September 24, 2010
By Online Users
This is your opportunity to show off your favorite 1911
By Online Users
The 1911 pistol is one of those "darlings" of the American handgun shooter--so much so that one can hardly think of a serious handgunner who doesn't own one or a customization that hasn't been done to it. This is your opportunity to show off your favorite 1911, and share those customizations that make it your favorite so others can benefit from your experience. If you have a favorite 1911 that you'd like to share with other www.handgunsmag.com users, simply email a clear photo and approximately 200 words about it to scott.mayer@imoutdoors.com. We will post new contributions to this ongoing, interactive article as they're submitted.
WALT RAUCH Armand Swenson
Walt's favorite 1911 is an Armand Swenson.
Back home after finishing the match, I called him and asked if he could build me a full-house hard-chrome gun. He simply replied to this by asking, "Do you have $1,200?" I sent the check, and he sent the gun.
My timing was perfect. One of Armand's customers had backed out, and he had a gun all ready to go. It was everything I had wanted, except for hand-carved ivory grips, which I quickly acquired.
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My "Swengun" rode on my hip for more than two decades. Now I take it out only for a nostalgic range visit or sometimes for a dress-up affair. After all this time, I don't want to lose it to theft or a police evidence locker. It's still my favorite 1911, though.
Here are two Springfields from online reader Randy S.--a full size Mil-Spec and Micro G.I. Randy likes them because they are plain with no frills.
STAN TRZONIEC Colt Gold Cup
In 1972, Stan decided to save up for a Colt Gold Cup and it has become his favorite 1911.
Looking through the catalogs and listening to other competitive shooters, I decided to save up for the Colt Gold Cup. At that time (1972), it was less than $200 and working at the lumberyard at night paid for it in no time. The only thing I did to that gun was to replace the target spring with a stronger one, had the beavertail safety replaced with a wider, more comfortable safety lever and went on to my shooting duties.
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As time went on, the bluing was worn and I sent the gun to Devel to have it hard-chromed. I added a set of Colt rosewood grips and to this day that gun will shoot groups under two inches 25 yards in a rest.
DAVE SPAULDING Unertl MEU-SOC Beretta M9 pistols with a 1911-style .45, several companies developed guns, and I had the opportunity to test and evaluate Unertl's effort for Handguns magazine. I was greatly impressed and said so.
Dave's favorite 1911 is an Unertl MEU-SOC with his badge number as the serial number.
The two fellows behind the gun, Rocky Greene and Aaron Davis, became my friends, and when I retired from nearly three decades in law enforcement, they presented a MEU-SOC to me with my badge number as the serial number.
The gun has everything you could want in a fighting 1911: a smooth five-pound trigger with snappy reset; ambidextrous safety levers; extended beavertail safety; Ergo grips; a magazine funnel; a special sight package that "pulls" the eyes to the orange front sight; and a frame rail for the mounting of weapon lights. It's completely reliable (I have yet to have stoppage) and has a level of accuracy that allows me to hit eight inch plates out to 75 yards (really—-with witnesses.).
But it is the caring of two friends at a turning point in my life who took the time to present me with something very special that makes this gun my favorite 1911.
PAUL SCARLATA Nighthawk Custom 10-8
Paul's favorite 1911 is a Nighthawk Custom 10-8--a custom-built combat pistol, built from the ground up to keep its bearer alive.
A hand fitted, match-grade barrel ensures accuracy, the slide release, safety and magazine catch are modestly extended for positive manipulation while the beavertail grip safety provides enhanced recoil control. With ammo it likes I can keep all my rounds in one ragged hole at 25 yards.
The 10-8's VZ Diamondback grips, checkered frontstrap and mainsp
ring housing ensure a firm purchase and a modest magazine well funnel insures smooth reloads. Lastly, a Dawson Light Speed Rail and high tech PermaKote finish completes the package.
This pistol is set up the way I've always wanted one to be. 'Nuff said.
PATRICK SWEENEY Ithaca
It has had well over 100,000 rounds through it since the last barrel change, and while it is not the most high-tech or modern pistol extant, it has the essential attributes of reliability, accuracy and proven performance.
If Pat were a fan of Viking funerals, this Ithaca 1911A1 would be on the boat with him.
This 1911, among all my competition guns, has won me the most loot, trophies, plaques and medals. It taught me reloading, both the gun and the ammo for it. Using it as an exemplar, I learned a lot about gunsmithing other 1911s, lessons that have served me well both in competition and in writing.
If the zombies were beating down the door, and I had to reach into the safe to extract a 1911 with which to dispense truth, justice and the American way, this one would be first. Were I a fan of Viking funerals, this one would be on the boat with me.
Rick Hacker Colt Series 70 'Freedom Gun' My favorite slab-side is a Government Model .45 ACP make-over that started out as an early 1970s-era Colt Mark IV. Along the way, it got an unintentional "melt" treatment by someone who buffed and reblued it without realizing you had to keep the markings sharp. I bought it for a song from an old buddy, and inspired by two illustrations I owned of presidents Washington and Lincoln, I had the Colt reblued and gold etched by Baron Technology. Then I added a set of Second Amendment Ultra-Ivories from Eagle Grips and I had the old King's Gun Works install a match trigger, speed safety, and white-outline rear and orange ramp front sight. The gun became a tack driver.
