Would You Trade?

The 1911 is an Argentine Sistema refinished in black duracoat. All springs replaced. New wood grips. TruDot night sights. Extended beavertail and thumb safety. 300-rd count. Includes 3 old Metalform mags, and 3 8-rd Kimber mags. Also includes 50 rounds Remington JHP ammo and 63 rounds American Eagle FMJ ammo. I like it because it exudes old-world charm. It is an old-time 1911!

I use a modified Sistema for CCW. It's a gun that I custom tailored to fit myself. It's a good, reliable gun. I also own a rearsenaled Sistema, and an original finish Sistema.

I enjoy the Pistola Sistema Modelo Argentino 1927 as shootable historic pistol, and I am a bit of a student of it's history. I have modified them, worked on them, and shot them. Please allow me to dispel a few myths.

First, the Colt Model 1927 Sistema was not made from steel from the Admiral Graf Spee, a nazi battleship scuttled in shallow Argentine waters during World War II. They were made from high quality steel from the period to Colt's original specifications.

Yes, the steel of a Sistema is softer in places than modern 1911s. This is because all 1911s from the time the Colt Sistemas were made were tempered only in specific areas of stress after the part was machined. Today's 1911s are CNC machined from tempered steel. Thus, the entire frame and slide is tempered. I have installed custom fitted beavertails on Series 80 Colts and on Sistemas. I can say without equivocation that the frame tangs on the Sistema ground down surprisingly easy.

The thing is, does this matter? Yes and no. One Sistema I worked on had to have the magazine well opened up a bit because it had collaped slightly under the weight of a truck. You could shove a magazine in, but it would not drop free. I don't rotinely drive trucks over my guns, and I advised the owner of that pistol to reserve that kind of treatment for Glocks. Incidentally, I used a small hydraulic C-ram to open up the magwell.

I would not alter the ejection port of a Sistema. That area is one of the hardened areas, and I wouldn't want to get close to the softer steel. The same goes for any part of the front of the slide or the frame around the slide stop pin.

This specific pistol, from the slide import mark, appears to be one of the last shipments of Sistemas, known in collector circles as the Lipsey shipment. These were bottom of the barrel examples imported in 2006, and were probably the last ones out there. Many were sent back to Lipseys for a refund by those collectors who ordered them. A lot of those same collectors now kick themselves.

The Lipsey guns were, in general, excellent candidates for custom 1911s such as this. They were basically in the white, no finish left, but complete with steel small parts, and they were cheap. Many were made into custom 1911s.

That brings us to custom 1911 territory, or really, custom any kind of gun territory. Such a firearm is only as good and reliable as the man who made it. This is why I took a Colt Commander to Jim Clark Jr. for a melt job even though I own a belt sander and a vise. Could I do the job he did? Yeah, maybe, if luck was with me. Could he do the job he did? Definitely. Was it worth it? It was to me. I got to pick exactly what I wanted and how I wanted it done. That is what a custom gun is. A custom gun is not a 1911 that a gunsmith, no matter how talented, put a beavertail on along with some other goodies in hopes that he might find a buyer. A custom gun is a gun that is made to the needs and specifications of a specific buyer, like a custom suit or shirt. Anything else may be nice, but it was not tailored to you.

What this pistol is is a modified Sistema. It appears to be a Lipsey gun, and the modifications appear to be well done. The questions I would ask are:
1. What barrel is in it?
2. Is the sear and disconnect original?
3. I would expect the springs had been swapped out.
4. Why was an arched mainspring housing swapped out for an arched mainspring housing?
5. Why Duracoat?

I would inspect it very carefully in the usual GI M1911 stress areas. Duracoat can cover a lot of things. In fact, since I know a shooter who is a radiologist I would probably place it under a C-arm and look at it under flouro. With a collectible M1911 I wouldn't go to that length, but on a GI gun that would see significant range time in my hands, since I have the ability, why not? Especially if it was Duracoated instead of blued or parkerized.

Finally, I would expect to shoot the gun to establish reliability and to see if I like it. That's a benefit of buying any used gun, along with the reduced price. This pistol is a shooter. I could be a very nice shooter, and a wonderful carry gun.

To answer the question of whether I would make this specific trade....... Yes, as long as there were no cracks in the Sistema's frame or slide. Why? I like 1911s, and I don't care for Glocks. That is the only reason. Glocks are generally reliable, but not infallible. So are 1911s that retain a mil-spec frame/slide/barrel relationship. Both camps have devoted and blind disciples. I am here to say I have had my tail waxed by bearers of Gaston's finest, but I've shown a few plastic fantastics what 1911 supremacy is all about a few times too. I like 1911s because they help me shoot better than I ever thought I could.

I carry a 1911 because I shoot better with them, and I believe in a self defense situation, effective shot placement (including depth) to stop the threat is more important than caliber, action type, brand of gun, scent of aftershave, or any other factor, except perhaps speed. The 1911 gives me the most speed and the most accurate shot placement. The Glock does the same for other folks.

Chances are, the only thing I would do to this gun is swap out the sights for Novaks. From what I can tell from the photographs, the workmanship appears to be competently performed, and wise choices have been made as to where to stop the modifications.

Learn more about Sistemas here.

Learn how to thoroughly check out a used 1911 here.

The Next Generation

They said it was photoshopped, but it appears that the 4th Generation Glock is indeed a reality.

"At the 2009 SHOT Show, Glock introduced a new texture called “RTF2.” Claiming to be the “the new standard for operators working in the harshest conditions imaginable,” the RTF2 features a new style of texturing on the grip frame, and a new serration pattern on the rear of the slide."

Glock is offering the new texture on their Glock 22 as a marketing trial. If it proves popular, other models will follow.

