Posted on 12/07/2011 10:59:11 AM PST by central_va
Yeah, i am in the gun biz and build custom 1911’s. Kimbers are mass produced in Yonkers, NY, mostly by people who are just doing piece work for the check.
They are generally reliable, but are not really custom pieces. Even the ones that are from their “Custom Shop” are mass produced. It is the same for all of the big named shops. Once they get a name and “famous” they build way too many guns to really build custom stuff, unless it’s for the cover of a magazine. Just the way it is.
Without going in-depth, I’ll just say that if you want to spend $1,500 on a true custom 1911 you should find a small one or two man shop and have them show you some work. See and feel the difference.
I’m waxing nostalgic for my old Detonics Combat Master. May have t oscrimp to get the re-born model.
I love the 45, there is something that seems very American about it.
I have a stainless Les Baer .45 that pleases me to no end. Are you familiar with those?
I went to a gun show last spring and a collector had one of the best displays of 1911s I’ve ever seen. It was at least 50 yards wide. There were guns produced by every contractor that manufactured the 1911 during wartime. It was interesting to see Singer (sewing machine) 1911s and Remington Rand (typewriter) 1911s. Besides the guns there was paperwork and shipping invoices as to how many 1911s were delivered and to the organizations that received and signed for them. It was truly an awesome traveling collection.
Used to carry that loaded with the venerable Speer “Flying Ashtray” rounds. They were superseded by the Gold Dot series over a decade ago, maybe longer than that. The new Combat Masters are about $800.
That is sweet. One of my friends has a black stainless Pro Carry.
I am looking to get a Springfield Armory Longslide and/or Range Officer.
You heard wrong, I have a Kimber 1911 in 9mm and I've never had a problem with it. Accurate right out of the box and even better after break-in.
Taurus does a very good 1911 A1 that goes for about 500 bucks.
Have a new in box 1951 c with original matching serial number box, wax paper and paperwork. It is beautiful and will be given to a responsible family member (yet to be determined), upon my passing. A new 60 year old 1911 is a beautiful pistol.
Good job Mr Browning!
My plink 1911 and general car carry is a rock island armory millspec. Forged steel quality gun. Never a fte, or ftf since day one. Lightened the trigger to 3lbs and it drives nails. All for less than $400 after ffl transfer. Best 1911 out there for those on a budget! Just be sure to buy the milspec model and not the tactical model.
Yes. Les Baer’s are built custom, one at a time. You get what you pay for from them.
Don’t get me wrong on the other, large “custom” shops. There are some really good guns come out of them. However, they are not custom and built one at a time by one person.
I lost my Taurus 357 in the big duck hunting mishap, it’s a nice gun.
I think I know who you’re talking about...can’t remember his name just now (John Holbrook?), but I’ve seen pictures of his collection and displays, and read his posts on some of the gun boards.
One centerpiece of his collection, especially fitting for this day, is a Colt 1911 that was recovered from the USS California after the Pearl Harbor raid and later saw service aboard an aircraft carrier.
Oh, any of the wartime issue M1911A1 pistols count as a *true 1911.*
But only the Colt's had the nice checkered machine work, and a few of the early ones still had the earlier between-war blued finish.
There are a few folks who've picked up a thing or two along the way who won't use anything but a M1911. This guy's one of them. Yeah, I got one of the rings.
What is the ring amigo?
.45 ACP 100 years of bucking fun bump.
I am available for adoption. House-broke and have all my shots....8^)
I carry an ultraraptor II.. Love the gun, shoots very well to be so small, recoil is not a problem. Only problem I have had is some wear on the side of the frame from the holster I carry it in.
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