A quality budget priced 1911

alwslate · Jan 30, 2016

The history of the Philippino's usage of the 1911 goes back to WW2.
It's common knowledge that the US gave rifles to allies during and
after WW2 but they also gave away thousands of 1911s, including
many to the Philippinos. The Philippinos still issue the 1911 to some
military and police units. So they have been manufacturing the 1911
for their own use ever since WW2. It's only logical to assume that
they received technical assistance from the US in establishing their
own facilities just like Russia's allies have done. From what I've read
recently Armscor is one of the government suppliers in addition to the
guns they make for export. Also the new 1911 that will be sold in the
US by Cimarron is going to actually be made by who?....Armscor.

27 Man · Jan 30, 2016

I notice that Metro Arms was mentioned. I bought one of their Commander models at a gun show a couple of years ago. It shoots very well and is one of the nicer finished Phillipine 1911s that I have seen.

LVSteve · Jan 30, 2016

I've handled a good number of these Philippine and Turkish 1911s, and I have to say that all looked well made to me. I suspect that modern manufacturing methods have allowed the 1911 design to be mass produced more quickly and with better tolerances than ever before.

I have not bought one yet, but I did scratch my 45 ACP itch with another Turkish gun. Pics and range report after I get to shoot it..

scoobysnacker · Jan 30, 2016

I picked up a Tisas (Turkish) 1911 recently, $300 out the door for a plain jane GI model. Very clean and basic, which is what I wanted. It seems very well made, comparable to my brother's Colt (which he grudgingly acknowledged).

The black finish is rather interesting, I've read that it might be similar to Beretta's Bruniton finish. It doesn't QUITE seem to be parkerized, nor is it blued.

I'm very pleased with it, all I have done is put some cheap wooden grips from Sarco on it (which really look nice), and got a couple of 7 rd flush-fit mags.

johnnyflake · Jan 30, 2016

scoobysnacker said:
I picked up a Tisas (Turkish) 1911 recently, $300 out the door for a plain jane GI model. Very clean and basic, which is what I wanted. It seems very well made, comparable to my brother's Colt (which he grudgingly acknowledged).

The black finish is rather interesting, I've read that it might be similar to Beretta's Bruniton finish. It doesn't QUITE seem to be parkerized, nor is it blued.

I'm very pleased with it, all I have done is put some cheap wooden grips from Sarco on it (which really look nice), and got a couple of 7 rd flush-fit mags.

I would love to see a picture or two of it. This is the second time I have heard good things about that handgun.

DWalt · Jan 30, 2016

"The black finish is rather interesting, I've read that it might be similar to Beretta's Bruniton finish. It doesn't QUITE seem to be parkerized, nor is it blued."

I think Bruniton is a baked Teflon polymer applied over a phosphate (like Parkerized) coating. I have done that finish on some of my guns, extremely tough and corrosion resistant, but more utilitarian than decorative.

max · Jan 30, 2016

Here is Hickok 45's review of the Tisas:

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MK8ffcLL3A[/ame]

Geo. T. · Jan 30, 2016

My 2 Cents!

I have been lucky enough to have shot Les Baer ,Wilson ,Kimber ,Colt and others . The Taurus is in the $600 range and they have all or most of the same bells and whistles the others do and shoot as well as all but the best of the others .

My experience is most of us will not be satisfied with military spec. pistols for long . It will end up being a project gun. The Taurus 1911 has a beaver tailed grip safety good Knovac type sights . Again just my 2 cents !

keninnavarre · Jan 30, 2016

Geo. T. said:
I have been lucky enough to have shot Les Baer ,Wilson ,Kimber ,Colt and others . The Taurus is in the $600 range and they have all or most of the same bells and whistles the others do and shoot as well as all but the best of the others .

My experience is most of us will not be satisfied with military spec. pistols for long . It will end up being a project gun. The Taurus 1911 has a beaver tailed grip safety good Knovac type sights . Again just my 2 cents !

A lot of 1911 snobs knock the Taurus, but I've owned 3, still have my first one and other than a loose ambitious safety which I fixed my self never had a problem from them. All three were as accurate as I can shoot.

Collo Rosso · Jan 31, 2016

keninnavarre said:
other than a loose ambitious safety which I fixed my self

I hate when my safeties get ambitious, turning themselves on when you don't need them...

