If you were buying your first 1911

[6SpeedBowtie]

As the title says, if you were starting from scratch buying your first 1911, what would you go with?

 

[John Galt]

A user. Nothing so pretty I would not want to play with it.

I would buy USED from someone upgrading for the best deal

 

[Babboonbobo]

Used and the best you can afford. It will be worth it!


I bought lower priced ones to start and spent even more buying better ones soon there after!

 

[Jammer Six]

My first 1911 was a SA milspec. I've never regretted it, and I bought a second one to go with it.

 

[Bender]

"Starting from scratch" as in knowing now what I didn't then?

 

[fieldgrade]

Springfield Range Officer.

 

[BillKilgore]

My first was a stainless Colt Gold Cup Trophy. It is still one of my favorites and a great starting place. I think a stainless or hard chrome gun is best for a 'first 1911' as the finish is more forgiving than blued steel.

 

[WC145]

Knowing everything I know now I'd buy a Baer and save myself a lot of trial and error and buying and selling. If I wasn't in a position to drop that kind of cash I'd be looking at the new Colts. The series 70 repro is a nice gun with classic lines. The Competition models are great guns for the money if you're a shooter and it'll double as a carry gun. For a little more money the Wiley Clapp models are well equipped and ready for carry out of the box. And, of course, Colts hold their value.

 

[easy10]

Its like potato chips, you can't have just one. Start with a low end model and take it apart. Hard to go wrong on any 1911 but I caution about hammer bite on GI models and not a fan of series 80 firing pin safety. Ah, don't take the sear and disconnector out at first.

 

[6SpeedBowtie]

"Starting from scratch" as in knowing now what I didn't then?

Yes indeed! I'm going down the path of looking for my first 1911, which brought me to this forum. I thought, why not ask those with the first hand knowledge what approach they'd take now given all they've learned.

I do want one I can take to the range regularly and not feel bad about killing any long-term collectibility, but at the same time, I want it to be something I give to my son one day and aside from the sentimental value, he could say, "damn, this is a nice gun."

 

[aaronsappl]

Give us a price range, budget for first one. If price doesn't matter, I would buy WC, EB, Nighthawk, along those lines.

 

[Joe M]

I would buy a low end 1911 to tinker with for my first one.

 

[41 Charlie]

I would buy a high end semi custom (your dream gun) first time out. Like most of us, I started out buying mid range (approx. $1,000.00) 1911s. At some point I found myself with 12 to 15 mid range 1911s. I was fortunate enough to trade into some pretty nice used Semi customs with the inventory I collected. But I think I wasted a lot of time & $. In hind sight, I wish I would have purchased my dream gun first. JMHO.

 

[Jammer Six]

If you've never owned a 1911 before, either don't tinker with it or avoid my range, please.

 

[6SpeedBowtie]

If by "tinker" you mean alter the parts in an attempt to 'improve' performance, this is not something I see myself doing.

I'm pretty much an "OEM" kinda guy.

 

[6SpeedBowtie]

Give us a price range, budget for first one. If price doesn't matter, I would buy WC, EB, Nighthawk, along those lines.

I am living in a low $1000's budget realm. Not ready for a Ferrari, but would like a nicely equipped Corvette.

I'm leaning to .45 ACP. A couple that have caught my eye that I am rather interested in at the local shop include:

DW Valor - stainless (used)
Colt Gold Cup '80 National Match (used)
Colt Commander 100 years of service (used)
Sig Sauer Model 1911 Sig Sauer (used)
Springfield Armory Model 1911-A1 (used)
Springfield Range Officer (used)

 

[SparkyAZ]

The resale market for used 1911's is pretty soft these days. In your $1K price range, I would keep your eyes open for a Springfield Armory TRP. Well built & reliable pistol...

 

[fieldgrade]

If by "tinker" you mean alter the parts in an attempt to 'improve' performance, this is not something I see myself doing.

I'm pretty much an "OEM" kinda guy.

There's a lot of things that fit the "tinker" category that you can do to make a gun "yours" that shouldn't scare off anyone. Grips, sights, addition of magwell, which mags, which holsters, which ammo...

 

[6SpeedBowtie]

The resale market for used 1911's is pretty soft these days. In your $1K price range, I would keep your eyes open for a Springfield Armory TRP. Well built & reliable pistol...

I see there is a nice TRP in Stainless at the shop for the same price as the Valor. Hmmmm.

I've had the itch for a while & was contemplating another striker gun but thought I should branch out into something different.

 

[Bender]

Yes indeed! I'm going down the path of looking for my first 1911, which brought me to this forum. I thought, why not ask those with the first hand knowledge what approach they'd take now given all they've learned.

I do want one I can take to the range regularly and not feel bad about killing any long-term collectibility, but at the same time, I want it to be something I give to my son one day and aside from the sentimental value, he could say, "damn, this is a nice gun."

Given knowing what I know now,I'd jump straight to a semi custom or full custom build.