Rick's favorite 1911 he calls the "Freedom Gun" because it symbolizes much of what we value in America.
Today, I carry it without concern for the original finish because there isn't any of it left. But whether on the range or in the field, my favorite .45 always invites commentary—not all of it complimentary.
Some have called it "Hacker's Hollywood Special," but I call it the "Freedom Gun" because it symbolizes much of what we value in America: personal gun ownership, two of our greatest presidents, and the right to keep and bugger up a handgun if that's what makes us happy.
Greg Rodriguez Briley Manufacturing
My Briley-customized 1911 is a classic, simple gun that Briley pistolsmith Claudio Salassa built on a new-production Colt Series 70—my favorite platform for full-house builds.
He checkered the front- and backstraps to 30 lines per inch, installed a set of Heinie sights with a plain black rear and a tritium front sight insert, and hard-fit one of Briley's wonderful match-grade barrel and bushing sets. A little reliability work; a nicely fitted, old school (sans speed bump) beavertail grip safety; and a trim, tactical thumb safety round out the package. The finished product is an accurate, reliable pistol that hasn't so much as hiccupped in 15,000 rounds.
There's nothing particularly fancy about my pistol, but its deep, rust-blued finish, dark Cocobolo grips and clean classic lines combine to make it one eye-catching carry gun. The fact that is the most reliable pistol I've ever owned is icing on the cake.
Greg's favorite 1911 was made by Briley Manufacturing, a company best-known for making shotgun choke tubes.
Garry James Springfield Armory
My favorite was manufactured by Springfield Armory c. 1914. Condition is okay but not great, and it works about as well as a stock GI .45 should, but what matters to me is how I got it.
Garry's favorite 1911 is a Springfield Armory c. 1914 that makes him think of his late friend, Harris Bierman.
When I first started at Guns & Ammo magazine, I worked with a knowledgeable individual named Harris Bierman. We hit it off right from the start, and at some point I talked him out of the Springfield .45—-with the promise that if he ever regretted the sale, it would be returned for exactly what I paid for it.
I kept the piece for a while, and then we decided a change of ownership was in order, and Harris got it back. Eventually Harris left to become an armorer in the motion picture business, not long after that was diagnosed with cancer. One day he called me over to his apartment, told me he was pretty sure he was nearing the last roundup and wanted me to have the 1911 back. We spent a fine afternoon talking guns and shared misadventures, and not long after that he died. There is not a time when I shoot or handle my Springfield that I don't think about my compadre.
Online user "vinnier" has two favorite 1911s, a Colt Combat Commander Series 80 (l.) and Kimber Classic Stainless (r.)
From "Ken55": Here's my Springfield Loaded and it's little brother - a Llama 1911-style .380.
Shooting Forum moderator "wambli ska" likes a Wilson Combat CQB and Kimber UltraCarry.
"Banshee's" favorite is this G.I. Colt.
From "cobrian45" comes this Les Baer Concept VII.
wizard78 Kimber Raptor II
"wizard78's" Kimber Raptor II
From "adadagain" comes this gorgeous Colt Series 70.
"BigDog's" Favorite 1911 is a fullsize Loaded Springfield model. He had his local gunsmith, Sam Hatfield in Manassas, VA, stipple the front strap, install a King's thumb safety and refinish it in matte black Duracoat. It wears Simonich Gunner grips.
From "Mark" Online Kimber Eclipse and Kimber Stainless Target
Kimber Eclipse (l.) Kimber Stainless Target (r.)
I'd had such good luck with the Eclipse that when I went looking for a pistol to use for Single Stack and Limited Ten competition I settled on the Kimber Stainless Target, which is essentially the same gun save the cosmetics and the sights. I had Bob at Hunter Customs do a program of accurizing and reliability modifications to the Stainless as well as the magwell installation seen here. Among other things Bob tuned the trigger to my specifications and fitted a National Match bushing and a new extractor.
These pistols have run flawlessly for me and both shoot like a dream.
"Colt Roy" Online Para Ordnance P13
Para Ordnance P13.
From online user "Dnt Kno," "This is my Colt Defender. It is completely stock but it is my favorite 1911. Its size and concealablity have made it my every day carry gun. I love this pistol more than any I have ever owned."
Tom Clair, Adair, OK Springfields Hogue grip s, Both guns are easy on recoil but the downside is they tend to be louder!
Carl's favorite 1911 is a basic Colt
From "Carl" Online Colt
Here is a picture of my 1911 right out of the box.
is accurate for being stock. This is ten shots at the target, standing, not on the bench.
Have a favorite 1911 you want to share? Send an image and a short description to scott.mayer@imoutdoors.com. We will add more "Favorite 1911s" as they come in.
