Local gun shop South Hills of Pittsburgh, I got a pre-owned, never-been-shot SDS Tisas full size 1911. They've been getting good reviews, so I went looking for a new one. They're only about $425 or so. I got this one, clean as a whistle, a box of .45FMJ, a lifetime warranty with the shop for $30, transfer & taxes for just over $450 OTD. I'm really happy, except now It's gonna be too cold to shoot it. Sorry no pics. Blame it on this computer, as it does not play well with this Forum. These guys are straight up honest, and the guy who owned it is friends with one of the crew and he told me the specifics. It's just a 1911, plain Jane, no billboards on the slide. So I saved about $100+ on the price.

Not all guns have to be a Colt or S&W.

I've got a few mules in my stable of thoroughbreds. They all get along just fine.

A 1911 doesn't have to be a Colt to be good. I have understood the Chinese copies sold here over 20 years ago very cheaply were of excellent quality.

The Norincos were so good many custom smiths would use them as the base for a build.

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SWCA 3417 HF 642 NRA-TC

My Dad always said the best dog is a mutt.

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I told you not to use Lifebuoy

I've owned a few Nornicos and never had any issues, but years ago I contacted Novaks about doing some custom work on one. They told me at the time that the wouldn't do any custom work on Norinco 1911's due to the poor quality of them. I don't know if they changed their minds with time or not. I no longer have one, but I should give them a call and ask.

That's a really good price for a 1911. I have no experience with the brand but have heard good things about them.

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Rather be outdoors

thanks for the info. appreciate it...

I bought a Tisas 1911 about a month and a half ago. I've been entirely pleased with it.

At this point, I'm not sure that it's really worth buying a mid-tier 1911. The cheap guns like the Tisas have gotten really good; so much so that I'm not really sure that there's a perceptible difference between that and, say, a Ruger or S&W 1911. If you go up to a Nighthawk or an Ed Brown ... then yes, there's a difference. But you gotta decide if that little bit of difference is worth the $2,500+ price difference.

Mike

The issue of quality with the Norinco 1911's was the hardness of the steel. Turns out, Norinco 1911's will quickly dull the cutters, which means replacing the cutters more often and that drives up costs.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

I've heard lots of good things about the RIA 1911s. Can remember when they sold new for around $350, but that was 10 - 12 years ago. Now they are going $450 used, same as the Tisas. Anyone have any input on the RIAs?

John

I haven't owned an RIA but I've shot several.

They seem to be solid performers as well. Again, I'm not sure that it would be fair to compare them to a high-end 1911, but they've done a solid job of making a decent quality 1911 accessible to the masses. Some thing that impressed me with the RIA was the consistency between guns. I perceived no meaningful variability between the three or four that I shot.

Whatever they're doing, they're doing it in a very consistent and repeatable way. There's a lot to be said for that.

Mike

I built up a 1911 from a Norinco that my bride gave me as a surprise gift, replaced all the internals and had a 'smith lower and flare the port and install Bomars. Great shooter and the 'smith told me the same thing about the hardness of the metal and replacing cutters.

And as a follow up regarding RIA....
I bought a RIA M1911 A1 MS TACT2 9mm a few years ago. When I got it home, on close inspection, the front sight was loose and the grip bushings were stripped. Sent it back, new gun arrived quickly. Shot it for years. Recently had failures to eject, stove pipes and jams. Discovered that the extractor was fractured on the lower edge and the ejector tip was fractured as well. MIM parts. Currently it's back with Armscor for warranty.
They have a great reputation for customer support, so we'll see. It's been a great shooter so I'm optimistic about their support.

A while back I posted that I'd like to get a nice ($1000-1900 range) 1911, then after seeing the SDS Tisas popping up here & there, few if any complaints, I thought what the heck? Give one a try. I had a ATI 1911 full size that shot great, and a few years back I ended up giving that to my son. I could not pass this deal up. I'm not a competitive shooter, just want a nice 1911. We'll see how this does. I think I may have saved $1200-1500. When all the parts are made as original on a 1911 you can't go wrong.
Peace!

The AK-47 of 1911s.

