Am I wrong to want a G.I. type 1911?

[GatorFarmer]

I find myself sort of wanting the now discontinued CZ 1911. I can get one locally. These were apparently Dan Wesson guns, but labeled as CZs, and are a bit plain.

However...the cost is within 200 to 300 of ordering a Colt or picking up a feature loaded 1911 Sig Sauer locally.

I have 1911s both ways, plain and bells and whistles. I sort of like the plain look honestly.

I know the CZ lacks support in terms of parts and such, but it is a 1911 so it is not like parts are not out there.

My other theory is that a G I gun will have less to go wrong or need tweaking.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Your not "wrong" in wanting anything. The heart wants what the heart wants as the say.
That said, there is a reason that most 1911's come with bells and whistles these days. Many people would buy a GI style gun then immediately pour $ in to cure issues like. Hammer bight, gritty triggers, failure to feeds, failure to eject, (non-ball) ammo intolerance, sloppy accuracy ...
Personally, if I were in the market for a A1 style, I would go with a domestic manufacturer like Remington , SA or Colt.

 

[arjay]

Id buy one and it really isn't that hard to tweak as long as it's in spec.
If it even needs it.

 

[Maddog 521]

I see nothing wrong with wanting/buying a CZ 1911. According to the reports on the CZ Forum they are good guns. I have also heard that their customer support is good also. They are only making 1000 of them. Rumor has it they are experimenting with the blue carbon model to see if they are bought. Probably in the near future Dan Wesson will be offering a blue model if all goes well. I say "go for it".

 

[ken158]

You aren't wrong for wanting anything - just don't buy because you think a deal is to be had when a little more $ will get a whole lot more zing... As far as my hobbies go, I never buy anything or pay a price that is more than I can get back if I don't like it... Would I buy a CZ 1911 when I could get a Colt, S&W or Sig for a little more? No way...

 

[gwpercle]

A lot of us should just get back to basics, I have gone the full circle, first a Plain Jane 1911 regulation military issue ( old WWII G.I.) , to AMT Hardballer adjustable sights , Colt Gold Cup all the bells and whistles..... After all is said and done I favor the military issue . Simple , no nonsense , get the job done.
If I wanted a good , plain 1911 I would get a Rock Island Armory ( RIA ) G. I. Standard FS in 45 acp and not look back. Those are sweet guns.
Gary

 

[Goblin]

I don't think you're likely to have less tweaking required with the CZ, than with a dressed up model from Colt, S&W, SA, so I'd weigh that factor less. If you want a GI, make sure you weigh the alternatives, CZ isn't the only player in that arena.

 

[Arik]

Not really wrong but I think incorrect about less to go wrong. Essentially they are all the same as far as their guts go. Some have ambi safeties. Everything else is cosmetics (assuming we're not talking about custom guns). My only 1911 is a Springfield TRP. Aside from night sights, beaver tail and ambi safety it's the same gun. However most of that is still on there regardless. Beaver tail is still the grip safety and that's on every 1911. The night sight do eventually die but they still function as sights and the gun still functions.

The tweaking happenes with custom guns built too tight or guns built bad/wrong, which can happen to any manufacturer.

 

[Arik]

You aren't wrong for wanting anything - just don't buy because you think a deal is to be had when a little more $ will get a whole lot more zing... As far as my hobbies go, I never buy anything or pay a price that is more than I can get back if I don't like it... Would I buy a CZ 1911 when I could get a Colt, S&W or Sig for a little more? No way...

Exectly this.

 

[WVSig]

Nothing wrong with a GI type 1911. They are great shooters and have a classic look you cannot find in anything else.

I would not over pay for the CZ. It is a good gun but they are selling at a premium over what they should because they were a limited production run, 1200. They will never be collectible but they are well built. You will not have more or less trouble with a modern made GI 1911 than any other modern 1911 IMHO.

Get what you want and what will make you smile when you are holding it in your hand. I went through this a while back and ended up with this.

 

[jimmyj]

I always preferred a G.I. Model 1911 but never could learn to enjoy the "Hammer Bite".

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

A military 1911 is a military! The real question is, Is it a real military 1911? There is only one true variant, The Norwegian version ( M 1918, I think), has a neat dog leg drop to the slide release and a corresponding notch in the left grip panel. If I could find those parts reasonably priced, I would retro fit all seven of my 1911's (even the 38 supers). I don't think the nazis used this part when they produced 1911's with Norwegian tooling. I have had 1911's from seven or eight countries, some made by Colt under contract, some by their own arsenals. on every gun the parts were interchangeable! The post war Argentine M-1927's, were from their own arsenal, but many small parts were surplus bought from Remington.

