Best M1911A1 Clone?

From owning or shooting over 20 or 30 of them, you ?
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I've owned 6 Springfields, but I've done work on several dozen and I don't really see any problems with them. How about you? All I see are generalized statements that they are "dogs." That's something I would reserve for a Kimber.

Very meaningless in the context of the thread.
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Did you not infer that the bare frames were from Springfield, or should I have been more specific.

If it took you 20 or 30 guns to make up your mind that Springfields are dogs, then you don't learn very fast.

Kimber has put out more dogs that have had to go back to the factory in the last 20 years than a lot of other makes I can think of.
 
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Rocks are made off old colt tooling in the philippines..

No, they are not. Armscor (Rock Island) pistols are made using modern CNC machining centers. They were using CNC before Colt made the switch.
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And where would Colt have come up with tooling that made frames with incorrect contours? ARMSCOR frames aren't even close to USGI or Colt in appearance.
 
I've owned 6 Springfields, but I've done work on several dozen and I don't really see any problems with them. How about you? All I see are generalized statements that they are "dogs.' that's something I would reserve for a Kimber.
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We don't have to agree, that's fine. You can have your opinion and I can have mine. I like the older Kimbers, if you don't like them it's certainly not going to hurt my feelings.
 
If you're a lucky sort, you might be able to find one of the 1911-A1's that CZ built in 2015. Darned few made.

Think of it as a 1911-A1 made right with old geezer eyes sights (front is dovetailed) stainless steel barrel, CZ quality. (I believe the guys and gals on the DW line assembled them)

Of course, it fails the lanyard loop test.
 
If you want a REALLY "mil-spec" gun, Remington has introduced a "clone" of their original gun as produced during WWI for a mere $1499.00. They cheated a little, however, and included an original 1911 in the promo photos along with their boxed repro. If you look closely, you can see the laser engraved slide logos and compare them with the original stampings.
 
The OP asked what is the best clone. The discussion here proves that defining best ain't going to happen. Yet we do learn there are several gun makers that make a gun similar or close to the original M1911 or Ma911-A!. Some modern improvements, like a lowered, flared ejection port, make sens if a company hopes to earn a modest profit.

Bottom line, you won't get an exact clone but you find find a lot outh there that comes close.
 
For a non series 80 ww2 style GI clone, you're going to have to seek out a used Springfield Armory GI model since they are no longer produced. Then install a correct USGI thumb safety and reddish brown bakelite grips.

I've been where you are a few times and I compromised with the series 80 firing pin safety and bought an Inland 1911A1 USGI clone as pictured below. They are the same gun as Auto Ordnance but with different rollmarks. The frames on Auto Ordnance are better than they were a few years ago. On mine, I installed a real USGI 1944 trigger and WWII Keyes grips to make it more correct. The grips that come with them are very good and do not need replacing. I had the real grips in my gun parts bin for years, seemed like the perfect time to use them :) Just know that with any of the GI guns made today, all will have a part or two that won't be right for a period correct gun. So you may still need to switch them out which is easy to do.





I had a Rock Island GI that I had made into a clone as shown below. It has things that are incorrect like the lowered and fared ejection port, trigger is too long, the grip safety tang is pointed and the frame trigger guard area and front strap is shaped wrong. I used parts I ordered from Auto Ordnance to correct some of these inaccuracies. I still think it looks nice. The Auto Ordnance and Inlands look better IMO for a USGI clone and you don't have to change as many parts.



 
I find it curious that after 47 responses to the original question, the original poster has not been back to offer any clarity on what his criteria are for what makes a clone a "clone" -- rather than just another 1911-type pistol. Hios question was:

Hello all! Who makes the best M1911A1 milspec clone out there? I want something parkerized and as close to the original U.S. military specifications as possible.
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So, we have a bazillion suggestions for pistols that aren't parkerized, and aren't especially close to original military specs. But we don't know if he's more concerned about mechanical authenticity, or visual authenticity.
 
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