Of 1911s, boycotts and comprised ideals

[Podmonkey]

O have long wanted a 1911 though it's never been a high priority. With S&W 686 Pluses been so hard to come by I have been thinking of skipping over to a 1911 for my luddite handgunnery fix.
The model that has always fit the bill best for me was the Springfield Armory Range Officer as I wanted a traditional style 1911 with just a few subtle extras.
I have since decided to refuse to do any business with Springfield Armory and Rock River (nuts to RR anyway since Daniel Defense and Centurion Arms anyway) over the shenanigans they tried to pull in Illinois.
So I have been wondering what a good equivalent to the range officer would be?
Requirements would be a traditional configuration but with such range niceties like beveled maxwell, nice trigger, nice sights ect along with better than GI spec fit and finish and also with a blued or parked finish. No stainless steel, no cerakote. So basically a well niceified GI spec.
Then it occurred to me that since the Range Officer is no longer produced and all remainin are now on tge secondary market I could go that route and it wouldn't benefit Springfield Armory in any way. Or is that selling out?

 

[repete]

Selling out? Nope not at all, I've always considered used as not benefitting the manufacture at all, as long as any replacement parts are aftermarket.

 

[dsdmmat]

@Podmonkey Ruger, Rock Island Armory are going to be in the lower price range but are decent handguns and are worth the money spent. If you jump up into the name buying Colt or Dan Wesson would be the next then in boutique category staccato, Wilson Combat or Ed Brown would be where you would go.

You can always go with used guns, that way you are not supporting the companies you refuse to deal with but are still getting what you want via the secondary market.

 

[Steal2B]

O have long wanted a 1911 though it's never been a high priority. With S&W 686 Pluses been so hard to come by I have been thinking of skipping over to a 1911 for my luddite handgunnery fix.
The model that has always fit the bill best for me was the Springfield Armory Range Officer as I wanted a traditional style 1911 with just a few subtle extras.
I have since decided to refuse to do any business with Springfield Armory and Rock River (nuts to RR anyway since Daniel Defense and Centurion Arms anyway) over the shenanigans they tried to pull in Illinois.
So I have been wondering what a good equivalent to the range officer would be?
Requirements would be a traditional configuration but with such range niceties like beveled maxwell, nice trigger, nice sights ect along with better than GI spec fit and finish and also with a blued or parked finish. No stainless steel, no cerakote. So basically a well niceified GI spec.
Then it occurred to me that since the Range Officer is no longer produced and all remainin are now on tge secondary market I could go that route and it wouldn't benefit Springfield Armory in any way. Or is that selling out?

Have you looked at offerings from Dan Wesson? I am kicking myself for not picking up the last one I handled.

Shop - Dan Wesson Firearms

What began as an innovative idea among the brilliant minds at CZ and Dan Wesson resulted in the jaw-dropping DWX pistol, which is a grand melding between the two pistol families. Its locked breech barrel system is simple, ditching the standard 1911 link system and using CZ-style takedown via the...

danwessonfirearms.com

 

[Catskillkid]

I'm not sure if it has what you're looking for but I've been happy with my Ruger SR1911. It's mostly a safe queen/range toy but I'm happy I got it.

Sig also makes some nice 1911s I believe.

 

[dsdmmat]

I'm not sure if it has what you're looking for but I've been happy with my Ruger SR1911. It's mostly a safe queen/range toy but I'm happy I got it.

Sig also makes some nice 1911s I believe.

Sig does make some nice 1911s but the external extractor takes it out of the “traditional 1911” class. S&W made some 1911s as well but they also have an external extractor.

 

[Uninformed and Compliant]

Which ever one you get, remember to plan for next year!

 

[Catskillkid]

Which ever one you get, remember to plan for next year!

View attachment 136895

Only have to worry about that with Kimber's.

 

[Depick]

Only have to worry about that with Kimber's.

Had a Remington 1911 that jammed all the time. Traded it for a shotgun.

 

[kev74]

If you don't mind a little ghetto, I have a Rock Island tactical that I bought with the intention of building up. Except for a trigger job and new grips, I haven't felt the need to change anything else yet. I'm very happy with it.

I also saw a used Smith & Wesson 1911 Pro Series in a store that I'm kind of hoping sells before I get back there. It was VERY nice!

 

[Xae289]

O have long wanted a 1911 though it's never been a high priority. With S&W 686 Pluses been so hard to come by I have been thinking of skipping over to a 1911 for my luddite handgunnery fix.
The model that has always fit the bill best for me was the Springfield Armory Range Officer as I wanted a traditional style 1911 with just a few subtle extras.
I have since decided to refuse to do any business with Springfield Armory and Rock River (nuts to RR anyway since Daniel Defense and Centurion Arms anyway) over the shenanigans they tried to pull in Illinois.
So I have been wondering what a good equivalent to the range officer would be?
Requirements would be a traditional configuration but with such range niceties like beveled maxwell, nice trigger, nice sights ect along with better than GI spec fit and finish and also with a blued or parked finish. No stainless steel, no cerakote. So basically a well niceified GI spec.
Then it occurred to me that since the Range Officer is no longer produced and all remainin are now on tge secondary market I could go that route and it wouldn't benefit Springfield Armory in any way. Or is that selling out?

Yea man, I'll join the chorus and say that if you really have a thing for the SA Range Officer, then no shame at all in buying a used one.

 

[Podmonkey]

Have you looked at offerings from Dan Wesson? I am kicking myself for not picking up the last one I handled.

Shop - Dan Wesson Firearms

What began as an innovative idea among the brilliant minds at CZ and Dan Wesson resulted in the jaw-dropping DWX pistol, which is a grand melding between the two pistol families. Its locked breech barrel system is simple, ditching the standard 1911 link system and using CZ-style takedown via the...

danwessonfirearms.com

Yeah, I have admired the Dan Wessons however I don't like anything in the current lineup. They had the A2 which I liked and they offered a blued version of the Valor which I liked even more. They don't have either any longer.
I guess I look at 1911s differently than much of the market does. I view the design as basically obsolete and sub optimal as a working gun. I'd like a 1911 as an object to admire and enjoy on the range, I don't want a bunch of tactical "operator" stuff on my 1911, that role has been passed to modern polymer framed guns whose ubiquity and low cost renders them disposable frankly which is what I want in an everyday working pistol.
The 1911 I want as a living example of bygone times and I'd like that represented in it's configuration save for a few subtle range specific embellishments as a nod to a 1911's sole would be role in my collection.
To be honest I really don't like the looks of a painted 1911 and I have never been especially fond of shiny guns so it's either parked or blued for me. I think bluing is the most attractive gun finish there is while parkerization has a classic military look.

 

[Steal2B]

they offered a blued version of the Valor

It was a NOS blued Valor that I handled but was sold when I went back to buy it

I then handled a 9mm NOS duty finished Valor, but was looking for a 45acp. Had a change of heart a few days later .... and that was also sold.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

You go @Podmonkey

1911 is a damn fine weapon. I have a soft spot for it from my Army days as an MP.

 

[Acer-m14]

1911 are sexy .. all i have to say .... or it will bring up where eddie is .. custom made lol .. crap i said it lol ..

 

[spat]

Boycotts are fine and all, but you can only prosecute a small number at once.

The problem on the right is that we have too many companies that need boycotting, so none of them get boycotted by enough people for them to care.

The left will focus their efforts on one or 2 companies at a time. So that cripples them. That makes all of them afraid of drawing their wrath and is very effective..

On the right everyone picks their own targets, and the lack of focused fire means none are effective.

 

[Podmonkey]

Is this still in current production?

coltgunshop.com

I mean that is pretty much exactly what I want.
I thought all late model Colt 1911s were of tge Series 80 type but according to the website this is a series 70 type.
For some reason I hadn't considered Colts but if I want a traditional 1911 it may as well have a prancing pony on the side eh? Not super keen on the blue grips but those are easily replaced.

 

[Podmonkey]

......ooh, here we go-

Coltgunshop.com

coltgunshop.com

 

[kev74]

Is this still in current production?

View attachment 136996

coltgunshop.com

I mean that is pretty much exactly what I want.
I thought all late model Colt 1911s were of tge Series 80 type but according to the website this is a series 70 type.
For some reason I hadn't considered Colts but if I want a traditional 1911 it may as well have a prancing pony on the side eh? Not super keen on the blue grips but those are easily replaced.

Yes it is.

They're nice looking guns. Especially the stainless ones.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

......ooh, here we go-
View attachment 137030

Coltgunshop.com

coltgunshop.com

One thing I like about you Pod, you ain't afraid to spend a buck.

Man after my own heart.

 

[1075tech]

Yes it is.

They're nice looking guns. Especially the stainless ones.

My Colt Officer in polished stainless is nice. I think they used to call it their "Ultimate Finish". Factory bright polished stainless. Almost looks like nickel plate.

 

[nortatoga]

1911 Sales Information - Civilian Marksmanship Program

Here, learn more information about the CMP's 1911 Pistol Sales Program.

thecmp.org

 

[dsdmmat]

1911 Sales Information - Civilian Marksmanship Program

Here, learn more information about the CMP's 1911 Pistol Sales Program.

thecmp.org

With some of the 1911 examples I have see. coming from the cmp, I would not take the chance of ordering one for my first 1911.

 

[BuffNiag]

No company is 100% innocent. Ignore the politics and buy what you want. SA 1911s are an excellent value across the board.

 

[nortatoga]

With some of the 1911 examples I have see. coming from the cmp, I would not take the chance of ordering one for my first 1911.

You could be right, I have only seen one that a friend of mine got and I thought it was pretty nice.

 

[dsdmmat]

You could be right, I have only seen one that a friend of mine got and I thought it was pretty nice.

As a first 1911 I would recommend a commercial factory model vs a war surplus

 

[nortatoga]

As a first 1911 I would recommend a commercial factory model vs a war surplus

I guess you are right this was his third I believe

 

[Bustedknees]

considered a used Para Ordnance ?

 

[Podmonkey]

considered a used Para Ordnance ?

Why, you got one? Single stack? Pics?

 

[Bustedknees]

Why, you got one? Single stack? Pics?

yes, no, no
p-14 double stack. Thought many times of selling and or trading it, but it's the only full metal center fire pistol I own. It's a real nice piece but too big for my hands. Someday I'll get the single stack but I just wanted to throw the brand out there for ya because nobody else mentioned them.