What was your first 1911?

[TimNelson]

I would like to buy my first 1911 as my next firearm purchase. Probably not for a few months since I have bought 5 in the past four months. Just wondering what everyone else decided on for there first 1911 choices and if they would suggest that gun or something else.

[Tommy Vercetti]

Colt National Match Gold Cup

[scottl]

Para LTC

[Watarski]

Springfield TRP.

[Brian48]

Custom 1911 built on an Essex frame and slide by some armorer stationed in Quantico in the early 80's. Included a Bar-Sto match barrel and Bo-Mar sights. The rest was a mish-mash of left over GI and Colt parts. Bought it off a SSgt who never shot it and needed the money. One of the best $250 I ever spent. I sold it for twice that much years later to help fund my purchase of a Colt Gold Cup. Looking back, I should have held onto it. Still the most accurate 1911 I've ever shot.

[dmitch4545]

Springfield TRP

[Crankylove]

Kimber Classic Stainless LE

[Playboypenguin]

My first 1911 was a Kimber Pro Carry II. I ended up selling it later. If I had it all to do over again my first 1911 would be a Colt Combat Comander...or a Springfield Armory Loaded Champion. :)

[Wagonman]

Springer TRP on Thursday

[model18]

Colt Combat Elite .45acp

[poortrader]

Les Baer PII

[Buzzcook]

It looks a lot like this.
http://www.sightm1911.com/1911pix/historic/1941ColtL.jpg

Except a lot more beat up. $25 and still shoots fine

[Sam06]

Most of the guys up there^^^ are showing their age. Not many choices when I got my 1st M1911. It was a colt or a WW2 rattle trap. Mine was a Colt. I am sorry to say I traded it for a MkIV ser 70. That got sold to a buddy(only 1/2 a word) and I got a a New fangled Stainless job made by AMT called a hardballer! Cool name Not a bad gun but they got a bad rep for galling(I never trusted stainless again...:eek:). Now I have 9- 1911 style guns and not even Obama could make me part with one of them. The newest.....A PARA P18.9:eek:,I know its stainless, Not even a 45. Old Johns ghost will be shaking the walls tonight.

[overkill556x45]

Springfield GI.

[IanS]

In 1994 I bought my first 1911. A Colt Government Model "Enhanced" in Stainless Steel. .45 ACP of course.

I was a newbie to guns and 1911's. This was only the second pistol I ever owned. I had someone who basically worked at a gunshop do a trigger job and ramp and throat the barrel :eek:. Luckily, it turned out all right. Later I had Kings Gunworks install their match bushing, fixed sights, and barrel link. The gun turned out to be a much better shooter than a Colt Gold Cup NM I later bought.

I miss my old Government. The Gold Cup not so much.

[cbailey]

Auto-Ordance early 90's production.

So awful in every way that it scared me off 1911's for a decade. A real shame.

In fact, I was reluctant to buy any auto-loader for some time afterwards.

[bufordtjustice]

Sold a S&W 4506 POS to an army buddy back in 1994 at Ft. Bragg. Drove my happy a** down to Jim's Pawn Shop (one of the greatest gun stores ever!) and bought a colt combat elite .45. I dumped that one may years later (2007) to help fund my Wilson CQB.

[SD_Chop]

springfield GI since got a kimber custom target

[lechiffre]

sw1911

[nagl0c]

Sig GSR...stainless config

Love it.

[michael t]

march 1972 a new Colt Combat Commander $154 and a box of super vel I still have the Colt and 3 rounds of the vel. Before then Military issued my 1911's for carry.

[ƒORTE]

SA TRP

[diesel7.3]

Dan Wesson PM9

[The Great Mahoo]

My father gave me a Springfield Omegamatch 10mm 1911 when I turned 21. This was the only one I had until last month. I just bought a Para Ord. LDA 1911 in .45ACP and love it.

[SilentHitz]

Many moons ago...Colt Combat commander. Never kept a round count, but after many cases, I replaced a worn out barrel bushing. Damn thing even fed wad cutters.:eek: Sure do miss it:(

[NYPD13]

Springfield GI High Cap

[Bandit]

Springfield Armory Mil Spec back in 1992. Put 500 rounds through it before having it customized by Alex Hamilton to my liking. Many many rounds down range since then.. Still own it.. Never will part with it...

[etaoin]

STI TargetMaster 9mm (bought through Brazos Custom with their High Performance Package). Has me so spoiled I don't know if I want to buy any thing else! :confused:

[milky7272]

Colt National Match Gold Cup

[XD45Sooner]

Smith and Wesson 1911SC in Stainless

[toyman69]

my first 1911 was a 1936 argintine made copy with a worn out barrel. replaced the barrel (but kept it in the case with the gun) I love to shoot it. My next 1911 was a springfield trophymatch longslide with a lot of custom work it is the most accurate gun I own and a blast to shoot. I have since gotten 3 more 1911's, the last one in 38 super. I will be getting more.

[Christian James]

My first was a Kimber Custom II. I no longer have it, but it's still in the family as my brother's first firearm.

[Chris_B]

Auto-Ordance early 90's production.

So awful in every way that it scared me off 1911's for a decade. A real shame.

In fact, I was reluctant to buy any auto-loader for some time afterwards

They had some bad issues. I have an AO M1911A1 made in Worcester MA in the 21st Century that's been as dependable as the day is long. AO has changed since the early '90s. The only thing I did to mine was I took out the stock trigger and dropped in a '40s GI trigger. No trigger problems with the stock one, but now the pistol is much nicer to shoot

Last weekend I bumped into a guy at the range with the same pistol, same build time, who was having a hell of a time with it. He borrowed another guy's .45 magazine and all the problems dissapeared. They seem to be picky about mags

Where I live, my 1911 choices are both limited and almost all expensive (People's Republic of Massachusetts). I can't say enough good things about my Auto Ordnance M1911A1. It's mil-spec and not a laser beam or tack driver but I have full confidence that I could shake a cup of wet sand out of it, slap in mag, and have seven reports

I was at work earlier, here's a photo with the plastic grips. I have the wooden ones but the thinner plastic grips feel better to me

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/Chuck_Older/AO1911A1grip-1.jpg

[Kreyzhorse]

My first, and so far only 1911, is a Springfield TRP. If you want to buy a great one right off, the TRP is the way to go.

[tony pasley]

My first was a USGI that an uncle brought home from WW II and gave to me in 1964. Bought another one in 1966 for $75.00.

[dbgun]

RIA in 45ACP.

second 1911, COLT COMMANDER SS in .38super

[kostner]

My first 1911 was a Remington Rand issued by US Army in 1965 , Vietnam. Have always wanted to get another one.

[propex]

Last November Dan Wesson CBOB

[bigghoss]

http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/115/l_a70c07e4fa55b3dac26cbf80af8d0042.jpg

still easy to find in this shape in the $500-600 range.

[TCman]

Colt MK IV series 80 SS Commander

[stormyone]

S&W 1911PD. My 1st and last.

I like more modern designs.

[Fuzzymaster]

RIA Tactical. Just got it a week ago, and seems every bit worth the 375.00 How can ya go wrong. And it likes my handloads.

[flight954]

Kimber Eclipse II
What an overpriced POS. I'm glad I got rid of all my Kimbers

[Shorthair]

Auto-Ordance early 90's production.

So awful in every way that it scared me off 1911's for a decade. A real shame.

In fact, I was reluctant to buy any auto-loader for some time afterwards.
I have one... still. When you get lemons, you make lemonade. This one was born looking just like Chris_B's. I knew I wanted a base gun to completely modify, I wanted to learn about the weapon from the inside out. The only thing original on this gun is the frame, slide and slide stop. :)
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc63/gspdave45/45brass.jpg

[brucea4]

Brand new spanking COLT series 70..................:)

[sdj]

The first was a SW1911, 5", blue. Wound up not liking the lack of grooves at the front, and also wanted to save on some weight, so wound up getting a SW1911Sc (stainless). The 1911Sc has been faultless for me. Gets lots of holster time. :D Next on the list: SW1911PD, 4.25".

[Atticus Thraxx]

AMT Gov.Model out of a pawn shop in Colorado Springs in 1985 I think, Loved that thing. Should never have gotten rid of it.:(

[sserdlihc]

http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/qq96/sserdlihc/DSCF4338.jpg

Myself, well lets just say I am shopping for a DW CBOB.

