Posted: 2/2/2005 3:11:59 PM EDT
|
here's what i'm thinking. my dad was broke and sold his smith sigma series (his only pistol) to buy my mom something she always wanted for christmas. nice gesture-EXCEPT HE SOLD HIS ONLY PIECE! what a dumbass-anyway it's going to be his 50th b-day in august. he's always wanted a stainless 1911 and i thought about scoring him one for his b-day. now i don't have that kind of money so i'm going to get various members of the family to throw in. he has always liked para ord. but i don't know if i can come up with that kind of dough, but i want it to be a classy and nice brand spankin' new gun that he can be the first to fire. if i bought a springfield mil spec, what could i do as far as parts wise (like aftermarket trigger, etc.) to put it in a para ord. range? i'm not questioning the quality of the springfield as i'm sure they fine pistols-i just want to do a little extra. thanks for any info i get. jake 
|
+1 On your question, the mil-spec will probably be built every bit as well as the Para Ord. You will not be able to convert it to a double stack. If you want a wide safety, and a beavertail, you could spend as little as 50 for both and as much as you want to spend. A kings #203 beavertail grip safety will fit without having to swap out the spur hammer. But honestly if you go that route, just leave it alone and let him customize it as he see's fit. |
|
Merely getting him the 1911 in the first place is great, a nice BD gift! I wouldn't worry too much about any modifications at this point, the costs will add up quickly! Plus, it may be quite shootable as is and he may or may not decide to change things to his liking. Perhaps some ammo or spare mags, rather than aftermarket goodies would be a bit more practical? Some of these parts need to be fitted, ammo and quality spare mags do not.  Hope you don't mind my random ideas. 
|
I owned a Springfield mil-spec in stainless and I liked it. The finish on it is better than what you see on their website. It's actually a really nice finish. As far as customizing it, I wouldn't. Every guy likes different things so customizing should be a personal choice. MY dad and I have such different tastes in what we like about guns that when my mom asks what she should get hime for his birthday or Christmas, I say "Beats the hell out of me." Maybe try and get a gift certificate to a parts place or gunsmith. Plus, I advocate shooting the gun before you customize anything because there might be some sort of malfunctions occuring with the piece that would have to be fixed before buying new sites, beaver tail, or whatever. Would suck to buy your dad a customized 1911 that doesn't work.
|
i know my old man well enough that if i wanna call him a dumbass i will-and if he wants to call me a dumbass he will and does. i'm not mad at him-it's not a lack of respect-it's just how we are-we do that and usually with a smile on our faces. that being said-it's probably a good point to leave it alone for malfunction purposes. it's just that i don't know all that much about pistols mechanically-especially 1911's-hell i'm still learning about ar15's. i only have an XD 40 and a couple of .22 revolvers for pistols, and i know him-he'll get this one and not do anything to it, but always want to. i'll re-word my question. what kind of purposeful, home defense type mods might a guy like to do? i'm sorry for my ignorance, but what exactly is a "beavertail". told you i don't know much. jake
|
| If you are looking to upgrade a Stainless Mil-Spec, perhaps you should consider a stainless Springfield "Loaded" model like the PX9151. |
He's ALWAYS wanted a 1911-he just didn't have the moolah for it. i know he'll be happy with it. when he was a trucker he always took his sigma with him and now that all of the kids have left the nest-it's nothing for him and mom to take off for the weekend camping or something and he told me he feels vulnerable without a piece with him. jake
|