Pistol, Caliber .45, Automatic, M1911A1

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Panzerschwein

Panzerschwein

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Well gang I finally got my GI 1911 that I've always been wanting! Here it is!

20170911_165743.jpg

This is a Springfield Armory GI model that I put some USGI brown plastic grips on. It is a great shooter so far and has been very reliable with the old trust 230 grain FMJ service load. It is a very faithful copy of the U.S. issued M1911A1 pistol, about as close as you can get without getting an original. Mine does have the civilian style "teardrop" shaped safety but I plan to soon change it to a small shelf USGI safety.

The accouterments are meant to represent a Gulf War era issued rig for the most part. Everything, including the web belt (dated 1978), M1916 holster (Nordac Mfg. 1980s), magazine pouch (Vietnam era), magazines (Check-Mate early 1990s contracts mags from the CMP), and lanyard (contract for M9/M1911A1 1990s) are 100% authentic USGI issued items, not reproductions. The ammo pictured is Winchester "Service Grade" .45 ACP and it is manufactured to Mil-Spec.

I need a few finishing touches such as a new safety to make it totally "correct" (minus the markings) but it sure scratches the itch for now! Long live the M1911A1! :D

Take care, gang!

-CD
 
You got that thing set up so nice you're not going to want to shoot it.
My Springfield GI is one of my favorite full size pistols.
 
Sweet.

The lanyard around the belt is "by the book" but a PITA. Protip: pass the end of the lanyard around the whole body of the holster, and snub it up around the M-1910 hook. This can be unfetched without undoing the belt--a decided plus over all.

I've been ogling the 1911s of late, and finding one with a lanyard loop on an arched mainspring housing is a bit of a trial. Onward, ever looking.
 
I also have a Springfield Armory "GI 45" model 1911 A1 that was given to me by a friend. His son was returning from a deployment in the Middle East and saw two of them at Fort Indiantown Gap, PA and bought both of them. He gave one to his dad who passed it on to me in return for doing him a favor.

The one his son kept has functioned flawlessly. Mine has been a boat load of trouble with stovepipe jams and erratic ejection. After being worked on by three different gunsmiths, it is now functioning reasonably well. It is fun to shoot and quite accurate. A national match barrel bushing improved the accuracy significantly.

I had to modify mine which detracts I suppose from the military issue authenticity. I simply cannot effectively use those tiny GI sights and my hand size makes that short GI trigger difficult to use. So I have had some three dot sights put on mine along with a long shoe lightweight match trigger.
 
We used Bianchi M12 holsters for the 1911's in my unit; even before the M9's came in, the Bianchi's were available, so I ordered them. (1986.) Our XO's issue pistol was a 1911, not an A1; he kept his M1916. The lanyards stayed in the footlocker my whole time there. I had about 100 of them, half in the plastic bag.
The rig looks good, Cooldill! :thumbup:
 
CapnMac said:
I've been ogling the 1911s of late, and finding one with a lanyard loop on an arched mainspring housing is a bit of a trial. Onward, ever looking.
Click to expand...

I also like an arched main spring housing, both for looks and function but I'm adapting. They are not difficult to change but even the arched mainspring housing itself is not easy to find, let alone 1911's with one already installed on it.

pblanc said:
I simply cannot effectively use those tiny GI sights...
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I could not agree more. I've changed out my share of GI style sights on M1911s. If I bought one to keep as an issue replica, or, heaven forbid, the real thing for that matter, I'd probably leave the GI sights on the gun.

The Springfield GI 1911 may just have to be added to the want list.
 
I was first taught the 1911A1 at age 13 (can '73 really be that long ago?), so arched mainspring housing "feels" right to me.
Enough that I got an arched (a teeny-tiny arched) MSH for my Officer's Model :)

One of the things I have noticed of late is that gunshows no longer have that guy (or guys) who had entire tables of various milsurp parts. A person could find all manner of spare bits, or more correct, bits for a number of things. Your 03A3 have a stamped band and a milled band? You could get another of the kind you wanted two of and be happy. Want a NM Garand rear sight, or maybe a "plain" GI sight--no problem. Other than I've not seen those vendors in a long stretch.

Otherwise I would have grabbed an RIA or the like and simply made the MSH swap.

But, part of the "fun" is in the search. patience is rewarded--if so terribly slowly.
 
I bought one of the G.I. Springfield pistols when they first came out. I liked it well enough that I used it as a base gun for a build. My favorite pistol that I own. I hope you like yours as well as I do mine.

Somehow, I would up with most of my deuce gear in my attic when I got out. Gulf War, Bianchi holster. The leather stuff we had got used for guard duty and such.
 
BSA1

Now you next military handgun should be a S&W Victory 4" barrel 38 Special with proper shoulder holster that W.W.2 navy pilots were issued. Extra points if it is stamped Property of U.S. Navy on topstrap.
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You mean something like this? No "PROPERTY OF US NAVY" on the top strap but this does fill the bill nicely for a WWII era S&W M&P .38 Special revolver without being incredibly pricey. Been thinking about getting one of those replica shoulder holsters to go with it.

9YTLBWX.jpg
 
I had about sixty of the issue shoulder holsters for them in my Arms Room, for the 55 S&W & Colt .38's for issue to the Medevac pilots and crew. Some of the revolvers were WWII era, some post war. All have seen use and abuse over the years, to the point where they were the only weapon I wasnt able to shoot Expert with, even after rebuilding a couple.
Nice lookin' S&W, bannockburn!
 
entropy

Nice lookin' S&W, bannockburn!
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Thank you sir! Picked it up quite a few years ago when I traded a well worn S&W M&P in .38 Special for it. As I stated in my post not a military issued model but probably saw service as some security guard's sidearm during the war.
 
bannockburn said:
BSA1



You mean something like this? No "PROPERTY OF US NAVY" on the top strap but this does fill the bill nicely for a WWII era S&W M&P .38 Special revolver without being incredibly pricey. Been thinking about getting one of those replica shoulder holsters to go with it.

View attachment 763169
Click to expand...

Absolutely!

You own a very nice piece of history.
 
bannockburn said:
You and Cooldill sure know how to accessorize your 1911s! Nice looking pistol too!
Click to expand...
LoL!
Been collecting militaria for right at 30 years specializing in stuff used bey USN from 1939.
So, I have a '44 ear OD pistol belt with holster and accessories (not that I have OCD about such things, but that includes a '44 canteen cup and '45 canteen :)). That one has a USN Mk II (aka Kabar) on it.
Then, there's a 60s era belt. Plus one with a Mitchel quick-release. Which features a mix of 1910 hooks and LC-1 clips.
There's a straight-up 80s belt (which is almost cheating for having to have one of those).
The last one is a 90s belt.
I think I'm covered :)
It's also why I have to be careful about impulses to "buy a gun for every holster I own" :rofl:
 
The Springfield GI model was my first pistol and I have enjoyed it greatly. It makes a great base gun for mods, with the sights and recoil springs being the only things I've changed.
 
Question about the Springfield and Auto Ordnance pistols. Do they use the original 1911A1 action or are they using some version of the Series 70 or 80.

I have a Colt Belleau Woods commemorative and the action isn't original 1911 but some version of a later modification.
 
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