What am I looking for?

[defjon]

Howdy. So, I have quite a few guns right now, with all the bases covered-- so to speak. That means I'll (try) to hold off buying anything new for awhile, there are no really "need to buys".

Most of my guns are relatively inexpensive, to reflect my college student budget. They're all quality, though. Actually brand name, too. Smith and Wesson, Beretta, Ruger, NAA, etc. Anyway, I plan on saving up for a couple years for my next gun. This is purely just for fun, for looks, for range, for show...etc. However, I still want it to have the ability to be a workhorse and reliable.

-I want a 1911- I've always, always loved the look and feel of this model. I love the thinness and nothing fits in my hand like one. So, I want this model.

- I want it in shiny stainless- not the duller steel type slide, but ...chrome-like, you know? Or really deep shiny nickel, I saw a picture of a guy's springfield, and the finish was great.

- Here's a big stipulation: I Don't Want MIM parts!! I want this thing solid, durable, close to the legendary durability of the GI originals. Guess that rules out Kimber/Springfield, etc.

-I know it may be tacky- but like I said, that is kind of the point here. I want those Punisher long-faced skull grips. Where can I find those? Anybody got a link?

- Chambered in .45. This might be a given, but I know the 1911 platform is in a variety of calibers these days.

So, I am not partial to any one brand. Price is not really an issue, I am going to save up for as long as necessary for this gun. It has to be really shiny stainless. The internals need to be the high quality of old. And I want those grips.

What model/brand am I looking for, and at what price??

 

[Jac]

Does anyone make 1911s without MIM anymore? You could get one and replace the important pieces with aftermarket machined steel.

If you did that, I'd go with a Springer in nickel, and replace the ILS with a regular arched MSH. Dunno about the grips.

 

[Jac]

On this thread they say RIA 1911s have no MIM parts... and they make some purdy nickel guns, too.

 

[sm]

Caspian.

Just have your qualified gunsmith order Caspian Frame , Slide, internals , and Ed Brown parts that Caspian does not have. Send it to Virgil Tripp for Hardchrome.
I forget if Caspian has mags. I like USGI/Colt 7 rds, and the Metalforms as close to these. Use username 1911Tuner doing a search for mags as to which Metalforms.

Caspian.

 

[ugaarguy]

Guys, I hate to burst any bubbles, but RIA does use MIM. Their US Rep Ivan is now a THR member, user name ArmscorBA. I've e-mailed him several times and openly tell you they use MIM. On the other hand RIA has in the last 6or 12 months switched from cast to machined slides.

If you don't want MIM your best bet is to get a gun built that way. Nighthawk, Baer, and Wilson would be starting points. SIG, though they use an external extractor is the only production gun that strait out tells you they use only machined internals on their GSR series of 1911s. Based on what you want though I'd get a chromed or nickled Colt series 70 or earlier from a purist standpoint. You might also e-mail the folks at Dan Wesson/CZ-USA, and ask abou their internals. I know they are series 70 operating mechanism, and use alot of Ed Brown parts like the grip safety, but I don't know about all the guts. See what you can find out there. Otherwise a Caspian frame & slide built by a smith, a newer Colt, or Springfield Armory pistol with the guts upgraded would be my choices, in that order. As for magazines look at the relatively recent thread on the topic by 1911 Tuner in the gunsmithing section here. Hopefully that helps.

 

[SuperNaut]

I think those grips are probably from Wicked.

www.wickedgrips.com

Oh yep, check it:

http://www.wickedgrips.com/page9.html

 

[defjon]

Cool. Thanks guys.

So sounds like there is no stock pistol with the requirements. Having one custum built will probably be pretty pricey, huh? What do you guys think this will end up running me?

 

[symr00]

Colt uses very few MIM parts, under 5 IIRC. They're stainless models would be fairly easy to polish by hand to get the look you want.

 

[loki.fish]

Customs are over $1000. I think, repeat, THINK, that it'd be cheaper to get a Springfield or whatever with MIM and replace them with steel parts. Do not hold me to this though, my memory isn't very good. There was a thread about this about a month and a half ago where somebody had bought a Springfield Armory 1911 and replaced the MIM parts with steel parts.

 

[ugaarguy]

defjon, you might want to send a private message to 1911 Tuner. He's a moderator over in the gunsmithing section. As his name suggests he really knows the platform, and he should be able to give you some good info. I think getting a Colt or Springfield and having parts replaced might be the way to go. Or, if you can live with an external extractor, the SIG GSR uses all machined internals.