Any recommendations on a good reliable 1911, at an affordable price?

[ashby koss]

I couldn't find any verification of this and it seems unlikely. I doubt Colt would want to do anything to help another manufacturer create a competing product. The frames and slides on RIA are a bit different from Colt I doubt they would come off the same machinery. It wouldn't make sense for RIA to buy old worn out machinery, ship it around the world instead of just buying newer CNC machines. Plus I believe RIA frames are cast.

it would make business sense. They move it all the Philippines or whoever pay to retool the cheaper used machines and keep moving with lower labor costs. On a business side it does make sense. My company has sold OEM machinery for 130+ years. Our machines go through this cycle and are on every continent (outside of the north and south poles)

 

[drillsgt]

it would make business sense. They move it all the Philippines or whoever pay to retool the cheaper used machines and keep moving with lower labor costs. On a business side it does make sense. My company has sold OEM machinery for 130+ years. Our machines go through this cycle and are on every continent (outside of the north and south poles)

It doesn't make sense for Colt.

 

[ashby koss]

It doesn't make sense for Colt.

doesn’t mean that a competitor didn’t buy them. Happens all the time. Send in a third party buyer etc.. can’t control who buys the item most of the time.

if the cost for colt to retool + the labor costs here in us was more than the cost to sell and upgrade. Then yes, it does make economic business sense.

does it make sense for ford to sell cars only for them to later be sold second hand? They can’t control it when people upgrade. Even if armsacor bought them straight out, doesn’t mean that they told colt their plans.

 

[churchmouse]

It doesn't make sense for Colt.

I will say this only as I have observed Colts business practice for many years.

Does "ANYTHING" sensible make sense to Colt.

 

[ashby koss]

Back to OP. Regardless of machinery RIA makes a solid platform. Paul Harrel even has a video on it!

 

[drillsgt]

doesn’t mean that a competitor didn’t buy them. Happens all the time. Send in a third party buyer etc.. can’t control who buys the item most of the time.

if the cost for colt to retool + the labor costs here in us was more than the cost to sell and upgrade. Then yes, it does make economic business sense.

does it make sense for ford to sell cars only for them to later be sold second hand? They can’t control it when people upgrade. Even if armsacor bought them straight out, doesn’t mean that they told colt their plans.

Lol, if Armscor wanted to buy tooling to make 1911's it would probably be obvious. Anyway, the issue of RIA using Colt machinery looks like an internet rumor.

 

[kml]

Agree that Kimber is worth staying away from. I've had 3 and all of them had big , recurring issues. They've all moved on.

I currently have a DW discretion and it is a very nice gun...very nice! Accurate, reliable, and damned good looking, to my eye anyway. Fit and finish is quite good.

And I just bought a RIA double stack 10mm. Got tired of waiting for a used STI in 10mm to show up at less than $1k over msrp. I wasn't expecting much, just something to play with until I could find a nice 2011 in 10mm. Well, I have to say it's been a pretty damned fine pistol so far! Is it as nice as my DW?, no. But at about 450 rounds so far it's been reliable and accurate. For better performing than I would have ever expected a $600 1911 to be.

We'll see if it holds up, but so far, it's earned it's keep. Better than any Kimber I've ever owned or shot, that's for sure!

 

[drillsgt]

Agree that Kimber is worth staying away from. I've had 3 and all of them had big , recurring issues. They've all moved on.

I currently have a DW discretion and it is a very nice gun...very nice! Accurate, reliable, and damned good looking, to my eye anyway. Fit and finish is quite good.

And I just bought a RIA double stack 10mm. Got tired of waiting for a used STI in 10mm to show up at less than $1k over msrp. I wasn't expecting much, just something to play with until I could find a nice 2011 in 10mm. Well, I have to say it's been a pretty damned fine pistol so far! Is it as nice as my DW?, no. But at about 450 rounds so far it's been reliable and accurate. For better performing than I would have ever expected a $600 1911 to be.

We'll see if it holds up, but so far, it's earned it's keep. Better than any Kimber I've ever owned or shot, that's for sure! View attachment 85966
View attachment 85967

I remember selling Kimber 1911's when they first came out, we sold a ton of them. They originally only had one blued model and your choices were either rubber or wood grip. Those early guns worked well. Eventually they added stainless versions and then the pro and compact etc. Things went downhill when they came out with the external extractor models which they ditched and then the swartz safety version. Like Sig they thought they needed to have a crap ton of silly configurations instead of just doing a few models well.

 

[churchmouse]

I remember selling Kimber 1911's when they first came out, we sold a ton of them. They originally only had one blued model and your choices were either rubber or wood grip. Those early guns worked well. Eventually they added stainless versions and then the pro and compact etc. Things went downhill when they came out with the external extractor models which they ditched and then the swartz safety version. Like Sig they thought they needed to have a crap ton of silly configurations instead of just doing a few models well.

Yes they did but they sure are pretty.

 

[Expat]

Kimber and Sig make some good looking 1911s, except for that external extractor...

 

[Rick Mason]

Holy crap! Hepzibah?

Would you prefer LaShawnDra?

 

[marksman1023]

I've personally had positive experiences with Smith & Wesson, Rock Island, and Springfield 1911s. The nicest I've personally shot was a Springfield TRP. I've heard many opine that the lowest for a "duty use" 1911 should be that TRP, but YMMV.

I also have a basic Kimber 1911 that I got as a commemorative gun from my first deployment, and FWIW, that pistol has yet to jam with factory or Wilson magazines, but round count is still low.