and found a new-production AO I have yet to find fault with.
Certainly can't fault how it looks
View attachment 794583
$443 out-the-door.

That looks real nice. I think I might need to order one of those.

 

[Tallball]

This is my Tisas. I think I've had it about four years... I don't keep track of time very well anymore. I don't recall it ever malfunctioning. My eyes are getting worse, it has small sights, and I usually shoot at 15 yards, so I haven't shot it much lately. The trigger is pretty nice and I have no complaints. As someone else said, I'm not sure that the finish would hold up to a lot of abuse, but for an occasional range gun that doesn't really matter. It's not one of my regular HD guns, but I certainly wouldn't feel unarmed with it. It goes bang every time and makes holes in things where I point it.

View media item 1556

 

[PWC]

I have a RI 1911 standard and like it very much. 45'srun best when "wet". Lube the slide and bbl lugs well. No malfunctions at all. Bbl bushing is very tight, hard to strip right out of the box. Only thing is after 50 rounds straight the pistol digs in on the top of my hand. I like the xtra round over the govt standard; 8 vs 7.

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

Go Auto Ordnance the newer ones are made by KAHR and here in the good ol' USA, I had one and it was a dandy 5400 rounds no hiccups. An RIA is a good gun for what it is and they certainly beat AO over variety but 1911 and America go together like Peas and Carrots.

 

[Hoxviii]

If you want a 1911A1, be sure you want a 1911A1, then buy a Rock Island and shoot it until your hands hurt.

If you ever think you'll upgrade anything, do it now and buy something with night sights. It's cheaper to buy than to upgrade to.

But if all you want are GI sights and an A1 profile? Buy the Rock Island. I have a 45ACP A1 that I've owned for 10 years that just eats what you throw at it, and I have a 10mm A1 that I just bought that eats everything I can throw at it.

They aren't collector guns, but they're shooters and they work.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I would, and did buy a Springfield 1911.

 

[darkcloud]

Owned both and have a Rock now. It is a toss up. The AO has been used quite a bit in "building" a whiz bang 1911. My Rock had to go back to the factory. Chamber was not reamed enough to chamber every factory round. Some bullet ogive's were too far forward compared standard military ball. was flawless with that. runs flawless now.

 

[Taroman]

None of the above are really "GI".
As a shooter, my Remington R1 is great.
For WW2 authentic, I just built my own clone of a rearsenaled 1911 as was used in WW2.

 

[Venom007]

Here is my G.I. lookalike:

 

[Kano383]

Can’t afford one of these new-fangled replicas... So have to make-do with an old banger...

 

[someguy2800]

Can’t afford one of these new-fangled replicas... So have to make-do with an old banger...

View attachment 794677

Poor guy. If you like I'll send you a brand new fangled replica of your choice to swap with it!

 

[Kano383]

Poor guy. If you like I'll send you a brand new fangled replica of your choice to swap with it!

Been thinking of something like that... There is that fellow Jason Burton, been told he makes tolerably accurate replicas, if you get one of them in half-decent conditions I could be tempted to swap... I’d even throw in some other rust bucket I have lying on the shelves.