Years ago my first 1911 was an RIA that wouldn't run, and after 50 rounds, the sear literally crumbled into dust. It never ran right despite the internals being replaced by high-end components.





After that, I bought a Springfield GI model. It was ok, but still wouldn't get through 100rds without choking. I sent it back to SA for warranty work on the reliability and a Black-T finish. It came back looking badass but the finish was so thick, the gun wouldn't cycle properly, the slide often slowing down to a crawl after firing, only to return completely to battery after about a second or so. Absolute BULLSHIT.





I also bought a Stainless TRP that was very accurate but expensive and still not 100% reliable, although it had a better record than the GI. It was also very picky about ammo.





So when I saw a used Norinco at the local shop, I hesitated. I had heard about their reputation, and after a few hours thought, decided to grab it. It was a little beaten up, had a HUUUUGE idiot mark on the side, but seemed clean and relatively unused. It had slick plastic grips, which I have recently replaced with walnut. The sights are small but taller than GIs, and have white dots painted on as well.





I've put a few hundred rounds through it to date, and can't believe how well it runs. It will feed ANYTHING. From ANY magazine. I have a mixture of Mec-Gar, Metalform, WC, Cobra, and plain old USGI 7rd mags. It chews through them no problem at all. It fired a box of Wolf 230gr ball without hesitation, no slide drag, no "bump into battery" taps needed, just BANG BANG BANG BANG, over and over again. This was after several range sessions without cleaning, mind you.





I've handled a few Norcs at gun shows since buying mine, and they all seem to be made well and have nice, smooth actions. It's amazing what cheap Chinese labor can accomplish, isn't it? If you find one, my advice is to jump on it. They're usually found for well under $500. I have heard that lots of people use them for builds, but from what I've seen and read, they are fine pistols on their own.
















































 

Norcs are AWESOME!! I had one, sold it (like a dumb***), miss it everyday. Shot better than my Dad's Wilson CQB once I custom rebuilt it. Wanna sell yours??

Here is a pic of my old one:

I wish I could go back in time and give my younger self a beating for selling a few of the guns I wish I still had.



NEVER!



*WHACK*



EVER!



*WHACK*



SELL



*WHACK*



GUNS!



*WHACK WHACK WHACK*



 

one of my best guns is a model 54-1 9mm lug  a tt33 knock off kind of .love all norco pre ban stuff.

I'm susprised you had so many issues with the springfields. Anyway as long as you are happy with the new purchase then you are good. I haven't shot a Norinco before so I can't comment on them. I will say though both my colt 1911's(a commander in 45 and delta elite in 10mm) and my kimber with its aluminium frame run 100%. Only time I've even had any issues with them is when it was comming time to replace the main spring. New spring installed and the run great again.

Nice looking 1911.............

Oh hell yeah.

When I think back on all of the guns I traded in or sold when I was young and more stupid I Gibbs smack myself.

I would never own a 1911 that said "Made in China".  Maybe some other firearms, but not a 1911, that just seems wrong.

...but Brazil, Argentina, Norway, the Phillipines, Pakistan, and Israel are O.K.?  Just checking....

I used to feel exactly the same way for over 5 years after I purchased my Norinco 1911 NIB for $380 out the door. 5 long years I wondered why did I buy this.  Then I watched and noticed how many other USA manufacturers had parts made in other parts of the world, and realized there were no 'decent' (no MIM, totally reliable, etc..) 1911's MADE (completely, every part mfgr'd) IN USA  for less than around 1K out the door.  Oh yeah AMT tried.. Forgot about that..

Regardless, here is my original post below on my NORC 1911. I own many 1911s including SA, SW, Colt and some mixed muts, and honestly for an out of the box gun under $400, the quality, reliability, and accuracy of this (YES) chinese copy, can kick the ass of many 1911 in stock form of GI styled, for almost twice the price.. ( I have shot a lot of differnent models, not just my own) Never would have expected it, and had a hard time believing it, but it's a damn great 1911 A1.

My orig Norinco review on this forum

Since posting my original review, I totally stripped and cleaned it and took it out a couple more times with CM, Wilson, SA, and even some unknown mags, and many types of ammo including hollowpoints, +P, etc. I haven't been able to create an FTF or FTE with any mag or ammo combo. This gun has more than acceptable combat/defensive accuracy, and reliabilty that is unmatched for the price and style. I wish it said made in USA, but that's our problem I guess.. I do not carry a 1911, but if I did, I wouldn't hesitate to carry this.. Seriuosly, nothing like it for the money even at twice the price.

Well let's see one of the US companies step up and build a better one for the same price. I guess they're just not embarrassed enough yet. Let's face it, building a 1911 properly takes a lot of time and man-hours. China has the manpower and cheap labor to make it happen.



 

RIA makes a damn good 1911 in a GI style you can pick up for a little over 400.  The fit and machine quality if good for a 400 pistol.

No doubt about that, but it's not the 'branded' "Made In USA" some believe is the only way to go. I had an RIA GI standard parkerized some years back, and sold it soley because I needed money, and I also had this Norinco. The RIA was also a nice gun as you stated, but I had some mag/ammo feed issues with some HP's. Not a major issue, but I sold it to a guy who only shoots fmj, and he's a happy camper. Works pefectly for him. If you can't get a Norinco, the RIA is an affordable alternative for sure

At the time I also had a SA Mil Spec in stainless that wore the grips you see in the pics below. The frame from the SA said "Made in Brazil" Well, that's not China, but it's not USA either. The gun also had some feeding issues with certain mags and ammo, so I used the frame for a long slide project, and sold the top end. Nice range gun project.  Not bashing SA (still own a couple others) but just sayin for $650 it was not as reliable as it should have been. And certainly not as reliable as the 1/2 priced Norinco I still had not shot at that time.

- My point is back to the Norinco in the pics below taken just today, because of this thread. Maybe not made in USA, but served me better than the SA that used to be wearing those grips. Approx 500 rounds though it, and the only mod is those SA grips. The Norinco is not so much better than anything else, but for the money it's a real steel gun built to last, reliable and accurate without the frills that cost so much from other manufacturers.  

Here's that Norinco porn I took today.. Looks better than when I bought it 5 years ago actually...





Barrel is hardchromed, and shows no signs of wear at all(chamber as well) after 500 or so rounds.. Hard core for sure!




Nice fit for a mil spec copy...


Damn nice 1911 A1!