1911 - Evaluations

WELCOME TO THE NO BS ZONE OF TEDDY JACOBSON

THE FOLLOWING EVALUATIONS ARE IN A CONDENSED FORM, MY TIME IS VERY LIMITED TODAY AND I WILL EXPAND ON ANY OF THIS AT YOUR REQUEST. REMEMBER THESE OPINIONS AND VIEWPOINTS ARE MY PERSONAL OPINION ONLY. IF YOU CAN NOT DEAL WITH IT - TOUGH - LEAVE NOW. THIS IS FOR PEOPLE THAT DO NOT WANT TO BE FED A LINE OF BS.


SMALL 1911 Pistols - I do not like any of the small 1911 pistols because they are nothing but problems. The very smallest I like is the Commander size but I do prefer the Government model. I own a Colt Officers model and it works ok. I would never buy another small 1911 pistol. For those that must have a small 45 caliber pistol, I recommend the Glock 36.


Colt 1911 pistols - I still believe that Colt has the best steel and uses the best parts and springs. The downside to Colt is their poor frame to slide fit and their quality control is almost non existant. Its very common to see front sights that are loose and a plunger tube that is loose. You should not have to pay for Colt high prices and get this kind of product. Would I buy one ?? YES . In the end, it can be fixed for a minimun amount of money. There feed ramps are different and I do not like them. There barrels are still good and there is no reason to re barrel a new Colt for a street gun. They do use some plastic parts, like everyone else. Their parts prices have skyrocketed, that is if you can find them. Rumors persist about the company going out of business. I do not know what is true.


Springfield Armory 1911 pistols - These Brazilian made pistols are priced right. They have a very good frame to slide fit. I do not like there parts or springs and I replace all the internals.
I think that there mil-spec pistol is a very good buy. There quality control seems to be better than Colt. They use a different size tenon front sight. I have selected this model for our Project Street Gun because you get so much more for your money and there is nothing wrong with the original barrel. Would I buy one in the Government size only ?? YES


Kimber 1911 pistols - I think the series one (1) was a better design and less prone for problems. I do not like the series II. I do not think they use good parts as a general rule for the kind of money that they charge. They do have a good frame to slide fit. I would never buy a small kimber in the 1911 design. There sights are pneumatically or hydrolically pressed in and there fore its a nitemare to try and change them. I will not ever take one in to change sights. Send your slide back to the factory.
They say the gun is made out of forged steel then why all the pepple grain ?? I often see the trigger bow loose on the trigger. I do not like the thumb safety they use. Would I buy a full size Government model Kimber ?? NO


Auto Ordnance 1911 (old model) - This was never a quality gun of any kind. I have worked on many of them. I have nothing good to say about the old A.O. Pistols. Would I buy on in the Government size ?? NO


Brolin 1911 pistol - This was not a quality pistol in my opinion. I have worked on a number of them. I do not know if they are still in business. Would I buy a Government size Brolin ?? NO


Charles Daly 1911 pistol - This is not a quality pistol. I have worked on quite a few of them. I no longer will take this gun in for repair. The ones I have seen are made in the Phillipines. Would I buy a Government size Charles Daly ?? NO


Argentine 1911 pistols - I do not like these pistols. All these foreign guns are metric, some are very close in tolerences where american parts will work well, others are not. Would I buy a 1911 Government pistol made in Argentina ?? No


Les Baer 1911 Pistols - I like the looks of these pistols but the inside internal work does not meet my standards of excellence for the money they charge. They are so tight its unreal. I have very little positive comments to make about the internal work. I think the frame and slide and barrel are good steel, but they need experienced people to refine these pistols before they leave the factory. If you doubt me take yours apart and look at the lower barrel lugs and then look at the left leg of the sear spring and then look at the disconnector. Would I buy one of these Baer Pistols in the Government size ?? NO This is just a high dollar production gun.


Wilson 1911 pistols - I have had many of these high dollar production guns in here for repair. I think that years ago they were better. I get calls all the time from people that have problems with them and I tell them to return them to Wilson for the warranty work. I do use a few Wilson parts like his barrel link, I recentely ordered a Wilson Sear, the quality was so poor I returned it to Brownells.
Would I buy a Wilson High Dollar Government model ?? NO


Norinco 1911 pistols - I have worked on many of these Norinco 1911 pistols. I have even had a major article published about one I did. COMBAT HANDGUNS, AUGUST 1994.. The internal parts are substandard and I do not think these pistols were ever good enough for my set of values and high standards. Would I ever buy one of these 1911 pistols ?? NO


Randall 1911 pistols - I have worked on many of these pistols thru the years. I never considered them great quality. They were unique and they are a collectors item. Would I buy one of these Randall 1911 pistols ?? NO


S&W 1911 pistols - I have worked on a number of these new 1911 pistols. They have an external extractor system and this extractor is not for sale by S&W unless you have taken their Armorers course. The gun has a good appearance but the internals are poor at best. They use a different kind of firing pin block safety system than Colt does.
Would I buy one of these Government models made by S&W ?? NO


Para Ordnance 1911 pistols - This is a very difficult gun to work on. Their parts are poor at best. They are a metric gun and they have had feeding problems from day one. Maybe they have now corrected the problem. They use a cast extractor that could break if there is an air bubble in the claw.
The Para Ordnance LDA has either been designed by a genius or a raving lunatic, it is a living nitemare to work on.
Would I buy any P.O. product ?? NO


Sig Sauer 1911 pistol - For an entry level pistol they made a big mistake including a light rail and its too heavy. It will not fit a conventional holster. I have refined these pistols and they just use parts made by different companies. I have been able to get them to work very well.
Would I buy one of these 1911 Sig Pistols ?? NO


Dan Wesson 1911 pistol - I am adding this as I forgot to include this model earlier today. I have totally reworked 2 of these pistols and I was quite disappointed with the internal quality workmanship. NO ONE CAN FOOL ME AS I HAVE REWORKED OVER 7000 1911 pistols, I have seen it all. The front sight on one of them was dented from the installation at the factory as this was a brand new pistol. I tried to call Bob Serva the owner to help him for free by telling him what I found to be wrong. I even faxed him the invoice which was about $500.00. I had the local owners permission to contact the factory. I GOT NO RESPONSE. They had no interest in talking to me when I was just trying to help him make a better product, at my expense. I would never have asked them for a dime. They were too arrogant. Would I buy a DW 1911 pistol ?? NO


I have condensed all my comments because of time. Being a one person operation I work very long hours and I did not want to disappoint any of you. Should you have any questions please email me and I will answer you. I have given you my honest opinion and thats all I can do, when these BIG NAMES endorse all these products just ask your self WHY ??? Surely I am not the only one that can detect inferior products but what is motivating them. It certainly must be worth there while to BS people. YOU WILL NEVER SEE ME SELL MY SOUL FOR MR. FRANKLIN, OR ANY OTHER REASON. IF I WANT SOMETHING I WILL BUY IT FOR MYSELF. MY PERSONAL OPINION ONLY.


AUTHORS PERSONAL NOTATION:
This commentary as well as all my previous commentaries are my personal opinion and my personal viewpoint only.


Teddy Jacobson / Pistolsmith
www.actionsbyt.com/
281 277 4008
tjacobson@houston.rr.com
jaj45f@alltel.net
www.actionsbyt.blogspot.com/