1911 Heirloom suggestions

[Former 31B]

Good day Men,

My grandfather wants "one of those old 45's officers carried back in the war". We are not "gun guys" I don't know much about civilian weapons. He was a sailor in WW2 (Pacific islands, Japan, China). I explained how the legit 1911's from the war are $2000+ which make it financially out of the question. I told him there are many different ones to choose from in 2011 that still resemble the original he remembers from the war. It will be an heirloom piece after he goes...to Arlington. I want to have the option of engraving the slide as well. I will have it for my lifetime and pass it on to my son as well when I follow my grandfather to D.C. in the future.
This pistol will be used, not sit in a case.

Now that the intent is known:
My absolute top price is 1k
Does the type of metal matter for engraving?
I'm loking for one that resembles the original thats not a ton of money.
Is there anyhting else I should keep in mind like a coating or type of metal?

I like the Remington 1911R1 for example, it's reasonably priced, and looks similiar to the old one.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[seanc]

I think the RIA is probably the closest you will find to an as issued WWII 1911.
If it is purely a collectible, I'd probably get a Colt.

As the 1k is max... I'd go RIA and get it engraved.
For that money, you will get a really honest WWII 1911 with engraving that would be a great shooter.

 

[TheRoland]

If it is purely a collectible, I'd probably get a Colt.

Agreed. If you want a family heirloom that's based on tradition, find a Colt.

 

[ptanks56]

Can't you get the re-issued 1918 1911s from Colt for less than a grand? My brother in law found two for around 895.00 I think. Original looking box and paper work the whole deal.

 

[ptanks56]

http://www.gunsamerica.com/99744840...c-Pistols/COLT_1911_WWI_REPRODUCTION_1918.htm

posted at 900.00

 

[seanc]

Can't you get the re-issued 1918 1911s from Colt for less than a grand? My brother in law found two for around 895.00 I think. Original looking box and paper work the whole deal.

It'd be a pretty tall order to find much in the way of a nib Colt in Mass under 1k.. If they are going to engrave it, then maybe a used fixer upper/ refinisher. But Even in Ct 900+ engraving would be well over the 1k target.

 

[highlander]

How about an Auto Ordanence? They are well within your budget and are probably the closest to a mil spec 1911. If all you plan on shooting ball ammo out of it (if you shoot it at all) you should be fine.
What may take time is getting it engraved in a timely manner.

 

[Knob Creek]

How about a Colt 1911 Commemorative for the World Wars?

 

[bfm]

Slightly over your price, but Collectors in Stoneham has a Navy Commemorative in a display case. Might be worth looking at.

 

[mike93lx]

it was in rough shape (might clean up nice), but Kittery Trading Post has a Colt Commercial 1911 from 1918 for $775.

 

[mac67]

Something to remember, the guns so far mentioned, (except Remington & Auto) will be private sale only. Unless of course you can find an FFL willing to import one OR you happen to find one at a local shop.

 

[seanc]

RIA is on the list as well. They tend to be seen "in the wild" pretty regularly.

 

[Former 31B]

Thanks for the responses, I'm in the process of looking at the ones you guys suggested. Also, engraving would come later not when I purchase the gun.

 

[Pilgrim]

GI guns are available for less than $1000. Look around, you'll find one.

 

[pmclaine]

As Pilgrim states GI guns cn be had for less than a G. The ones for over 2K are unlike the ones found in service. Those guns have their original parts and no rebuild stamps.

The ones you get for less than a grand are "like the ones the officers (and men) used to carry". They have had their parts swapped in the armory or during cleaning sessions by bored GI's. They were tools used hard and sometimes put away wet but they are still great guns.

 

[Speedway]

How about a non perfect 1911a1 from WWII? I have procured one from NES classifieds for much less than 1k.

There are plenty out there with non-original sights, or have been reparkerized for less than 1k.

 

[fbirdquik6]

Grab a RIA or Springfield GI. They are very close to the original, and are a good quality pistol.

 

[ptanks56]

I've been looking around and rereading some posts and found the RIA to be a good piece for this project. Add a few after market mags for improved function and it shoots much better.

 

[seanc]

Good and complete engraving by a really competent engraver can easily run into the 1000s by itself. If you have not already investigated this, you may want to plan out what you intend to have done, sketch it out and bring/ fax/ email the ideas around to several engravers to get a feel for what you intend to do will cost, and then figure out what is likely to be left over for the gun. Also, depending on the work being done, it may also be necessary to have the gun (or slide) refinished.

Engraving is like tattoos, a lot of people say they can do it but not everybody does it well. And finding the cheapest is not necessarily a good thing.

 

[bigjim]

a while back roaches in cambridge had a 1918 colt for around a grand hell they might still have it they can be found and it would be much better to have the real deal.

 

[Karl]

I'd buy the Remington. It's basically the same as the original GI with better sights and a nicer ejection port.

I have several original 1911 GI 45s and if your wanting a shooter, but a new one that's close to the original. I've seen too many times where someone take's grandpa's issued 1911 to the range and something breaks or the frame cracks and it ruins an original gun.

Just my 2 cents.