i got this pistol late last year, a early 1911 A-1 springfield .45 auto in unused condition from a good friends estate(350.00). it was very stiff and before firing it i lubed it and worked the slide while watching TV for several hours, i tore it down and cleaned and polished the inturnal parts and have shot up wards of 200 rounds of walmart bulk winchester .45 ball ammo with out a FTF-FTE, i know its not a original 1911 but it acts like one. i have two original colt 1911,s that will not get fired much now. eastbank.
1911A-1 springfield .45 auto repo
- Thread starter eastbank
- Start date
g.willikers
New member
They used to make the GI model that's even a little more like the original, including the tiny front sight and old timey ejection port.
Jim Watson
New member
Yeah, that one did not last long, although it seemed popular. Matter of relative profit margins, I bet.
What do you mean "early 1911A1 S.A."? Did you call S.A. and have them run the serial number to determine when it was built? Is it parkerized, or blue?
If it's a mid-80s to early 90s "G.I." base model 1911, it should be a great gun. Back then, those GI 1911s were built with high quality tool steel, no MIM junk.
small front sight and regular ejection port,parked. serial number 412x. marked model of 1911-A1 cal .45 on left side of the slide, springfield armory with a small springfield seal on the right side of the slide. on the right side of the frame in small letters springfield armory geneseo il usa. eastbank.
My first two Springfields were "kit" guns I picked up off a dealer buddy of mine back in the mid 80's. I was expecting a "gun". What I got was two bags of parts, each a complete gun, just in pieces. But hey, at $250 a pop.......
Out of about a dozen or so, they turned out to be the best Springfield 1911's I owned, and the only two of theirs I wouldnt mind having back.
Back then, they still made them to GI specs, and they were basically "correct". Past that, the quality went downhill pretty fast, and the last 6 or so I owned, were junk.
I had a number of M1A's over the years too, and like the 1911's, the early guns were great, the later ones, not so much. I dont buy anything Springfield anymore.
Out of about a dozen or so, they turned out to be the best Springfield 1911's I owned, and the only two of theirs I wouldnt mind having back.
Back then, they still made them to GI specs, and they were basically "correct". Past that, the quality went downhill pretty fast, and the last 6 or so I owned, were junk.
I had a number of M1A's over the years too, and like the 1911's, the early guns were great, the later ones, not so much. I dont buy anything Springfield anymore.
I have a relatively recent production Springfield Armory Range Officer (either 2014 or 2015). It's been rock solid and given me fewer issues (i.e. none) compared to the Colts, S&Ws, and SIGs I've owned and/or used. I've been very happy with it. But I'm just a sample of one.