[Chris_B]

Nice .45 Shorthair :) I like how the 1911 type mainspring looks on the 1911A1 frame

Something about the Colt 1911 design really appeals to me. The position of each control is right for me, the heft is right for me, the grip and the angle of the grip is natural and right for me.

[Bear Claw Chris]

Springfield Armory, basic GI issue but blued not parkerized.

Surely do wish I had kept it!!!

[Shane Tuttle]

Springer Loaded, parkerized, 5in. It's my first 1911 and I won't get rid of it.
As a matter of fact, I'll be buying more in the future. People actually believe me because I said the same thing about my first car (still have that VW) and bought more (namely a '59).:D

[joegator]

SA Loaded.

[mavracer]

Delta Elite now has a nowlin match barrel with 2 chamber comp and all the IPSC/bowling pin bells and whistles

[Kermit]

My first was a used Para Ord P16-40 -- even after a few mods, I ended up selling it because I could never get use to the huge grip & I never warmed up to the 40 S&W round -- later, the light bulb went off & I got my first Colt :cool:

[robctwo]

SA Loaded, Black Stainless Target.

[cbailey]

They had some bad issues. I have an AO M1911A1 made in Worcester MA in the 21st Century that's been as dependable as the day is long. AO has changed since the early '90s. The only thing I did to mine was I took out the stock trigger and dropped in a '40s GI trigger. No trigger problems with the stock one, but now the pistol is much nicer to shoot

I have one... still. When you get lemons, you make lemonade. This one was born looking just like Chris_B's. I knew I wanted a base gun to completely modify, I wanted to learn about the weapon from the inside out. The only thing original on this gun is the frame, slide and slide stop.

I am sure that the newer Kahr-era AO's are nicer. A friend just bought one, and although he hasn't shot it yet, it looks to be smooth and well-fit. I was in fact considering one, but ended up getting an SA GI instead. Buddy’s recent AO is substantially nicer in fit in comparison to my Springer.

But to elaborate on my earlier experience with my early 90's AO, both a friend and I walked out of a gun shop, each with an $89 unissued Chinese SKS (which was our reason for going there) and each with a Thompson/AO 1911, which we were sales-pitched into. The proprietor said we were getting a package deal on the Thompsons (think we paid $250-275 each).

First time out, I don't think either spit out a full magazine without hanging up. Front sights fell off both within just a few outings. While neither of us were very good shots at the time, the inaccuracy of these two was confirmed by an RO who just couldn't believe any 1911 could suck as bad as we were making them appear to be. Buddies AO even went full-auto.

Both went back to Auto-Ordnance at least once, to not much avail. At the time I wasn't much inclined to work on a pistol, and I didn't have enough money to get it worked on, so I sold mine to the to same buddy who had the other one, at a good hit, and he subsequently took one or both to a local smith who refused to even touch one. Much later he sold both to the same gun shop where we had bought them for not much less, if at all, than we paid for them.

[armsmaster270]

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff207/armsmaster270/writings/DSCF1006.jpg

[acpfan]

My first is a Colt 1991-A1 45acp

[wstein]

I didn't own it, but I got a chance to shoot USMC issue Colt 1911's in boot camp in 1988. Our DI's told us not to F them up, since they were the base pistol team issue 1911's (don't know if that was true or they were BS'ing us). I was punching smiley faces at 10 yards with them.

[jondar]

Colt M1911 United States Property, made in 1918. Came with 1918 clip marked on upper toe "A" (American Pin Co.)

[sholling]

Springfield Armory's predecessor to their Mil-Spec. $350 brand new in 1989.

[protectedbyglock]

Here's my first...
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q258/protectedbyglock/dalebonygripsR.jpg

Springfield Mil-Spec 1911A1

I like this one more than I thought I would. It eats everything, and looks pretty nice, too. Definately a keeper.

[#1 Moses]

70 series Colt Gold cup around 1978 $400 Bucks brand new out the door!

[Chris_B]

I am sure that the newer Kahr-era AO's are nicer. A friend just bought one, and although he hasn't shot it yet, it looks to be smooth and well-fit. I was in fact considering one, but ended up getting an SA GI instead. Buddy’s recent AO is substantially nicer in fit in comparison to my Springer.


I can hardly blame you for choosing the Springfield after your experiences with AO!