Show off your favorite handgun(s)

[m14brian]

My 3 1911s. If I get my CCW I'll have to add a shorty but these are it for now. From L to R, SAI Professional, SAI TRP, Sig 1911.
m14brian

[Tom in N.J.]

One of my favorites is a DCM sales M1911 (unserviceable, safe to fire live ammo). Total cost with spare adjustable long trigger and NM grips, about $25.00. It has a Springfield Armory 1914 frame, Colt slide and mixmaster parts..."AA" re-build. I love it!... In the old days NRA members could order parts at gov't cost direct from R.I.A.

[Orlando]

Somone polished and blued this Remington Rand so I had it restored. I probably have more in it that what she is worth but I just had to get her back the way she was supposed to be


My everyday carry piece Dan Wesson CCO

[Phil McGrath]

My 3 1911s. If I get my CCW I'll have to add a shorty but these are it for now. From L to R, SAI Professional, SAI TRP, Sig 1911.
m14brian

Brian, pistol number two is a Railed Operator. I could be wrong but many Operator freaks feel it's a big step up from the TRP. I wouldn't know I've never fondled either.

[m14brian]

Brian, pistol number two is a Railed Operator.

Huh....It was sold to me as a TRP, it does say TRP Operator on the slide and box sticker though, confusing. I thought the Operator was the one with the solid frame under the slide all the way to the muzzle. Is there just a TRP that doesn't say Operator on the slide I wonder. You might be right because I'm sure you know a lot more about 1911s than I do, markings are weird on guns these days in some cases and confusing, I guess I'm not sure 100% then. Either one is pretty sweet for a modern working gun/SHTFgun, other than that I know they're not like your guys' collector guns but they are all I have for now.
m14brian

[Phil McGrath]

Ahhhhh, I didn't see the TRP on the slide. Never the less I was/ have been under the impression that TRP came with Novak sights and Operator came with a rail and LPA rear sight and were separate pistols so now I'm confused as well. I know there is a Long Beach SO and a Marine Corp Operator but there could be 1 or 2 more Operator versions.......

I'm no expert on 1911's, just a fan of SAI offerings. I do have my own slow going 1911 bullseye project that someday will get finished.

[m14brian]

Yeah, I'm not sure about everything on these models, even though I'm a big fan of SAI 1911s too.
I know for a fact the Professional is only offered with only Novak sights, but there is also a railed version. That is the only difference, it is basically offered only the way it is, take it or leave it. I chose the regular version because I didn't need the rail and had the others. But the difference between the regular TRP and the Professional is night and day.
m14brian

[Phil McGrath]

This was back in Sep of last year, I have run 1500rds to date with 2 steel plate matches thrown in it has run flawless during this time. I have cut back on the oil just two drops per rail, one on the barrels lug/hood, one on top of the disco and the last drop for the barrel bushing. The plan is too use/make this 1911 into a CMP legal Hardball Bullseye Service Pistol where the rules are pretty strict about outside modifications too the pistol. Slowly but surely I'm getting closer too where I want it too be, I should have taken before pic's when it was a real mess. The original slide is salvageable if I mount a sight rib and use it for a wad gun upper with or without some type of red dot on top.

My 1911 Adventure......

Before, My move from AZ to the PNW, I scored a SA SS 1911a1 for a song from its prior owner. He knew I played with 1911's and when he said he was moving up and upgrading to a newer pistol, too make him a offer. Not having a lot of dough and not really looking for another project I threw out a ridicules lowball thinking he would move on. Too my surprise he took it, and I was out $300. bucks!

Now I was stuck, when he gave it too me I was disappointed, it was in baggies and a box. The slide had been machined for what looked like a BOMAR, at the time it was wearing a Briley slide racker, with some crazy scope mount thing. At the time it was doing duty as a bowling pin blaster. Other than the slide nothing looked altered that couldn't be replaced or fixed. As they say, it was going too take some work but it had good bones from what I could see. The slide was the big Question? I was hoping that I dodged a bullet........... I didn't, the machine work for the BOMAR's hidden leaf was junk. I suspected it wasn't right but didn't know for sure until I got a BOMAR. That's the reason why I think it was turned into a Bowling Pin Blaster.

Anyway here is the breakdown cost/parts.
SAI SS 1911a1 1992 vintage. $300.00
Kings solid trigger, 20.00
Flat SS screws, 5.00
Rosewood full checkered grips, 10.00
Checkered Mag release, 20.00
SS checkered MSH, 20.00
Colt SS safety, 20.00
Colt spur hammer, 20.00
Colt SS grip safety, 20.00
EGW NM 7267718 bushing 25.00
NM links, 5.00
Swaging tool, 20.00
BOMAR rear sight, 60.00

This gave me a total of $545.00 invested. After digging in my box of junk and take off parts that I was never going too use, they sold in less than 15min so I got back $90.00. I then found a SAI take off slide for $150.00 with extractor, so my out of pocket was $60.00 I snagged it before the deal vaporized into thin air! So now the new grand total is $605.00 invested. With fingers crossed, the hope was that it would fit and not be super sloppy, or so tight, if it would start on at all.

Yesterday the slide came in the mail, I ripped the box open and there it was....... In all its glory........... After a quick blast with some brake cleaner, scrubbing the rails with a brush. I then stripped my slide off and this New too me slide started on. First inch was super snug and stayed snug and stopped about half way, I pulled it off and added a pile of CLP and started over again, each time it would go deeper and deeper, a silent prayer to the Saint of 1911's JMB and I can now say he has smiled on ME. Now it was on all the way with a little sticky spot, no lapping compound used! After rack, rack, rack, clack, clack, clack about 10,000 times the sticky spot is gone. The slide, slide's like two pains of glass with oil in the middle. The feeling is very solid with Zero rock up or down side too side. I believe the saying is hard fit, and its every bit as tight as any Les Baer!

Now for the guy's that are worried that its too tight don't, I feel tight is good on a target pistol, tight is also good on a carry gun as long as it works! My thinking is if the crud can't get in the crud can't foul it up. This is going too be a range toy and will eventually be turned into a CMP/NRA hardball gun when the funds build up again, not a carry pistol. After some rounds down range it will loosen up a little bit anyway so I'm not worried. If it chokes no big deal it still a range toy.

[m14brian]

That's a sweet 1911, can't beat the price. Tight is Ok on a good gun, even out here in the desert with sand blowing I haven't had trouble with the tight ones yet.
m14brian

[1563621]

This one is a Custom Colt 38 super. Have about 4-5K thru it & never a hiccup!http://s227.photobucket.com/user/156...w/colt%20super

[m14brian]

Nice 1911! .38 Super is awesome.
m14brian

[m14brian]

I shoot it in the basement.

I wish I could do that!
m14brian

[m14brian]

(We don't have a basement).
m14brian

[TonyBen]

Here's a new-to-me 1990-stamped P226, refinished by Cummings Custom Refinishing. Courtesy of WesHowe...



Tony.

[leadbug]

Very nice handguns here! Phil, you have an awesome gun there, but your knowledge allowed you to take advantage of it. I find the 1911 to be what I want to be able to put together like that. I promise I will put up some images.