Rock Island 1911, pawn shop pickings.....

[canoeguy]

I continue to comb through the last of my favorite pawn shop "Going Out Of Business Sale" offerings. Pawn shop guy is retiring, everything must go.

He had this Rock Island 1911 for some time, with a scary price tag of $600. As his stock dwindled, the Rock Island remained, went by yesterday and looked at it, he would not let me leave without it.....

We agreed on a price, not cheap as chips, but close. Happy buyer, happy seller. Took the 1911 home and shot it, was very pleased with the result. Started out at 15 yards shooting a 8" swinging steel, then started backing up to see how far back I could go until I started missing. Got to 40 yards and was still hitting, can't go wrong with that! Likes my cast lead hand load to, so she will be cheap to feed.

Has a lot of nice features, ambidextrous safety, full length guide rod, nice trigger. If you see one cheap at the pawn shop, don't be afraid to pick one up....

[max]

I bought one in 9mm a couple of years ago and have had no problems at all with it. It is accurate and reliable.

[Texas Star]

Is that a Novak rear sight?

I'm glad you got a good price. Pawn shops usually mark merchandise at far more than fair value.

[CH4]

Buy as many RIAs as you like, we’ll make more!

[Gene L]

Very good pistols. And good CS.

[Pisgah]

RIA's are just about the best bargain in the 1911 world.

[Collo Rosso]

Originally Posted by Pisgah

RIA's are just about the best bargain in the 1911 world.

Not as cheap as they used to be as their prices have crept up, but still a very good 1911 for the money.

[JohnRippert]

I bought one many years ago and made it the host for my Marvel .22 upper. I decided a year or so ago to fix the tiny GI sights and had Heinie put a set of their Slant Pros on it. I installed a fitted bushing and set it up for the dual spring recoil system the M45A1's use. Finally, I trimmed the hammer about a eighth inch to get rid of the bite I was getting. Great pistol.

[stu1ritter]

My gunsmith was really surprised at the accuracy of the pin locations on my RIA 1911 Target when he did some trigger work. He was very leary while we talked about it but when he started working on it he changed his tune. Gave me back a really nice glass rod break trigger. It also made a wonderful receiver for a NightHawk .22 Marvel conversion which was a real tack driver.

Stu

[Targets Guy]

Love mine.

[Wee Hooker]

When I worked in the shop last year, we were selling a fair amount of these. I took home a couple myself as the price was rediculous. I have to say that every one we got through had a good trigger and a tight slide to frame fit. ( i.e. They did not rattle like the Colts in the case.) We also never got one back for any type of failure. Customers (me included) all liked them. I did not (and still would not) hesitate to recommend the RI 1911's as good shooters and a great value.

[ancient-one]

I bought one in 9mm. Really a good gun.

[HOUSTON RICK]

Rock Island maybe the best 1911 for the price.

[SPEEDGUNNER]

Originally Posted by Pisgah

RIA's are just about the best bargain in the 1911 world.

^^^THIS^^^

[LVSteve]

Originally Posted by Texas Star

Is that a Novak rear sight?

I'm glad you got a good price. Pawn shops usually mark merchandise at far more than fair value.

IIRC their top end models come with the better, Novak style, sights. Can't recall if those grips are standard, but they look good.

[glenncal1]

I have two, one in 10mm (pictured below) and one combo .22tcm/9mm. Both good guns. The .22tcm has problems with cases sticking in the chamber. The 10mm is a lot of fun to shoot.

[deanodog]

I have the full size and the officer size. Very satisfied and never had a single problem.

[galena]

I am also a RIA 1911 fan. I have three, a full size .40SW, a Commander size .40SW, a full size 9mm and a Compact size 9mm marketed by Legacy Arms. Never any problem with any of them. Best deal for the price.

[CH4]

Thanks folks, it’s always nice to hear all the positive feedback. We work hard in Marikina to provide a quality 1911 at a fair price.

[CH4]

Originally Posted by glenncal1

I have two, one in 10mm (pictured below) and one combo .22tcm/9mm. Both good guns. The .22tcm has problems with cases sticking in the chamber. The 10mm is a lot of fun to shoot.

Give our CS a call, we’ll make it right.

[Exchipy]

Even that pawn shop bargain RIA 1911 is covered by the lifetime warranty.

[Troystat]

Looks like you scored. Regarding RIA 1911's a very good bulleye smith I know has built quite a few extremely accurate 1911's on RIA frames and Slides.

[Mike, SC Hunter]

I bought one this year in 10mm...... And its been fantastic!

[Loyaljeeper]

Yeah, my 10mm Ultra is an amazing piece.

[Protected One]

I went to a gun show two years ago, specifically for the purpose of buying a RIA 1911 (Commander or Officers). As I walked the show looking in cases I saw what I was looking for.....and right next to it was this ATI Titan (Officers model). I'm told it is made on the same equipment as the RIA. The RIA had standard front and rear sights where as the ATI had a dove tailed front sight and novak rear sight as well as more attractive grips....and it was $90 less expensive.

I couldn't help but purchase it instead, and after replacing the factory recoil spring assembly with a Kimber it is reliable and VERY accurate.

[pasound]

I love my RIA standard. Very tight, near-custom fitting and accurate with anything I put through it.

[stansdds]

Originally Posted by Protected One

I went to a gun show two years ago, specifically for the purpose of buying a RIA 1911 (Commander or Officers). As I walked the show looking in cases I saw what I was looking for.....and right next to it was this ATI Titan (Officers model). I'm told it is made on the same equipment as the RIA. The RIA had standard front and rear sights where as the ATI had a dove tailed front sight and novak rear sight as well as more attractive grips....and it was $90 less expensive.

I couldn't help but purchase it instead, and after replacing the factory recoil spring assembly with a Kimber it is reliable and VERY accurate.

Several years ago, when ATI was the newest kid in the 1911 market, I saw several. I'm regretting not getting a commander size ATI back then when they offered them with a nickel finish.

[Old Corp]

Among my accumulated M1911's are a Charles Daly, kind of a 'better finish' RIA in .45. Bought it used as a woods-beater with fairly low expectations.
Was almost miffed that it operated just as well, with equal accuracy to my Colt Series 70. And it came with a Wilson mag, and that's all I use anyway.

The other is a RIA Gov't Model basic in .38 Super. It came from a local LGS that was trashed and flooded in last year's Hurricane Dorian.
Handguns in all the counters were submerged for 3 days.
LGS owner had some retired military armorers do their best to clean all guns, do an oil-soak, and place them out for discount sale to help save the business.
The RIA .38 Super has exceeded all expectations. Fully supported chamber, so with judicial handloading it can be loaded to very close to .357 performance.
Sent the slide to Novak for better carry sights - white dot front, slightly wider rear notch. Shoots to exact POA.
Installed VZ grips that look identical to wood GI's, but much more tactile. (Not a fan of the usually-seen RIA smooth mystery jungle-wood grips)

All in all, can't say anything but good about RIA M1911's.

[AZ Buckshot Bill]

Originally Posted by Pisgah

RIA's are just about the best bargain in the 1911 world.

I'd agree 100% with this statement. Y'all won't be sorry if you get one!
Buckshot Bill

[pasound]

I hope all of us RIA owners don't drive the prices up. I want a RIA Commander. After all this covid craziness is over, I'm going back to my LGS to hope the Commander they had a couple of months go is still there.

[ladder13]

Originally Posted by CH4

Thanks folks, it’s always nice to hear all the positive feedback. We work hard in Marikina to provide a quality 1911 at a fair price.

How about an Ultra CS-L in 10mm?

[CH4]

Originally Posted by ladder13

How about an Ultra CS-L in 10mm?

Or a 310

[Chukar60]

Originally Posted by Protected One

I went to a gun show two years ago, specifically for the purpose of buying a RIA 1911 (Commander or Officers). As I walked the show looking in cases I saw what I was looking for.....and right next to it was this ATI Titan (Officers model). I'm told it is made on the same equipment as the RIA. The RIA had standard front and rear sights where as the ATI had a dove tailed front sight and novak rear sight as well as more attractive grips....and it was $90 less expensive.

I couldn't help but purchase it instead, and after replacing the factory recoil spring assembly with a Kimber it is reliable and VERY accurate.

Years ago my favorite LGS conned me into buying a Metro Arms commander sized 1911. It was a wonderful gun. Pretty good trigger, very tight slide to frame fit and accurate.
It fell victim to my developed hatred of looking for brass.
Times have changed and I am warming up to semi autos again.
Thanks to all the glowing comments here I will look into the RIA or ATI in a commander sized gun if the 1911 bug bites me again.

[pawngal]

The RIA are the only 1911's that I keep in stock new. All my customers have been very pleased with them.

[scoobysnacker]

Originally Posted by Exchipy

Even that pawn shop bargain RIA 1911 is covered by the lifetime warranty.

Yep, and that extends to any Armscor 1911...

I picked up a High Standard (Armscor, not Houston) used for cheap. Sent the info to Armscor just to date it, and they replied with the date- and assured me it was covered under warranty if need be.

[Farmer17]

I've owned Colt, Kimber, and Springfield Armory and they were all excellent guns that were accurate and reliable and my Rock Island Government Model .45 was also. My Springfield Mil Spec has a pretty stiff slide release so my RI was actually better than the Springfield in that department. The Kimber had a perfect trigger and the Colt was right behind it but the RI and Springer have pretty good triggers that are easily tuned if desired.