Para makes a decent, respectable 1911 at a reasonable price. So much so that Remington and other companies that never manufactured 1911s before are now producing an American made, basic, respectable 1911.
There's the key ... AMERICAN MADE. Short of very few exceptions ... if it isn't' made in the USA, it can't be a REAL 1911. ( I make an exception for anything produced by Sig or HK).
Up until about 20 years ago the average 1911 were much more affordable to people with median income, both new and used. Now few companies make a nice, solid 1911 at a reasonable price. Then Norinco imported economy 1911s which, till this day, I have not tried. I think it was going for a whopping $300 back then. I'm of the mind if it isn't made in the USA (with very few exceptions) it CAN'T really be a 1911.
As I've been advised, Randall was the first to manufacture a 1911 in Stainless Steel. Randall was also the first (and I think only) company to manufacture a Left Handed 1911. NOW ... that is a trip ! I'd like to have a matched right and left handed Randall 1911. It is a TRUE left handed 1911. Ejection port on the left, taking a left handed magazine. GO LOOK IT UP !!
Randall is no longer in business. I first found the Randall passing one at a LGS over 25 years ago thinking Randall knives, but it is not that same Randall.
A close friend and range buddy purchased a Para 1911 about 5 years ago from our LGS, new in the box $500 out the door, tax included. It is the black, no frills, fixed sight model.
I've fired it several times. I have to say it functions flawlessly. The LGS stated that the Para is no longer Para-Ordnance but just Para ... a different company. Either way, it IS a nice, tight, reliable 1911.
Having shot a Para-Ordnance P13-45 which was the cutting edge of compact 1911 high capacity at the that time. Then Detonics were all the range for awhile, Colt Commanders, 1911 double action conversions.
At the shot show of 2009 in Orlando 2009, after not attending a Shot Show for several years I was amazed at all the 1911s being manufactured by companies that NEVER manufactured 1911s.
As I walk through the show, I see the custom builders of 1911s and the higher end and custom 1911s racers. That was not unusual. Being a kid in a candy store, a normal red blooded American ... especially baby boomer that have more cash in their collective pockets than common sense ... want one !
Then I find S&W display of 1911s and ARs. Further through the show, Ruger, Sig-Sauer and about a dozen other companies that never before made 1911s are now producing 1911s.
I figured then and there, the 1911 is going to be around for ANOTHER 100 years.
Here is a short list of companies that have, had or still do manufacture 1911s as of 2010. I'm sure the list is much longer now.
See here:
List of 1911 Manufacturers, current and former - 1911Forum
You would reason ... that by the sheer volume of 1911s alone ... and 1911 parts manufactured (which has to be in the several millions by now) that the prices of new and even more so of used 1911s, would be much more reasonable but NO, they're still going hot and heavy with no end in sight. About 20 years ago, a GI WWII 1911 would cost you about $200.00. Some with the uS Property ground out (GI bring backs) and re-framed Ajax 1911 with all the GI colt parts, would go even cheaper.
Over the past 20 years there has been much collecting interest in older, factory Colt 1911s and of accurized 1911s such as Giles, Clark and others. Here in Florida, John Giles (RIP) was (and still is) our local George Washington in a sense. He's the father of the accurized 1911s and his shop was in Odessa, FL.
The first Giles I ever purchased was about 25 years ago for $500 with a broken hammer spur. (it still has that broken hammer spur). A good cleaning and hand loads to Giles load specs, this old, "well used and well shot" Giles .45 bullseye gun was on the mark.
Apparently it had gone through a few owners that did not know what it was nor the proper ammo to feed it, as was designed to shoot. Likely a few hundred rounds of factory pack .45 ACP slapping that light springed slide back to full extent, beat up that hammer so bad it finally broke. John Giles lightened the Colt hammers by thinning the surface / striking area, then between the hammer spur and the body, trimmed out more metal that at top view (looking at ti from the top down) it had a " I " shape to it, a shape similar to looking at the end of a Steel I beam.
John Giles held many patents for devices, tools, sights, gauges, etc. however he never patented the on piece sight rail that is his signature identifiable piece on most of his guns. The same rail that Bomar copied and made famous. He manufactured his sights from scratch.
I'm currently seeking his earlier work whether Colt 1911s, early 1950s Ruger .22s and a variety of High Standard models. Whether they have 2 separate sights or the RAIL system.
I have one that dates back to 1947 that has 2 separate sights (not the rail).
I have made contact with some of the remaining Giles shooters that are getting up there in age now and keep in contact with some of us YOUNGER guys (50 to 70 years old) that admire and collect his work.
Anyone having info or old Giles anything, including any target pistols and / or catalogs, paperwork etc, please contact me via the eMail selection on my profile page. I welcome speaking with bullseye collectors and Giles and / or Clark owners.
Para 1911 LTC - personal experiences?
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