Which surplus pistol?

[Walt Sherrill]

My only experiences with semi-auto sight attachments are integral, staked (with several different types of staking methods), and dovetailed. I haven't encountered any that are GLUED in -- nor have I encountered a GLUE (including epoxy) that would stand up to the surprisingly harsh impacts associated with slides slamming forward and back.

I realize that some shotgun sights are silver-soldered, ditto some revolver sights -- but I've not seen that done in semi-autos. (That said, I will be the first to acknowledge that there's a lot I've not seen when it comes to semi-autos and it may just be that some ARE silver-soldered and I just missed it.)

 

[sarge83]

Bulgarian Makarov hands down. It's finish is not bad at all and it just works and it accurate.

 

[Patocazador]

do you know how thick the slide itself from the top to the inside underneath the front sight?

No, I didn't measure it when I had it apart.

 

[lsudave]

I've noted a couple times you said you'd do something yourself... if you've got the tools and the skill, I think a Star is definitely the best of the listed options. The grips are different than a 1911, but they're just plates. If you don't like the stock ones, they still should serve as a template to get measurements, and then just go get some blanks to start with. Most of your other listed choices have a wraparound style that would be much harder to do at home.

I'd get mags now and not wait. Go factory.

Based on the heel, I'd think you could definitely bob the grip a bit. I'd handle one before committing to that, though... the gun is smaller than a fullsize GI 1911, and the magwell is shorter. You might decide to leave it as is.

And just stating a personal preference, if you refinish, I hope you stay blue or similar- it's a glorious steel gun. You can cerakote aluminum but can't blue or parkerize one. That used to be 'normal', but since steel is becoming rare in today's market, I'd say to take advantage of that. Make it look timeless, not tactical.

 

[animus_divinus]

it really depends on the quality of the gun, im going to try to find one not imported by century so i dont have to worry about their nasty looking import marks, and if the metal isnt pitted, then i could blue or parkerize.. but if theres anything that has to be soldered up for aesthetics, then it'd probably be cerakoted

 

[JDR]

Well you can’t get a W. German police surplus Sig P6 in that price range anymore like I did years back. So the next best choice would be a CZ-82 in 9x18 Mak.