looking for first 1911

[gmcretz]

Kimber makes a GREAT GUN! Mine personnaly have been the Springfield Armory Loaded PX9608 (full size with polished sides on the slide), a Smith & Wesson Defender about 25 years ago, and my current carry is a Sig Sauer Revolution Carry (customized by Sig, stainless slide on a nitron black frame with stainless controls). I am currently building a full size on an Essex frame, about half way there so far.

Choose what you like, fits you properly and shoots to point of aim. Everyone has a different preference which is why they make vanilla and chocolate ice cream.

Ron

[smyrna]

I think your title should be "looking for first of several 1911s"

Lots of good 1911 makers out there so I won't offer any suggestions other than stay with someone that has been around awhile...Colt, Kimber, Springfield, etc.

As for carry, I find that the Commander length in a 1911 is just about right. As a plus, most Gov't sized holsters will carry commander lengths, although the opposite is not neccessarily true.

[Carrots]

If you can find one, take a look at the Dan Wesson Classic Commander Bobtail (CBOB). It's a Stainless 4.25" Series 70 with a Bobtail grip, excellent carry gun and fit and finish are up there with the customs. No MIM parts and even has some Ed Brown parts on it. It'll also cost you a few bucks less than a Kimber.

These are very very nice. I was very tempted.....

[WEC]

So.... it's been a few days. Where are the pics of the new 1911, Aaron?

[surprise_i'm_armed]

Since this thread is pretty small so far, I would like to pose some questions to you 1911 fans:

Q1. To be called a "1911" does the gun have to be designed exactly like the original JMB models?
Q2. Does it always have to be a .45?
Q3. Does the type of action have to match the original JMB models?
Q4. Is the "shootability" feel of the gun due to their single stack mags making for a slimmer grip?
I have accurately shot a Ruger semi-automatic P89 and have loved the feel of the grip since Rugers seem slimmer
than most other handguns. I have also handled Ruger SR-9's at gun shows and they also feel good in
my average size hands.

School me on the 1911 cult.

"At the end of a shooting incident, all discussions of tactics, barrel length, calibers, and ammo selection will pale in comparison
to the reality of who was not breathing, and who was able to continue with his life."

[Keith B]

Since this thread is pretty small so far, I would like to pose some questions to you 1911 fans:

Q1. To be called a "1911" does the gun have to be designed exactly like the original JMB models?
To be a true 1911, yes.

Q2. Does it always have to be a .45?
No, there are models in various calibers from .22 to .50 that I am aware of

Q3. Does the type of action have to match the original JMB models?
Yes, that is part of what makes it a '1911'. There are some slight variations in the actions on some guns, but the general makeup still follows the JMB design.

Q4. Is the "shootability" feel of the gun due to their single stack mags making for a slimmer grip?
Not really. It has to do with the complete makeup of the gun, including the action and internal mechanisms, as well as the frame and grips.

These are MY views. OMMV

I have accurately shot a Ruger semi-automatic P89 and have loved the feel of the grip since Rugers seem slimmer
than most other handguns. I have also handled Ruger SR-9's at gun shows and they also feel good in
my average size hands.

School me on the 1911 cult.

"At the end of a shooting incident, all discussions of tactics, barrel length, calibers, and ammo selection will pale in comparison
to the reality of who was not breathing, and who was able to continue with his life."

[Liberty]

Q3. Does the type of action have to match the original JMB models?
Q4. Is the "shootability" feel of the gun due to their single stack mags making for a slimmer grip?
I have accurately shot a Ruger semi-automatic P89 and have loved the feel of the grip since Rugers seem slimmer
than most other handguns. I have also handled Ruger SR-9's at gun shows and they also feel good in
my average size hands.

School me on the 1911 cult.

"At the end of a shooting incident, all discussions of tactics, barrel length, calibers, and ammo selection will pale in comparison
to the reality of who was not breathing, and who was able to continue with his life."

I am a big fan the Ruger P series but I Wouldn't consider it a 1911 style by any means.

a 1911 is a .45 Cal 9mm isn't even an American caliber. JMB wouldn't dream of using a European Caliber.

A 1911 is a Single action Hand gun The P89 wors in Double Action an d Single action mode.

A 1911 has Slab sides A Ruger has molded plastic or rubber grips

A 1911 Has a select safety and a grip safety, A p89 has a firing pin block a select safety .

A new P89 goes for about $400 a 1911 costs $700 and up

A P89 has the safety on the slide and is ambidextrous a 1911 works well for right handers.

A 1911 is pretty

No one Worships Bill Ruger

Hope this helps

[smyrna]

JMB wouldn't dream of using a European Caliber.

I don't know if this is entirely accurate...Whether or not he designed it around the 9mm, I don't know, but Browning is famous for another popular semi-auto pistol that some will argue is better than his 1911, the P35 that we all know as the Browning HP originally chambered in 9mm.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browning_Hi-Power" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[srothstein]

a 1911 is a .45 Cal 9mm isn't even an American caliber. JMB wouldn't dream of using a European Caliber.

Hmmm, tell me again who designed the Hipower?


As for the original questions, my opinions are a little less strict. As with many other "cults", there are always variations in the liturgical interpretations.

I think of 1911 to include a lot of variations. Some are not exactly like the original or the A1, but they are generally there. I will recognize the Para-ordnance LDA the older Cotl double action as variants of the 1911 and include them in the group unless we are getting technical.

On the shootability, I think the size of the grips, the single action trigger, and the grip angle all contribute. The height of the barrel over the hand probably also should be taken into account. I have never tried to figure that part out and Keith may be correct about it being other parts also and the overall design. I just know it works, and works well.

[Liberty]

a 1911 is a .45 Cal 9mm isn't even an American caliber. JMB wouldn't dream of using a European Caliber.

Hmmm, tell me again who designed the Hipower?


As for the original questions, my opinions are a little less strict. As with many other "cults", there are always variations in the liturgical interpretations.

I think of 1911 to include a lot of variations. Some are not exactly like the original or the A1, but they are generally there. I will recognize the Para-ordnance LDA the older Cotl double action as variants of the 1911 and include them in the group unless we are getting technical.

On the shootability, I think the size of the grips, the single action trigger, and the grip angle all contribute. The height of the barrel over the hand probably also should be taken into account. I have never tried to figure that part out and Keith may be correct about it being other parts also and the overall design. I just know it works, and works well.

It turns out that JMB did some preliminary work on the High Power, The design isn't completly his, although the concept may be

The Browning Hi-Power is a single-action, 9 mm semi-automatic pistol. It is based on ideas conceived and patented in 1922 by American firearms inventor John Browning, and later patented by Fabrique Nationale (FN) of Herstal, Belgium. Browning died in 1926, before he had finished developing a production version. The design was fully developed and realized by Belgian arms designer Dieudonne Saive, working at FN.

I thought FN just ripped the ideas directly off the 1911. learn somehing new every day.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

To Liberty:
Thanks for your response. To clarify my original post, there is no way that
I was saying that a Ruger P89 is a 1911 type. I was just trying to say that the
slim grip of a P89 seems similar to what I perceive is the slim appealing grip
of a 1911.

Somewhere on the forum here, I believe I read a funny critique of the various
types of ammo. 9MM was described as "designed by Europeans to annoy their
neighbors."

Here's another question: What is the difference between a 1911 and a 1911A1?