Rock Island Armory 1911?

[arinvolvo]

Ok, dont know much about them....but I saw them at a local gun show, and they are cheap!! $345 for a standard frame 1911.

I have done some research, and apparently they are made at the armscor factory in the Phillipines...I was told by the dealer that they use Colt tooling (purchased from colt) and use ordinance grade steel. The fit and finish of the ones i handled was absolutely superb...these didnt look like no Llamas...

If they had "Colt" engarved on the side instead of "Rock Island Armory" I doubt I would have been able to tell the difference.

Anyhoo...here is the website: http://www.rockisland45.com/

Just wondering if any of you have an experience or opinions on these pistols...I would love to get a 1911 of my own...and this seems like a less expensive way to go.

Thanks in advance.

 

[arinvolvo]

the link to the 1911's on the armscor site is broken, but here is the link....
http://www.armscor.com.ph/armscor/semi-auto.htm

they had a rock island at the show that looked exactly like this armscor 1911...except instead of white lettering it had the Rock island name stamped into the slide. They also had one just like this but in full size... and without the skeleton trigger and hammer.

 

[Detritus]

don't have one but will post my observations

one of the two dealers i try to do 90%+ of my business through has these in and they've sold quite a few. and had no complaints.

every example i've come across has been just as good fit and finish wise as the springfields and other parkerized 1911s in the case (i refuse to compare Park'ed guns to Blued ones) including the colt "ww2 comemerative" or whatever it's called (the new production colt built to 1943 GI-specs).

i know at least part of waht i've said above will be veiwed as sacrelige by some but that's my observations.

you'll probably also see alot of folks saying things to the efect of "never trust a philippine made gun, they're all junk". take that for what you think it's worth.

 

[samualt]

I have no expereince with the Rock Island Armory guns.

As an alternative see the:
Sistema Colt Modelo 1927, Caliber .45 ACP - $299
Hartford Colt, Caliber .45 ACP - $395
Both 100% 1911-A1 G.I. compatible, Arsenal refinished V/G condition.
At JLD Enterprises .

I picked up a Sistema and I'm very happy with it. Use the search feature here at the Highroad and read about them.

 

[Thumper]

Two friends whose firearms expertise I highly regard have bought them.

One bought the gun for the frame and slide, but has decided to leave it "as is."

They've had nothing but good things to say.

Oh...they both changed the grips and use Wilson 7-rounders exclusively.

 

[Ryder]

I've got one

Factory trigger on mine was heavy and rough (just plain nasty!). Factory magazine would not feed.

I installed trigger parts from a Springfield (returned parts from a professional trigger job) and replaced the magazine with a Wilson.

Wow! The RIA is a real pleasure to shoot after these simple changes! Very smooth and very reliable. Not a single malfunction of any kind since switching out the magazine.

I got mine on a group buy about a year ago, paid $325. Great deal!

 

[Ryder]

Try a picture

The new trigger and Wilson mag are installed on this photo (if it shows).