Of 1911s, boycotts and comprised ideals

Podmonkey

Podmonkey

.577 Tyrannosaur.
U.S. Military
Messages
21,662
Reaction score
30,296
Location
Cambria co. PA
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?
 
dsdmmat

dsdmmat

Donut Master
Moderator
Messages
11,520
Reaction score
26,187
Location
Alpha Quadrant, Sector 001
@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

Steal2B

.700 Nitro Express
Messages
26,834
Reaction score
84,117
Location
Dutchess County
Podmonkey said:
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?
Click to expand...
Have you looked at offerings from Dan Wesson? I am kicking myself for not picking up the last one I handled.

danwessonfirearms.com

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 danwessonfirearms.com
 
dsdmmat

dsdmmat

Donut Master
Moderator
Messages
11,520
Reaction score
26,187
Location
Alpha Quadrant, Sector 001
Catskillkid said:
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.
Click to expand...
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.
 
kev74

kev74

20×102mm Vulcan
Messages
49,982
Reaction score
158,152
Location
Orange Co.
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

Xae289

.223 Rem
Messages
1,256
Reaction score
2,141
Location
Westchester County
Podmonkey said:
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?
Click to expand...
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

Podmonkey

.577 Tyrannosaur.
U.S. Military
Messages
21,662
Reaction score
30,296
Location
Cambria co. PA
Steal2B said:
Have you looked at offerings from Dan Wesson? I am kicking myself for not picking up the last one I handled.

danwessonfirearms.com

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 danwessonfirearms.com
Click to expand...
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

Steal2B

.700 Nitro Express
Messages
26,834
Reaction score
84,117
Location
Dutchess County
Podmonkey said:
they offered a blued version of the Valor
Click to expand...
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.
 
Acer-m14

Acer-m14

20×102mm Vulcan
Messages
35,976
Reaction score
38,583
Location
Livingston
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

spat

.950 JDJ
Messages
30,656
Reaction score
64,912
Location
Formerly Geneseo, NY. Now free in AZ
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

Podmonkey

.577 Tyrannosaur.
U.S. Military
Messages
21,662
Reaction score
30,296
Location
Cambria co. PA
Is this still in current production?

19.jpg
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.
 
kev74

kev74

20×102mm Vulcan
Messages
49,982
Reaction score
158,152
Location
Orange Co.
Podmonkey said:
Is this still in current production?

View attachment 136996
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.
Click to expand...
Yes it is.

They're nice looking guns. Especially the stainless ones.
 
1075tech

1075tech

.338 Win Mag
Messages
7,205
Reaction score
17,585
Location
Escaped NY
kev74 said:
Yes it is.

They're nice looking guns. Especially the stainless ones.
Click to expand...
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.
 
B

BuffNiag

6.5 Creedmoor
Messages
1,992
Reaction score
3,055
Location
NY
No company is 100% innocent. Ignore the politics and buy what you want. SA 1911s are an excellent value across the board.
 
Last edited:
Bustedknees

Bustedknees

12-gauge slug (smooth bore)
Messages
5,157
Reaction score
9,922
Location
Madison/oneida/lewis
Podmonkey said:
Why, you got one? Single stack? Pics?
Click to expand...
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.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top