I picked up my brand new Springfield Armory Stainless Mil-Spec Model 1911-A1 today though...and it has a key lock.

VERY unobtrusive though...just a tiny hole on the rear of the gun, on the mainspring housing. Easy to get rid of if I wanted to, but I'm going to shoot the gun a bit in stock configuration just to see how it feels.

This is my second 1911...it will be keeping my Series 80 Colt Combat Commander company in the safe. I must say, the fit and finish of this new stainless Springfield is awesome...very comparable to my Colt, which I consider the Cadillac of 1911's.

The Mil-Spec has better sights than the Colt...three-dot, which I like. Also, it comes with a lowered and flared ejection port, beveled magazine well, throated stainless barrel and polished feed ramp.

Best of all was the price...I traded some welding and fabrication work for it...labor and materials.

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'Merica!

Very nice!! My brother has a basic GI model, which is OK, but the Mil-Spec will be my choice when the time comes. Stainless is even better. Congrats and let us know how it shoots. Pics would be really cool too. Enjoy!

Thanks jcall!

My friend and fellow forum member zercool has the Springfield G.I. 45. I respect his gun knowledge and consulted with him before ordering this gun. He really likes his G.I. model. I considered the G.I. but I wanted a few "bells and whistles"...mainly the better sights. My Colt Combat Commander has the basic, plain-jane military sights. I wanted my next .45 to be a little fancier...

There's a lot of things that the Mil-Spec doesn't have, but I think it's got pretty much everything I need. I'm happy...can't wait to try it out.

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'Merica!

My plain jane GI from Springfield Armory is one of my favorite .45's. It runs flawlessly and is as accurate, if not more so, than my Series 70 Colt. As for the safety lock, a short scrounge through my parts stash for a new mainspring housing and mainspring, 5 minutes at the work bench, and the lock somehow, mysteriously even, disappeared. Enjoy your new purchase and you made a very wise choice.

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Have Canon, Will Travel

You will be very happy with your Springfield, I have not had one problem with mine.

I got a stainless mil-spec some years back. Although I cut my teeth on a real GI DCM pistol in my teens, I got this with a "finders fee" for a rare book that Paladin republished.

The only issue I had with the SA was a low front sight. I replaced it with a dovetailed higher one and it is an excellent gun. Everyone who shoots it does well with it and it functions like a good 1911 should.

My daughter couldn't wait to inherit mine so got herself a blued one.

Gordy,

The nice thing about the Springfield lock is that it is easily replaceable with a standard mainspring housing. You'll need a new mainspring and hammer strut receiver retaining pin (there is no pin on the Springfield lock) as well. The shorter mainspring used with their lock adds 1-2 pounds to the trigger pull. That may or may not be important to you, but it's an easy fix if you choose.


Buck

Edit: Been a while since I looked at the lock assembly - you'll also need a standard hammer strut receiver since the lock version is longer... therefore the shorter mainspring... Duh

Hi Buck...yes, I'm probably going to do this eventually...thanks for the specifics. I was wondering what else I'd need besides the new mainspring housing. Not sure what kind of mainspring housing to get...I'm thinking maybe a flat, checkered stainless one of good quality (Wilson, Ed Brown or the like). I had a reliability/performance tune done on my Combat Commander a few years back. I told the 'smith that I wanted a flat mainspring housing installed. He talked me out of it because he said I had a "big mitt". I trusted his advice then, and still do...but I'd still like to try a flat mainspring housing.

I'm basically a "purist" when it comes to certain things...such as classic designs (S&W revolvers, 1911 pistols) being modified to be more "politically correct" for the times. "The lock" bothers me more on the S&W revolvers than it does this Springfield...it's more obvious, ruining the classic look of a fine S&W...also, on the Springfield, it can be removed without a trace...smart marketing in my book.

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'Merica!

Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster