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There are two Phillipines companies that make 1911s. Both have good reviews (the name escapes me on the other one). Its like my Kia, for the price you pay its incredible value.

Rock Island is one of those two Frazz, Springfield may be the other you are thinking of. They have a facility there too, but I don't know if it's just parts or full firearms.

Back when Sprigfield Mil Specs were 450 it was hard to pay 50 less for a RIA and risk maybe it sucking. Now it has several years of reviews and they seem to be excellent and cheap shooters. They need to be polished and by need I mean I would do it but it's not essential, and it's a great start to a full custom.

AustonT wrote:Rock Island is one of those two Frazz, Springfield may be the other you are thinking of. They have a facility there too, but I don't know if it's just parts or full firearms.

Back when Sprigfield Mil Specs were 450 it was hard to pay 50 less for a RIA and risk maybe it sucking. Now it has several years of reviews and they seem to be excellent and cheap shooters. They need to be polished and by need I mean I would do it but it's not essential, and it's a great start to a full custom.

No its like something star or something. I read a head to head comparison of them once.

Colt Gold Cup does look nice. 1100 ain't bad at all.

O8570NM is really purdy, but I've heard blueing always looks like crap after a while. It's also high carbon steel, so it would be solid as crap.

Also, really interested in a .45 ACP to .22 LR conversion kit. That sounds like heaven, even if it doesn't shoot that well. Damn, I hate not having any money!

Samus_aran115 wrote:Colt Gold Cup does look nice. 1100 ain't bad at all.

O8570NM is really purdy, but I've heard blueing always looks like crap after a while. It's also high carbon steel, so it would be solid as crap.

Also, really interested in a .45 ACP to .22 LR conversion kit. That sounds like heaven, even if it doesn't shoot that well. Damn, I hate not having any money!

The cheapass (technical term) Ruger 22 has similar grip angle and features to a 1911 frame (intentioanlly) and is often used for practice in this area. PLus its cheap as sin.

http://gunsgunsguns.net/ruger-2245-bull-barrel/

Academy regularly puts it on sale. On sale its usually about $250.
http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_126575_-1?N=329211139+4294965660

And the 10/45s are more accurate than any conversion. Plus you can always get an integrated suppresor from PACnor.

Conversion 22s can expect the same accuracy as 22s like the Sig mosquito and p22 which is passable but not tack driving. Even the cheapest Ruger mark can make a tight cloverleaf in capable hands.

Worn bluing is a badge of honor. You would either have to holster a colt hot blued gun everyday for a decade or go out of your way to rub it off.

I'm not gonna find a Commander frame with a rail, am I? That STI Spartan is pretty damn tempting though, I won't lie.



Alright then. I could probably get away with concealing a 5" 1911. So, needs a rail, needs to be good to go out of the box, needs to not be fething stainless, I'd prefer something parkerized but not a huge deal, needs to come in at or under $1000 so I don't get my head lopped off.

Seaward wrote:I'm not gonna find a Commander frame with a rail, am I? That STI Spartan is pretty damn tempting though, I won't lie.



Alright then. I could probably get away with concealing a 5" 1911. So, needs a rail, needs to be good to go out of the box, needs to not be fething stainless, I'd prefer something parkerized but not a huge deal, needs to come in at or under $1000 so I don't get my head lopped off.

Rail - you've got me on that one. Are you needing this for CCL? A full size .45 ACP is... difficult to conceal unless you're consistently wearing a jacket or suit coat.

Frazzled wrote:

Seaward wrote:I'm not gonna find a Commander frame with a rail, am I? That STI Spartan is pretty damn tempting though, I won't lie.



Alright then. I could probably get away with concealing a 5" 1911. So, needs a rail, needs to be good to go out of the box, needs to not be fething stainless, I'd prefer something parkerized but not a huge deal, needs to come in at or under $1000 so I don't get my head lopped off.

Rail - you've got me on that one. Are you needing this for CCL? A full size .45 ACP is... difficult to conceal unless you're consistently wearing a jacket or suit coat.

I wear a suit jacket five days a week, but I've also been told by folks on the 1911 forums that thanks to the frame being so damn thin, a lot of people can get away with it even without a coat. I may just run down to the local and see if they'll let me try it out.

Apparently the Colt Commander line comes with a railgun option. May go that route.

Seaward wrote:

Frazzled wrote:

Seaward wrote:I'm not gonna find a Commander frame with a rail, am I? That STI Spartan is pretty damn tempting though, I won't lie.



Alright then. I could probably get away with concealing a 5" 1911. So, needs a rail, needs to be good to go out of the box, needs to not be fething stainless, I'd prefer something parkerized but not a huge deal, needs to come in at or under $1000 so I don't get my head lopped off.

Rail - you've got me on that one. Are you needing this for CCL? A full size .45 ACP is... difficult to conceal unless you're consistently wearing a jacket or suit coat.

I wear a suit jacket five days a week, but I've also been told by folks on the 1911 forums that thanks to the frame being so damn thin, a lot of people can get away with it even without a coat. I may just run down to the local and see if they'll let me try it out.

