I'm a collector. I have several WW2 originals. Recently I decided I would like to have some modern clones. I ended up buying two RIA's and two Auto Ordnance / Kahrs.
The RIA's were quite far from the WW2 originals. That was OK, because I had some GI slides, barrels, and other parts. Basically, the only part of the RIA's I could use to build my clones was the frame. Just about everything else was replaced by GI. (For example, RIA uses a beveled ejection port and taller sights, meaning their slide is unusable for a clone.)
The Auto Ordnance guns were very close to the originals, with one glaring exception -- they have the Series 80 firing pin block. It's fairly simple to remove those parts and install a special spacer block in the frame. But 90% of the Auto Ordnance gun is authentic. The RIA "GI" gun is no more than 40% authentic.
The magazines provided with these guns are worthless. Get some Check-Mate GI mags.
I recently bought a used Armscor High Standard. That comes close, but has a flat backstrap and some other things different.
I looked around for reviews on this gun, and couldn't find a lot relative to other pistols I've bought over the years.
One thing I did find of interest, was a website that 10 different options if you wanted to buy a USGI replica. The HS was on it. So was the Auto Ordnance. I think the CZ was among the best/closest options.
It wasn't a great website, but I'd like to find that page again. It was pretty interesting to see the various guns all compared to each other. I'd want the gun to
function good
be accurate
use standard parts. ie not have things that don't interchange
have a clean, billboard-free slide and frame
have a good finish
The High Standard seems to have that, with a nice parkerized finish. The Tisas fits most of the list, the finish becomes apparent when you set it side by side with a parkerized gun.
Please note, I did a lot of gun show legwork (about 10 month's worth) to find a dealer who had one. Which saved me right at $100 over ordering for Bud's.
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