Were they subject to the metal galling between frame and slide issue some early SS auto's had?
Nice looking handgun. I remember them from back in the day, but I don't believe I ever shot one.
Larry
I bought an early A121 “Service Model” marked Combat Model in late 1983. The flat top sight ribbed combat model 1911s were initially marked Service Model like the regular round topped A111 service model but they added the “Combat” under the ejection port in early 1984 to avoid confusion. Those later combat models also had round rather than spur hammers and Pachmayr grips rather than walnut.
I owned, carried and shot it for years before selling it. Young and dumb and didn’t realize they made only around 300 of the service marked combat models, making them fairly collectible.
One of the major problems with Randall 1911s were the fact they made 24 different models in 12 variations and 3 calibers and never really had the production capacity to meet demand. If they’d have stuck with the full sized .45 ACP models - the A111 Service Model, A121 Combat Model and the A131 Service Model (a Combat model with a Millet adjustable rear sight) until they got their production legs under them, they probably would have survived. More models wasn’t better when they were never available.
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At the time the AMT stainless 1911s were well known for issues with galling from too soft frames and slides.
However, that was not my experience with my Randall 1911. I shot several thousands rounds through it and had no issues with galling or excessive wear. It was marketed as “the only stainless steel .45 fit for duty”. My experience with it certainly supported that claim.
It’s not surprising either as the company was an outgrowth of Ken-Air and aerospace company that used aircraft grade stainless steel in the Randall 1911s. They knew metal and knew precision manufacturing.
Randall was largely responsible for pushing Colt to come out with their stainless version of the 1911 in 1984. Those stainless Colts also held up just fine, and unlike the Randall 1911s they could reliably be found in stock in local gun shops.