I have a full size RIA Tactical 9mm, and RIA .40 Tactical II, Commander. No problems whatsoever. Bob

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I have had both a 9mm Compact and a 45 compact RIA, and they were both good guns. I personally think the steel used in the frame and slide is a trifle softer than Springfield or Colt steel and I did get a little battering when using heavier loads. Otherwise were very accurate and reliable.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I have an RIA 1911 in 10mm. Good gun so far (about 1000 rounds). I also have one of their .22tcm/9mm 1911s. Good with 9mm the .22tcms often get stuck in the barrel after firing. I tried a polish of the chamber but still have the issue. Not sure if the barrel or the ammo.

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Jim
Many K and N Frames

Back to the original subject ...I looked at the SDS website . They have some really nice looking pistols and the MSRP isn't out of sight . A lot of cool shotguns too .

Pictures, I need to see some pictures. I'm about to pull the trigger (so to speak) on a Tisas 1911 myself and am torn between the USGI clone or the Commander clone.

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Live long and prosper

We’re you shopping in Presto?


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I have one, an older model. Love it, it's a great gun and I picked it up for $400. Runs like a sewing machine and plenty accurate. I'd like to get my hands on a 9mm tactical RIA.

I just ordered one of the 1911A1 US Army models because of the price and the good reviews. Will be right at $400 OTD after transfer.

I also have an RIA 1911 in 9mm & .22 TCM that I enjoy shooting. Basically zero recoil in .22 TCM (but a big fireball) and very little in 9mm. The RIAs are good guns, too, but as has been stated they have increased in price over the last few years.

Rob

Y'all know me, I'm a 1911 addict. Mostly Colts, Springfields and name brand makers. But I can appreciate the bargain brands as well.
I was at a gunshow today and noticed several of the Tisas 1911s for sale. Generally right about $500 NIB. They appear to be well made and I was kinda tempted.

I recently bought my 3rd Rock Island. I got the first one about 5-6 years ago. A used G.I. style .38 Super. That was a troublesome jam-o-matic. But with a bit of tweaking turned into a fine and reliable shooter.
Last year I picked up a Tac II in 9mm. My only 1911 in that caliber. Good shooter and runs like a top.
And just a couple of weeks ago, I bought a LNIB G.I. .45acp. Just couldn't pass it up at $350. It appears to be well made.
Haven't gotten around to shooting it yet, but I'm looking forward to it.

Some years ago I bought a used Norinco 1911. And yes, they are noted for being made of very hard steel. The rumor was that the Chinese made them from recycled railroad track.
Many were turned into some really great custom pistols. They were quite popular and often bought just as a base gun for custom work.
As issued from the factory, they aren't the prettiest girl at the dance, but she can most definitely dance with the best of 'em.
I considered customizing mine. But realized that finding one in original condition is actually kinda rare. So I opted to leave it as it came from the factory.

Sure, you can spend a small fortune on a fine 1911. But the fact is that the design is so good that if you just follow the original specs, even cheap ones will perform like a champ.

"Were you shopping in Presto?" I was in Bethel Park down Library Road. Allegheny Arms. Great store and Josh is a great gunsmith, but, according to another Forum member he's a little backed up with other things and not doing any smithing, but it's worth a call to see for sure. He did a real nice job on a Uberti SAA clone I used to own, and he's the Beretta guru around here and this side of the Pacific from what I hear! All good people down there and I've never heard one negative thing about the shop.
Pictures? Gosh I wish I could post some. My other Apple has no problem, but for some reason this newer one can't do it. When I choose a picture and try to do that thing in the upper left corner of the screen, those numbers & letters under the pic change to something else and it says it doesn't recognize it. I'll try right now & see.
No good. In my pictures, the one I chose to upload has a completely different number that ends in HEIC than the number that shows up and I get "invalid file." Upload Error.
Also, I can't swap photos from one computer to the other. Woe is me!!!

When Tisas first came out I bought the plain GI model for around $350. Not a minutes problem and shot better as good as most can shoot a Colt. A while later I bought the Stainless Duty Model with Novak sights etc. it was around $450. (Prices are up since then) The extractor on the stainless was a little tight and took about 50 rounds to run 100%. Since then it has over 2k rounds and still going strong. Runs everything i put in it from Ball to Lead SWC’s. Right now I have a light spring installed and have been shooting 185gr LSWC loaded very light (3.2gr Bullseye). Runs like **** through a goose. I wouldn’t swap either for 2 Rock Islands. I’ve seen good RI’s and bad ones. In out shooting group there is 6-8 Tisas and all run great and shoot more accurate than most of the shooters. I’ll vote it one of the best gun bargains I’ve found in the last 20 years.