So to answer the original question, Are you wrong for wanting a copy of a real 1911? the answer is not only NO, it is a part of your DNA to yearn and crave 1911's!

Ivan

 

[mg357]

What about a Springfield Armory Milspec 1911A1 is a decent facsimile to the 1911A1 .45 caliber pistols the U.S. Military used years ago.

 

[Darkenfast]

For the average shooter, a stock 1911A-1 or Browning High Power or many other famous service pistol will shoot just fine. Enjoy the historical connection of owning and shooting what your Grandfather might have carried, back in the day. As the owner of an old High Power, I discovered that, with a little practice, I could make that tiny safety work just fine and use the hopelessly old fashioned sights. Look over in the revolver section at just how popular the plain-vanilla S&W Military and Police (or Model 10) is. Some of these designs represent over a century of WORKING.
Go for it!

 

[Watchdog]

Am I wrong to want a G.I. type 1911?

Why get a G. I. "type" 1911?

Why not get a genuine wartime 1911A1...a Colt, Ithaca, or Remington Rand? Steel. No MIM junk. The real thing. Even one from WWI.

And this thing about tweaking a 1911 that everyone loves to go on and on about? If your expectations regarding a stone stock 1911 are realistic, no tweaking is needed. In almost fifty years of shooting, I've never experienced hammer bite. Never had a failure to feed, failure to fire or eject. Is it just me? Am I just a lucky guy? Don't think so. The 1911 is the best semi-auto I've ever fired.

In its original incarnation, the 1911 is a purpose-built pistol. Made to do one thing and one thing only...stop and/or kill an enemy at real combat distances. And do it over and over and over again. It does this extremely well. It wasn't designed as a target pistol, wasn't meant to shoot 2-inch groups offhand at fifty yards. I've lost track of how many times I've said this stuff.

A clone by any other name is still a clone. Get the real deal.

Good luck!

 

[Rick_A]

I really like the idea of bare bones, new mil spec style guns. However, I've been there and did that and added all the bells and whistles.

Kinda like shooting an as issued '03 Springfield; yes it's cool, nostalgic, genuine, and capable, but a modern gun does all that and more and you can shoot the thing comfortably all day.

As for the guys admonishing the modern guns, while they have every right to be proud of their WWI and WWII shooters, we've come a long way. There's no point in making a daily beater out of an old war horse. Like 'em or not even the cheapest and lowliest new guns are more capable and reliable than any GI issue.

Rant off. Buy what you like. Take pictures and post 'em when you've got it.

I was really tempted to get one of the 1918 style Colt's when they were available, but they're simply not as nice to shoot as the high rise beavertail grip safety guns the purists hate.

Military issue is fine and all, but it's easy to do better.

 

[Targets Guy]

Nope. You are not wrong.

 

[Old Corp]

I have 1911's of many different variations, and enjoy all for different reasons.
Except for one thing. Those little-bitty GI sights are all but useless for practical application. Surprised this bunch of ol' geezers haven't already hit on that.

 

[Arik]

Why get a G. I. "type" 1911?

Why not get a genuine wartime 1911A1...a Colt, Ithaca, or Remington Rand? Steel. No MIM junk. The real thing. Even one from WWI.

And this thing about tweaking a 1911 that everyone loves to go on and on about? If your expectations regarding a stone stock 1911 are realistic, no tweaking is needed. In almost fifty years of shooting, I've never experienced hammer bite. Never had a failure to feed, failure to fire or eject. Is it just me? Am I just a lucky guy? Don't think so. The 1911 is the best semi-auto I've ever fired.

In its original incarnation, the 1911 is a purpose-built pistol. Made to do one thing and one thing only...stop and/or kill an enemy at real combat distances. And do it over and over and over again. It does this extremely well. It wasn't designed as a target pistol, wasn't meant to shoot 2-inch groups offhand at fifty yards. I've lost track of how many times I've said this stuff.

A clone by any other name is still a clone. Get the real deal.

Good luck!

Agree with everything except hammer bite. That's usually just bad luck with the size and shape of the individual's hand.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

In a spasm of stupidness I sold four 1911 A1's and a 1911 all vintage military in the quest for a new Harley. I've regretted it ever since and the recent cost of the "real" deal's" is getting horrendous. I still have three commercial Colts but wanted a plain jane shooter. Thats where the Remington R1 came in, reminiscent of the old 1911's with better sights and no hammer bite. It's reliable and accurate too. Nothing wrong with the CZ's they make a very nice product.