A friend has a AO 1911A1 for sale. It's a ringer for a USGI WWII 1911A1, and I have not seen these before. Has anyone had any experience with these before I shell out some big bucks. He also says it has a hammer block like the series 80 Colts. I did not cock it or cycle the slide. My Colt 1911A1 was mfg in 1953, maybe it needs a buddy in WWII type park.
Auto Ordinance 1911A1
- Thread starter Sea Buck
- Start date
g.willikers
New member
Pardon the nit picking, but the 80 series actually has a firing pin block.
No real matter, though.
The newer versions of the Auto Ordnance line by Kahr have a very good reputation.
The earlier ones, pre-Kahr, not so much.
No real matter, though.
The newer versions of the Auto Ordnance line by Kahr have a very good reputation.
The earlier ones, pre-Kahr, not so much.
g.willikers
New member
1,000 rounds should be plenty enough rounds to disclose any deficiencies.
Any defective guns that I've ever had showed their true colors well within that amount.
Any defective guns that I've ever had showed their true colors well within that amount.
polyphemus
New member
A.O
It's prudent of you to ask around before buying.
I've one of those I bought brand new as a challenge,it has been that and then some but again I knew what I was getting in to,it runs really good now I can
aim it at a 5" target 50' away and consistent put six seven holes in it,no issues
anymore.
Here's my take on your request:buy a box of ball ammunition 230gn FMJRN and
ask your friend to let you shoot it,way better than anything anybody can tell you.good luck
It's prudent of you to ask around before buying.
I've one of those I bought brand new as a challenge,it has been that and then some but again I knew what I was getting in to,it runs really good now I can
aim it at a 5" target 50' away and consistent put six seven holes in it,no issues
anymore.
Here's my take on your request:buy a box of ball ammunition 230gn FMJRN and
ask your friend to let you shoot it,way better than anything anybody can tell you.good luck
If it's one of the new ones then it is awesome. The new ones even have the front strap machined properly to the same contour as the original Colt's. It also has the proper short shelf thumb safety. They really are dead ringers to the WWII guns. The only negative (to some people) is the Series 80 safety but it doesn't bother me. I give kudos to Auto Ordnance for going with the extra machining on the dust cover and front strap...
I had one of the early ones (back in the 90's), and while it worked OK initially, it went downhill pretty quick, to the point its was quite annoying.
It also had a strange, parkerized type finish, and always looked a little "off" to me. Of course, I didnt notice that until after I bought it.
If it is in fact one of the older guns, Id pass.
It also had a strange, parkerized type finish, and always looked a little "off" to me. Of course, I didnt notice that until after I bought it.
If it is in fact one of the older guns, Id pass.
Never bothered me either, and I actually prefer it.
A lesson Springfield should take.
Hurryin' Hoosier
New member
I bought my Auto-Ordnance 1911A1 (made in January 2014) a little over a month ago.
I've owned and/or shot many, many pistols (and revolvers) over the years, many of which cost far more than it did. But I can honestly say that I don't know that I've ever fired one which I liked any better, was any more well-made and well-finished, accurate, and solid. And I'll guarantee you won't find a more authentic American-made 1911A1 for any price.
I've owned and/or shot many, many pistols (and revolvers) over the years, many of which cost far more than it did. But I can honestly say that I don't know that I've ever fired one which I liked any better, was any more well-made and well-finished, accurate, and solid. And I'll guarantee you won't find a more authentic American-made 1911A1 for any price.
Last edited:
Hurryin' Hoosier
New member
AK103K: "I had one of the early ones (back in the 90's), and while it worked OK initially, it went downhill pretty quick, to the point its was quite annoying."
Comparing an A-O from the '80s or '90s (under Numrich ownership) to one of today's guns (under Kahr ownership) is like comparing apples to oranges.
Comparing an A-O from the '80s or '90s (under Numrich ownership) to one of today's guns (under Kahr ownership) is like comparing apples to oranges.
More like comparing butter to steel.
I had a very cheap not-too-bright customer in the 80s who bought one ('cause it was cheap-LOL), and then wanted me to do all sorts of mods to it to more or less duplicate a Gold Cup. When I refused, he got very irate.
It just wasn't worth the effort and aggravation. He was more or less trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
Numrich guns used steel that was incredibly easy to file and would deform with a minimum of pressure.
Aguila Blanca
Staff
Umm, have you forgotten a certain company from (West) Hartford, Connecticut? Who could make a more "authentic" 1911 than the people who made the originals?Hurryin' Hoosier said:
polyphemus
New member
even more "authentic"?
a real M1911A1, 1943 Remington Rand read it and weep.
And by the way if it has a firing pin block( a what?) it is not an authentic M1911A1. Some guarantee.
I do believe I am in possession of a much "more authentic" M1911A1 in fact it is
a real M1911A1, 1943 Remington Rand read it and weep.
And by the way if it has a firing pin block( a what?) it is not an authentic M1911A1. Some guarantee.
orionengnr
New member
No way I would shell out "big bucks".
IMHO, that is a $400 1911. Maybe.
polyphemus
New member
So you may be but there's no reference to that here:
Ok?
polyphemus
New member
authentic
The folks at Cylinder and Slide ran a limited production for the 100th
anniversary completely faithful to the original right down to the number of
lines per inch on the hammer spur.From a distance the AO may look original
enough to be used in the movies but looks can be deceiving and buying a
firearm for its looks is not very wise,mine was made in Worcester MA and
it was a basket case right out the box but it was my basket case and my
project if I couldn't get it to shoot right I simply had no business owning a
1911,it is in the rotation right now and holding its own with the fancier ones
at the end of the day it's what you do,not what you do it with.
The folks at Cylinder and Slide ran a limited production for the 100th
anniversary completely faithful to the original right down to the number of
lines per inch on the hammer spur.From a distance the AO may look original
enough to be used in the movies but looks can be deceiving and buying a
firearm for its looks is not very wise,mine was made in Worcester MA and
it was a basket case right out the box but it was my basket case and my
project if I couldn't get it to shoot right I simply had no business owning a
1911,it is in the rotation right now and holding its own with the fancier ones
at the end of the day it's what you do,not what you do it with.
Those guns were about 90% correct. One thing they overlooked was the subtle differences in the slide contours between an original 1911 and a 1911A1. (And I'm not referring to the recoil spring housing cuts at the bottom front of the slide.)
Also, there was another company offering the identical gun at the same time, which tells me that both that company (I don't remember the name) and C&S were most likely having the guns made by a third party.