I've long thought the Colt model 1903 is as close to the perfect handgun as has ever been created. But I've never really been able to like or enjoy the 1911.
My introduction to pistols was when I was in second or third grade when I took a 1911 that had followed my dad home from his four year all expenses paid Mediterranean, North African, Italian and Persian Gulf safari. I took the big old slabside and one round to school for show and tell and to tell the safety lessons I'd learned and that dad said all kids should know. It was big and heavy and rattled and from an adult perspective it had probably been rebuilt a brazillion times with pieces parts what was available. But it was my Dad's. Anyway, the teacher liked my show and tell and even had me go to other classes for their show-n-tell. That day it got passed around the room and every kid got to hold it and see how heavy it was and how big the bullet was and only one boy tried a pew-pew and got scolded by the teacher for breaking the safety rules I had just listed.
Time passed and I grew up and eventually bought a 1911 of my own, an 80. It never felt like that old memory from long ago and it was super tight and never rattled like that old 1911 (it was so loose it would rattle when wrapped in two socks and put in the back of the drawer).
It went to a forever home.
Later I bought a pre-CZ Dan Wesson custom Pointman/Patriot. It was beautiful and super accurate but just again never felt right.
So it went to a forever home.
I always loved the round and had lots of 45acp wheelies from Colt and S&W and while I was living in Phoenix in the 1960s carried one of my S&W Brazilian Contract 1917s in a Hunter holster when I wandered in the desert or Superstitions. They are all still with me.
But I still felt somewhat tainted because I really should like the 1911.
SDS Imports is bringing in a Turkish (Tisas made) 1911A1 that they say is built to the wartime specs and it was selling for under $400.00 and was just an old slabside with no rail and no real sights and no skeleton trigger or hammer and no fancy grips and ... well, nothing but what my dad would have been issued on his safari.
For a couple years I looked at reviews and put one in the basket to check out but never pulled the trigger. Until a couple days ago.
It wasn't under $400.00 but it wasn't much over $400.00 either. Yesterday I picked it up and it came home with me. It wasn't in the cardboard box in the reviews but rather a plastic clamshell case. And it had two magazines rather than just one. And the magazines were from Check-Mate. And it's plain. It doesn't rattle but it does feel just like my memories of the thing dad brought home. I also still had a couple Mec-Gar 1911 magazines that somehow didn't go with the DW. I still have a couple boxes or 45acp ball and a whole bunch of 45acp in moon clips I can de-moon if needed.
I pulled it apart and checked inside and everything is well machined, the feed ramp polished. I lubed it up with Rem Oil and will try to get to the range this weekend to do function check.
So far though I'm pleased. I also found I had a full box of Triton Hi-Vel +P JHPs so if I decide to carry it I should be set.
my 1911 saga.
1To be vintage it must be older than me!
The next gun I buy will be the next to last gun I ever buy. PROMISE!
jim
The next gun I buy will be the next to last gun I ever buy. PROMISE!
jim