Visit Guns Holsters & Gear for more information.

Glock 4th Generation

A 4th generation Glock is being heralded. The new polymer wonder gun has a rough grip surface, kind of like the skateboard tape some folks like to stick to their pistols. The rear slide serrations are redesigned. A light rail is on the dust cover, and it looks like the finger grooves are absent, or at least reduced. The magazine release appears to be redesigned as well. No word on whether it is an ambidextrous release or whether older magazines will work with the new gun.

It appears that at least in some ways Gaston has been listening to his disciples.

Update: Fake? A photo analysis

Pawn Shop Circuit: Glocks

I went by Kenny's pawn Shop today. He had a selection of semi-automatics underneath the glass. The Llama was still gathering dust alongside the Taurus P92. Sharing the dust was the James Bond P99 Walther incarnation. That was a rather forgettable pistol after the movie hit the DVD sale rack. Along with the Walther Kenny did have several Glocks available though.

I confess that I am not a Glock fan. I respect their reliability, and they are certainly durable. They are accurate enough. I dislike the safety on the trigger. The whole idea seems silly to me. A gun ought not go off unless the trigger is pulled. So to make the gun safer through a mechanical means, it only follows that the mechanical safety be independent of the trigger.

Oh, I know that the safety being on the trigger supposedly makes it less likely to be forgotten about in a life threatening crisis. No argument there. It also makes the safety less likely to be effective if something accidentally enters the trigger guard and presses the trigger. By contrast, the 1911 uses the thumb's placement in the firing grip to disengage the safety. When combined with the necessity of pulling the Glock trigger in the field stripping process, I simply prefer another design.

I dislike the idea of plastic sights. In a gun as well engineered as the Glock, why it doesn't come from the factory with aluminum sights dovetailed front and rear is beyond me. I am not a 1911 fanatic that spits on the ground when Glocks are mentioned. I did own one at one time. A Glock 26. The plastic sights were a primary reason I traded it off.

In trained hands, the Glock is an amazingly competent fighting gun. In my hands, although the grip angle is similar to the Ruger MKII, it does not seem to fit well. As a result, I do not shoot the pistol as well as I feel I should be able to.

Now I know that I speak heresy to some of the most die hard brand disciples in combat pistoldom. I fully expect to hear from them in my comments here. Guys, I just shoot the 1911 faster and more accurately than the Glock. I do not find perfection in a shovelmaker's pistol. If you do, Glocks seem to be running around $425 to $450 used in my area, but Kenny has a Glock 26 with three magazines available for $379.

Glock Torture Test

Glock Torture Testing

Nothing personal, but I dont care for Glocks.
Still, I have to respect this.

Big hat tip to Bigbore of Adco Firearms

Polymer Memories

When the HK USP was first imported to the States, in 1993, I knew I had to have one. Polymer seemed to be taking over the handgun market back then. Glocks were a huge success, but the sculpted angles of the USP slide, along with it's grip angle and thumb safety appealed to me more. I finally found this full size HK USP in .40S&W, used, and I quickly bought it. I had Tritium sights mounted, and with the HK bright light, I felt ready to take on the night's boogey men. I have since purchased a compact USP, as well as a P7.

Over the years, I have adopted the shotgun for home defense. I have gone to the 1911 as my semi-auto handgun of choice. I don't shoot the old HK much anymore. The .40 caliber ammunition is as expensive as .45ACP, and I would rather shoot old slabsides. I removed the HK from it's drawer today, cleared it, and dry fired it a bit. I have to wonder how I ever tolerated that trigger. The gun is stone reliable, and it's accurate enough, but the trigger is awful, gritty and stacking. But never let it be said that I did not try the plastic fantastics. Heck I even owned a Glock for a few days......I just found a gun I like a hell of a lot better, that I shoot a hell of a lot better, in the 1911. I was young then. I was easily influenced by things such as "hostile environment" finishes. I finally found my way though, the same way so many before me found, to the single stack brainchild of John Moses.

Jeff Cooper on Glocks

"The continued sales triumph of Glock pistols demonstrates the virtues of skillful marketing. The Glock is okay. It is generally reliable, it is comparatively inexpensive, and it is available in respectable calibers. Above all, its aftermarket service is superior. The great part of its sales comes from police departments, where maintenance and quick service are of primary importance. It may not be the best choice for the expert pistolero, but such people are not in the majority."

How to Make a Glock Not Suck

How to Make a Glock Not Suck by Chris Byrne.

Go. Make you Glock non-sucko.

Reasons I Traded Off my Glock

I owned a Glock once. It was a Glock 26. I bought it for concealed carry. I figured I would finally see what the craze was about. I was not satisfied with the pistol, and traded it off after only a few weeks. Here's why.
1. It was fat.
2. It would not carry well.
3. The trigger was spongy.
4. The safety was on the trigger.
5. The sights were plastic.
6. The rear sight kept shifting.
7. It was not all that accurate.
8. It had no soul. It was like shooting a zombie gun.

There were other reasons, more intangible reasons........ I owned my Glock at the time many Glocks began to have frame rail separations. Glock was not responding to it's customer's needs during that time, and that bothered me. Glock took care of their police contracts, and told most civilians to suck eggs. They never recalled the affected weapons.
I dislike the whole Glock Perfection thing. Glocks are only perfection in the closed minded society of the Glocksters. Saying a Glock is perfect because it goes bang everytime is like saying a PT Cruiser is perfect because it starts every time. The fact is, many Glock owners buy into the advertising hype as though it were Gospel, and they become as annoying as a blow fly up your nose. For a man with good trigger finger discipline, a Glock can be an adequate pistol if he is not to picky. Problem was, I was picky. I knew what I wanted, and a Glock was not it.