9mm or 45cal

[Landman]

OH SWEEEEEET! Nice find, all I see is moth eatten clothes. I need to follow you around!

Buggnkat,

I've been collecting 1911's for many years and have managed to find some very nice ones, both military and civilian. I've got a good friend who has a company that does estate sales. He calls me whenever there are some interesting firearms. So without his help I would be finding moth eaten clothes too!

This particular firearm belonged to a career Army officer who served from 1941 to 1961. He was a Lt. Col. in the engineers. He had two sons that were at the sale and I could not believe they didn't want to keep their father's sidearm. To be honest it actually made me mad. My father served in the Pacific during WWII and I can assure you if I had his sidearm that I would never consider selling it....not for any price.

 

[Landman]

DesertDan,

A Rock Island 1911 is a nice pistol for the price. Depending on the amount of your refund though you might want to consider spending a little more and getting a Colt. If you are only going to have one, it might as well be the real deal!

 

[DesertDan]

Oh, I will definitely be looking at other manufacturers. We have a few good LGS here and I have had great luck in the past of finding used firearms in great condition for a good price. I'm in no hurry so I can wait until I find the "right" one.

 

[Buggnkat]

"Few more dollars", WOW try double the price!!

I was skeptical about the RIA's as I was a Colt or go home guy. But when a Colt is over $1000 and a Rock can be had for 1/2 the price, and is made from the very molds Colts were, why spend the schekels if you dont have to?

Mine is just as accurate, shoots just as well and costs 1/2 of the Colt. Course if you have the money to blow, why not, or if you are into collecting there is no argument there. But if you want to CCW or shoot at the range, why spend all that money?

 

[Landman]

If you take your time and look around you can find a nice used Colt in the $600 to $800 range. Bud's Gun Shop online has pretty good prices when they have new Colts in stock. I bought a new 1991 Series Government model from them a few months back for $875.00. If you are patient, Colts can be had for a reasonable price.

I'm certainly not knocking the RIA either. They are great pistols but there is just something about having a real Colt....at least to me there is.

Take care.

 

[jkingrph]

"Few more dollars", WOW try double the price!!

I was skeptical about the RIA's as I was a Colt or go home guy. But when a Colt is over $1000 and a Rock can be had for 1/2 the price, and is made from the very molds Colts were, why spend the schekels if you dont have to?

Mine is just as accurate, shoots just as well and costs 1/2 of the Colt. Course if you have the money to blow, why not, or if you are into collecting there is no argument there. But if you want to CCW or shoot at the range, why spend all that money?

What's with the molds, I thought the Colt's were forged.

 

[Landman]

Colt are forged steel. I'm not sure about Rock Islands though. I would think they probably are too. They are made by Armscor in the Phillipines and have a very good reputation.

 

[Buggnkat]

Rocks are forged also, but its the same machinery that made Colts in the day. Just pritor to the invasion of the PI by the Japenese Colt sent the machinery to the PI. Following liberation the company that would become Armscor received permission to manufacture weapons in the PI. Pretty interesting story to read about. So Rocks are Colts just under a different name.

Again though, if you want one for collecting I see the point, but dollar for dollar why buy a used pistol (and maybe problems) when you can buy new?

 

[1961MJS]

...Again though, if you want one for collecting I see the point, but dollar for dollar why buy a used pistol (and maybe problems) when you can buy new?

Hi

Knock on wood and all, but I've been happy with the used guns I've purchased. In fact one, is the ultimate keeper, a WW2 Rand 1911. New has to be broken in...

Later

 

[Landman]

1961MJS, I've been lucky too. There are quite a few old pistols out there that were bought, never fired and have been sitting in their original box for many years. I find hunting for them as much fun as finding them.

Buggknat, that's an interesting story about the machinery. I've been collecting Colts for many years and have never heard that story about Colt and Armscor. I know that the Argentina Colts were made on old Colt machinery that was part of a package deal Colt made with them. Is the Armscor story posted somewhere? I did a quick search and couldn't find anything.

 

[Rathdown]

Rocks are forged also, but its the same machinery that made Colts in the day. Just pritor to the invasion of the PI by the Japenese Colt sent the machinery to the PI. Following liberation the company that would become Armscor received permission to manufacture weapons in the PI. Pretty interesting story to read about. So Rocks are Colts just under a different name.

Really? I've been a collector, shooter, and all-round gun guy since the middle of the last century-- and I've never heard this before. Could you please cite your source, as I'd be fascinated to learn more, especially how the Colt tooling managed to avoid capture by the occupying Japanese forces.

 

[DeaconKC]

The Charles Daly 1911s are also made on that machinery. excellent shooters, I wish I hadn't let go of mine a few years ago.

 

[Buggnkat]

Really? I've been a collector, shooter, and all-round gun guy since the middle of the last century-- and I've never heard this before. Could you please cite your source, as I'd be fascinated to learn more, especially how the Colt tooling managed to avoid capture by the occupying Japanese forces.

http://www.armscor.com.ph/profile.htm

My local gun store here in town talked to the distributor in Parump NV he got the back story from them. They were going to make pistols for the PI military and the US Army. The shipment of equipment and material was still crated when the Japenese invaded and confiscated it all.

The great part of WW2 was how many manufacturers made parts and weapons (some of them never made anything other than office equipment up to that point) and did a fine job at it!

 

[Renault]

So Armscor is descended from Squires-Bingham........ I remember them......

If I ever see (let alone have to work on) another one of those old Squires-Bingham .22 auto rifles it will be waaaaaay too soon!!!!!! We won't even take them old dogs in for repair ......

Renault

 

[Kirk H.]

http://www.armscor.com.ph/profile.htm

My local gun store here in town talked to the distributor in Parump NV he got the back story from them. They were going to make pistols for the PI military and the US Army. The shipment of equipment and material was still crated when the Japenese invaded and confiscated it all.

The great part of WW2 was how many manufacturers made parts and weapons (some of them never made anything other than office equipment up to that point) and did a fine job at it!

On a side note I did see one of the new Arnscor 38's in a local gun store a few weeks ago. At first I thought it was a Detective Special until I got right up to it. It had some cheap looking wood grips on it. I was told that old style Colt grips would fit (I am not sure if I beleive it though). The price was under 250.00. Renault do you have any info on their 38's?

Kirk H.

 

[Renault]

No I sure don't Kirk. The only reason they keep me around the shop is I'm one of the few old geezers that knows how to work on the stuff like Remington Model 14's & 8's, Auto 5's, Winchester lever guns and pump 22's, the myriad of vintage bolt guns, and my love for all thing with the Mauser banner... Generally sticking to the long guns. Leave the pistol guy to do his thing! (Although I did work on a customers C96 Bolo last week! )......

I'm really not up to snuff with all the new kids on the block...... Can't keep up with them all....

 

[Kirk H.]

No I sure don't Kirk. The only reason they keep me around the shop is I'm one of the few old geezers that knows how to work on the stuff like Remington Model 14's & 8's, Auto 5's, Winchester lever guns and pump 22's, the myriad of vintage bolt guns, and my love for all thing with the Mauser banner... Generally sticking to the long guns. Leave the pistol guy to do his thing! (Although I did work on a customers C96 Bolo last week! )......

I'm really not up to snuff with all the new kids on the block...... Can't keep up with them all....

LOL on the Geezer part. One question...were you drooling when you had to work on the C96?

 

[Buggnkat]

I can not speak to the 38s, but their 1911s are awesome! I do kind of like and would love to shoot their 38s if I ever get a chance.

 

[Renault]

Yeah I was,,,,,,,,, I even texted my old bud who bought mine and asked him if he wanted to trade it back to me! LOL!!!! Naturally he said no!

I find it's kinda cool to have the "kids" come up to the shop and say stuff like "I just inherited this ____, do you know what this old thing is, can can you(will you ) work on it??????" Suppose it's just like anything else.

Getting back on subject (kinda).... I've found it interesting that, (especially on this forum), that nobody's mentioned that it was a 9mm "Luger" that took out the REAL Superman!

 

[Kirk H.]

I can not speak to the 38s, but their 1911s are awesome! I do kind of like and would love to shoot their 38s if I ever get a chance.

I got to dry fire the 38 and the trigger was not bad. It seemed a lot smoother than one of the old Detective Specials I have. Thanks for the info on their 1911's.

Kirk