Hello from IL

[Mike A1]

1911s are ok…

Do you have any Carbon steel 1911s?
My oldest Pony her name is Betsey born in 1917. Out of 9 Colts I don't have any stainless 1911s. Yours are very pretty however.

 

[philmo11]

Do you have any Carbon steel 1911s?
My oldest Pony her name is Betsey born in 1917. Out of 9 Colts I don't have any stainless 1911s. Yours are very pretty however.

View attachment 27856

I did but last November I sold all but the two MetroArms hard chrome. Those are carbon steel but I get that isn't what you are really asking. All but those two 1911s from my previous collection were sold off at auction and I started rebuilding my collection in March of this year.

My justification was that I am never going to buy a vintage piece like yours. While I dig the authenticity, the nostalgia of a modern one is enough for me. Second, if I want a black gun, I have a lot of polymer running around. Last, maintenance is a lot lower on these. I don't buy them because I'm out to be the next Rambo. I buy them because I appreciate the artwork in the 1911, so they might as well be pretty. Stainless is a better option than nickel because it'll never peel and refinishing stainless is pretty straight forward.

Case in point, here is a before pic of a Kimber Stainless II. It's not a pretty gun. It's a dull matte stainless.



This is a pair of Kimber Stainless II's after I refinished them, sitting next to a Kimber Rapide.



This is the finished product after replacing the plastic main spring housings with stainless ones with magwells.



Will I ever own another parkerized 1911? I have no plans on it. I may buy some blued at some point but the collection is young yet. I do have a few blued and color case hardened revolvers among all the stainless.

 

[philmo11]

Another example of refinishing stainless. The top one was finished just like the bottom one. I put a satin finish on the 44.

 

[Bob Lee]

I did but last November I sold all but the two MetroArms hard chrome. Those are carbon steel but I get that isn't what you are really asking. All but those two 1911s from my previous collection were sold off at auction and I started rebuilding my collection in March of this year.

My justification was that I am never going to buy a vintage piece like yours. While I dig the authenticity, the nostalgia of a modern one is enough for me. Second, if I want a black gun, I have a lot of polymer running around. Last, maintenance is a lot lower on these. I don't buy them because I'm out to be the next Rambo. I buy them because I appreciate the artwork in the 1911, so they might as well be pretty. Stainless is a better option than nickel because it'll never peel and refinishing stainless is pretty straight forward.

Case in point, here is a before pic of a Kimber Stainless II. It's not a pretty gun. It's a dull matte stainless.

View attachment 27860

This is a pair of Kimber Stainless II's after I refinished them, sitting next to a Kimber Rapide.

View attachment 27864

This is the finished product after replacing the plastic main spring housings with stainless ones with magwells.

View attachment 27865

Will I ever own another parkerized 1911? I have no plans on it. I may buy some blued at some point but the collection is young yet. I do have a few blued and color case hardened revolvers among all the stainless.
View attachment 27866

WOW!!!

 

[Mike A1]

I did but last November I sold all but the two MetroArms hard chrome. Those are carbon steel but I get that isn't what you are really asking. All but those two 1911s from my previous collection were sold off at auction and I started rebuilding my collection in March of this year.

My justification was that I am never going to buy a vintage piece like yours. While I dig the authenticity, the nostalgia of a modern one is enough for me. Second, if I want a black gun, I have a lot of polymer running around. Last, maintenance is a lot lower on these. I don't buy them because I'm out to be the next Rambo. I buy them because I appreciate the artwork in the 1911, so they might as well be pretty. Stainless is a better option than nickel because it'll never peel and refinishing stainless is pretty straight forward.

Case in point, here is a before pic of a Kimber Stainless II. It's not a pretty gun. It's a dull matte stainless.

View attachment 27860

This is a pair of Kimber Stainless II's after I refinished them, sitting next to a Kimber Rapide.

View attachment 27864

This is the finished product after replacing the plastic main spring housings with stainless ones with magwells.

View attachment 27865

Will I ever own another parkerized 1911? I have no plans on it. I may buy some blued at some point but the collection is young yet. I do have a few blued and color case hardened revolvers among all the stainless.
View attachment 27866

The question must then be. Do you shoot your guns ,or collect them?

 

[Bob Lee]

The question must then be. Do you shoot your guns ,or collect them?

I don't collect them, I just close the safe, and they multiply. lol

 

[philmo11]

The question must then be. Do you shoot your guns ,or collect them?

I shoot them all

 

[philmo11]

Made cases out of rifle cases just for range days…

 

[philmo11]

I don't collect them, I just close the safe, and they multiply. lol

Same. Someone once told me to leave the light on in the safe or they would multiply. I've since had to upgrade to a vault.


I have at least another dozen that need to go in here. It's still a work in progress. My ammo now goes in the safes.

I just got my lights figured out in there.

 

[Bob Lee]

Same. Someone once told me to leave the light on in the safe or they would multiply. I've since had to upgrade to a vault.
View attachment 27879

I have at least another dozen that need to go in here. It's still a work in progress. My ammo now goes in the safes.

I just got my lights figured out in there.
View attachment 27878

WOW! I am envious