Sorry! Couldn't help myself!

Vulcan Bob · Jan 31, 2016

Just my two cents worth but I found the RIA 1911's to be serviceable examples. Back in the day we called the 70 series Colts "good starter kits", the RIA's are better. I also found the Remington R1 to be a fine basic 1911. For a range toy you can bolt all sorts of gadgets and such on em but for work the basics will do, reliability, good trigger and good sights, that's all you really need. Along with a ton of ammo fired judiciously sent down range!

scoobysnacker · Jan 31, 2016

DWalt "The black finish is rather interesting, I've read that it might be similar to Beretta's Bruniton finish. It doesn't QUITE seem to be parkerized, nor is it blued."

I think Bruniton is a baked Teflon polymer applied over a phosphate (like Parkerized) coating. I have done that finish on some of my guns, extremely tough and corrosion resistant, but more utilitarian than decorative.

johnnyflake said:
I would love to see a picture or two of it. This is the second time I have heard good things about that handgun.

Here's a quick upload, I really need to do some glamour shots of my firearms

Regarding the finish, I have a number of pistols, each with different finishes. I have a Beretta with Bruniton, CZ with Polycoat, a parked HP, a faded blued (turning gray) Star, and a S&W 915 that the prior owner put Trijicon sights on.

Of all the finishes, the Tisas most closely resembles that of the 915's slide. The gun was almost gray (a very matte surface) in daylight, until I liberally coated it with Ballistol; it has since turned a satin black. I left the ballistol on it for a couple of days and just wipe it down with a cotton rag.

The finish is thin, thinner than the CZ or Beretta coating.

Valmet · Jan 31, 2016

Not sure one would consider it a "budget" 1911 but IMO the Springfield Armory Range Officer is one of the best 1911s out there for the $. Picked mine up for just under $700 and absolutely love it. Again I know it's a bit pricier than the RI and Tisas but have found it to be very accurate and reliable. Just a thought...

CH4 · Jan 31, 2016

03hemi said:
Just remember, you get what you pay for.

Sometimes, but not always - Vonnegut, who coin the phrase, "In this world, you get what you pay for," would likely agree. Always good to be diligent.

sailor723 · Jan 31, 2016

Shooter's Arms (SAM here in Canada) have been sold here for awhile. They have a pretty solid reputation for decent quality and good value.

cohiba66 · Jan 31, 2016

I was looking a few years ago at a budget " truck" 1911. After comparing the usual suspects that sell for around $400 ( all GI models) I bought this Tisas two tone. Like others have said I was surprised at how well it "lined" up, crisp slide serrations, nice fit of the bushing, holes seemed to be lined up correctly etc.. But there are some dimensional issues I noticed on the Tisas that I did not notice on my old Rock Island ( sold along time ago). The frame is thicker on the Turkish gun and there are some issues if you try to swap in another MSH.

I tried to leave it alone but I couldn't resist....I stripped the frame finish which is a really thick epoxy coating and added a beavertail grip safety, cut in a front sight, changed some internal parts and refinished to lower in KG Gunkote Matt Black. I had a whole bunch of left over 1911 parts that needed a home and "most" went in with little fuss.

I really didn't see where I went wrong with an initial cash outlay of $400, great gun

johnnyflake · Jan 31, 2016

Cohiba66

You done real good brother!

That's a sweet looking piece and I'll bet it runs like a champ!

cohiba66 · Jan 31, 2016

johnnyflake said:
Cohiba66

You done real good brother!

That's a sweet looking piece and I'll bet it runs like a champ!

Johnny, its kinda embarrassing how accurate it is compared to some of my other "over a grand" guns I have. I did a lot of experimenting with sights and found that zone where it puts a hole just above the front sight at 15 yards, not that much different at 25yds.

Arik · Jan 31, 2016

cohiba66 said:
Johnny, its kinda embarrassing how accurate it is compared to some of my other "over a grand" guns I have. I did a lot of experimenting with sights and found that zone where it puts a hole just above the front sight at 15 yards, not that much different at 25yds.

Price doesnt define accuracy but it does quality

fdw · Jan 31, 2016

I have a Rock Island GI that I've owned for a couple of years now. Run 1000s of rounds. Bought new for $419. The best value handgun I own.

And I'll add their service is exceptional.

A quality budget priced 1911

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