Posted: 3/27/2007 7:02:34 PM EDT
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I'm finally at a point in my life, financially, that I want to do something special for my father. He was an Army MP and in the Honor Guard so he carried a 1911 regularly. He's not a big gun nut (though his son is). But he regularly talks about how much he loved his service pistol... but he is so unselfish he would never buy one for himself. He still has his S&W .357 from his LEO days but he never really enjoyed this department required gun, in fact he tries to give it to me every time I go home but I refuse, telling him he needs to have a pistol in the house to defend my Mama! Anyway... I really want to get him a 1911 as close to what a G.I. would carry in the mid 60's. I don't know shit about 1911's and figured you guys could help a brother out. Any info would be greatly appreciated. $$ is no object |
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Colt is making a nice retro 1911. I suggest Colt and only Colt for this purchase as that is the one your father would recognize and appreciate. The horsey says its the genuine article. Some of the knockoffs are decent guns to be sure, but they are not a real Colt. |
Those Colt repros are ~$1000  See if you can get your hands on a decent 1991A1 - check EE |
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You are a fine individual Here some info: Colt reproduction link |
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Of all the Companies making 1911s and A1 USGI pistols, only Colt is still making them. SA {Springfield Armory} is a newer company that took over [began using] the name of the old GI one basically. I guess the question is "How much do you want to spend" then we can talk about what you might buy. |
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WWI was designated as the 1911, WWII was designated as M1911A1 cahnges were made in the 1920s I beleive ( someone correct me if Im wrong), among a few other things the WWI has a straight mainspring housing and WWII has an arched housing, Im not 100 percent sure of the few other changes. EDIT also a cutout of the frame ,just rear of the trigger |
No, they are new guns in the A1 configureation. Colt can call them a reissue as they were an original manufacturer of the origionals. Much like they have reissued black powder revolvers, and single action army revolvers over the last 20 years. Its their design so every now and then they reissue a nostalgia version. As a reference, the military bought no new 1911s after 1945. They simply kept refurbishing the ones already in service. |
Now that is frickin cool!! |
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They are no longer being made, Colt finished their run several years ago so you'll have to look around to find one. Check the gun auction/for sale sights to find one. The WW1 reissues are still around, In fact I know where a shop has one for sale right now. $995.00. If you want a real one, PLEASE do your homework or you will end up getting screwed. Lots of shysters out there selling "original" ones right now. |
| The alternative would be the series 70 reissue that they currently show in their catalog. I agree the 1991 would be a cost concious alternative. I have a late 90s parkerized version and it is my regular carry pistol. It is updated mechanically, but looks substantially like the milspec version with a few small updates. |
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Oh, and I hate you..................been looking for one in my area for a while. |
Done and Done... bought a NIB WWII Reissue via gunbroker. Thanks again guys!! I can't wait to see the look on his face  I'll mark this topic and when I give it to him on April 16th I'll be sure to take pictures and post them here. 
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But then again, there was a pretty fair chance it wouldn't have been a Colt either. Unless he's a real gun buff, either would probably thrill him no end. |