New Pistola (1911)

Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
3,974
This little guy came in via FFL transfer the other day. It's a Springfield Lightweight Champion Operator (4" 1911; steel upper and forged and hard anodized aluminum lower with rail). I took it to the range and put a couple hundred rounds through it consisting of 230 grain FMJ's, Hornday Critical Defense, Federal Hydrashocks, and Golden Sabres. It swallowed them all and spit them out accurately and without a hickup. This is a fun pistol to shoot!

Anyhow, here is how it came to me:

IMG_0932.jpg


Here it is with some new shoes:

IMG_0938.jpg


IMG_0944.jpg


And here it is with some new eyes:

IMG_0954.jpg


IMG_0958.jpg


The grips are VZ elite tactical carry in slimline black G10 and the weapon light is a Streamlight TLR-3 which puts out around 90 lumens. Perfect for me for a bedside home defense gun.

I love me some 1911's!! :D

--nathan
 
My normal carry gun is a 3" EMP 1911:

Out.jpg


IMG_0926.jpg


I'm considering making the Champion my carry gun for a while (have a holster coming in) while I send the EMP back to Springfield for some work. Trigger and reliability job, checkering front strap, new rear sight, single sided safety, nipped slide stop pin, rounded main spring housing.

Both of these guns shoot lights out and are more accurate than I am.

--nathan
 
Nice new shooter Nathan! I'm a 1911 fan myself.

My first one was a Dan Wesson PM1-S (back before they got bought by CZ):

PM1-S-7.jpg


This one will be mine forever so it has vanity plates (yes, that's the registered serial #)

PM1-S-4.jpg


It's wearing black Alumagrips now, but I haven't taken any photos of it since.

Then I moved to PA, got my permit, and picked up another DW 1911 that's a little more practical for carry. It's a PT-CBOB that is from the CZ transition period and was used as a factory demo gun before I got it.

DSCN0042.JPG


Someday I'll build a 1911 from scratch, but it'll be a while....I need to get back to the range, but ammo is so insanely expensive now....

-d
 
Those are great, deker. I've followed some 1911 builds on 1911forum. Maybe someday I'll get the stones to try one myself. Of course, I'd be working with off the shelf parts. Or maybe I can get Nathan (the machinist) to CNC out all the parts from exotic stock :D.

--Nathan
 
Nathan,
I think you need to make yourself a new pair of dress shoes out of some of your ironwood burl.
 
You know, that's actually a really good idea.....:cool:

I'll have to see if the scales I have are big enough. If I did try it, I'd probably make them for the EMP anyway which has smaller grips....

Thanks a lot, Mark! Now I've got another project to do with no time :grumpy::grumpy:.

--nathan
 
My usual carry is a kimber Ultra II limited edition model from way back, similar to the Stealth but all non reflective and some other minor tweaks.

Here's my full size that I did a bunch of work on and am just waiting to either replace the slide on or just upgrade the sights and then refinish the whole thing. I want to get the front strap checkered but since I'm sending it to a full service shop like Wilson for the sights and refinishing I'll just have them do the checkering at the same time.
It started life as a heavily used and worn Springfield GI that I picked up as a project gun to use my 22 conversion slide, so the 45 slide and checkering are kind of low priority. :) I did all the work on it so far, but the idiot scratch wasn't me, honest. It was like that when I got it. :D The grip safety is a standard style that I ground down (still have to finish it up) to allow the loop style hammer. My housemate shoots this one regularly and can't stand beavertails so I set it up like this for her. It doesn't matter to me either way.
sa5.JPG

sa6.JPG

sa7.JPG

sa8.JPG
 
Other firearms may be lighter or higher capacity, but 1911s have a certain aesthetic appeal like no other pistol.

Edit: and, uh, trigger, and feel, and . . . .
 
Most impressive!:eek:

Of course, I'm biased. I grew up with the 1911s ... they are my very favorites. When I was active duty, I 'arranged' to qualify with an original Colt 1911 (guess that means I'm good and hooked).:rolleyes:
 
Nice firearms, guys. I recently acquired a Kimber Stainless 1911 (full size) that I use for my carry gun. It has a certain class to it that no other other pistol has, IMO. Even though its a big gun, the slim profile and shootability of the pistol makes it my preferred carry weapon.
 
....and I've got a few but the .45 I've carried daily for the past 4+ years is a Kahr P45, only a little over 20 ounces loaded with 7 rounds. :)

standard.jpg


standard.jpg
 
Yup its been done.
lrg-112-caspian_damascus_1911.jpg

That's pretty and all, but it's only the slide. :D

Or maybe I can get Nathan (the machinist) to CNC out all the parts from exotic stock :D.

As long as he doesn't do a complete frame. Can't forget those pesky BATFE rules about manufacture of firearms :)

If you're really thinking about it, look to see if the Patriot C.O.P. classes are still happening. Dave Samples used to teach (and then passed the reigns on) an online class on how to build a 1911 from parts. After each student finished the requisite work they would send it to him for a final inspection and blueing. It's a bit pricey since you need to buy some tools and all the parts, but it's been on my bucket list for a while now.

-d
 
Back
Top