Apparently the Colt Commander line comes with a railgun option. May go that route.

The shorter barrel would be more helpful, if you are suit wearing.

AustonT wrote:And the 10/45s are more accurate than any conversion. Plus you can always get an integrated suppresor from PACnor.

Conversion 22s can expect the same accuracy as 22s like the Sig mosquito and p22 which is passable but not tack driving. Even the cheapest Ruger mark can make a tight cloverleaf in capable hands.

Worn bluing is a badge of honor. You would either have to holster a colt hot blued gun everyday for a decade or go out of your way to rub it off.

Same sort of thing as a Kabar with most of the carbon coating missing, I guess? That makes sense.

Seaward wrote:I'm not gonna find a Commander frame with a rail, am I? That STI Spartan is pretty damn tempting though, I won't lie.



Alright then. I could probably get away with concealing a 5" 1911. So, needs a rail, needs to be good to go out of the box, needs to not be fething stainless, I'd prefer something parkerized but not a huge deal, needs to come in at or under $1000 so I don't get my head lopped off.

There was a time when Caspian made a Commander frame with rail...although I don't know if the still make frames at all any more.
Springfield and Kimber both make 4inch compacts with rails, they aren't true commanders if you want to be snobby about it(commanders are 4 1/4) the SA Compact Operator will run about 900-950. If memory serves they come with black hardcoated alloy frames and either blue or satin steel slides.

Were I you I wouldn't discount stainless for daily carry, if you don't like the look(and I certainly do not) another 200 ish dollars will get you Birdsong's Black or Green T finish, that will likely outlast you. For less than that you can have it Cerakoted.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Samus_aran115 wrote:

AustonT wrote:And the 10/45s are more accurate than any conversion. Plus you can always get an integrated suppresor from PACnor.

Conversion 22s can expect the same accuracy as 22s like the Sig mosquito and p22 which is passable but not tack driving. Even the cheapest Ruger mark can make a tight cloverleaf in capable hands.

Worn bluing is a badge of honor. You would either have to holster a colt hot blued gun everyday for a decade or go out of your way to rub it off.

Same sort of thing as a Kabar with most of the carbon coating missing, I guess? That makes sense.

Eh...if you mean looks wise then yes. Bluing and carbon coatings are very different though.

Seaward wrote:I'm not gonna find a Commander frame with a rail, am I? That STI Spartan is pretty damn tempting though, I won't lie.



Alright then. I could probably get away with concealing a 5" 1911. So, needs a rail, needs to be good to go out of the box, needs to not be fething stainless, I'd prefer something parkerized but not a huge deal, needs to come in at or under $1000 so I don't get my head lopped off.

I was thinking for some reason that Wilson Combat would fit your bill.. but seems I either can't find a "cheap" one (or one in your range)... but here is one of my "front runners" from STI:

http://www.stiguns.com/the-sti-ranger-ii/


The Wilson's are indeed pricey, but the one I shot was an extremely easy shot... when it came down to it, I told my brother-in-law that I loved the feel of his Wilson Combat, but loved the accuracy of the STI.. so you may wish to look more at STIs.

A couple people on other boards have told me that Colt makes a Commander with a rail, but I can't for the life of me find it.

I may just go full-sized. I'm thinking more and more I could conceal it, and I've always got the HK45 if I can't.

Of course, I may also completely blow my budget and pick up a Nighthawk.

I'm not a particularly large man. 5'9/215, and I live in a summer state where jackets are impractical...I conceal on a regular basis either a P220 or G17/22 without printing. A 1911 is a shade easier than those...so it can be done.

I have never heard of a Colt manf Commander/Rail, but they did shake up thier line recently.

Women trying to wear skin-tight jeans and belly showing halter tops might have a problem with it, but usually they're not the type to have a CC gun to begin with or if they do it's in their purse.

Though frankly the pursei s the worst place to put it.

I'm having a very, very hard time not pulling the trigger, so to speak, on this guy:

http://www.nighthawktactical.com/GRP_Recon.html

The only thing keeping me from doing it is the knowledge that it's stupid to shell out that kind of money for a CC gun that's going to get beat up, sweated upon, etc. I've had the pleasure of shooting a Nighthawk before, and holy Christ is it a fine weapon.

Meh. Three grand is too much if it's your first 1911 that you own. I'd really start at USGI A1 and work out from there. You can either upgrade or buy a different gun based on some experience with your gun.

AustonT wrote:Meh. Three grand is too much if it's your first 1911 that you own. I'd really start at USGI A1 and work out from there. You can either upgrade or buy a different gun based on some experience with your gun.

Why's that?

Part of it is feel and function, the USGI is about as basic as gets. Part of it is I don't like wasting money, I find a lot of times people who buy a really top end gun don't need, use, or understand some of the features they paid for. The upside of buying that USGI first is if you love it as is, it's done; if not you can make a list of I wish it had/did. And find the gun that has has all of those or add it to the one you have.

That's also part of the reason why I'm looking more for mil-spec 1911s (or in this case, 1991s) over highly customized ones.

Unless it has been customized specifically for me, I think I'll go with the basic stuff.