Choosing your first 1911
I just posted a link to this article about choosing your first 1911 on Facebook, and thought it was worth a repeat here. It's one of the best articles on 1911s around, period, and if you're considering buying one, a great resource.
By the way, the only reason I chose a Springfield GI over a Mil-Spec for my first — and only — 1911 was purely whimsical. I wanted a gun as close to what John Dillinger and "Choc" Floyd carried. My choice is not the kind of thing that anyone else should even consider, unless you just happen to be built of the same kind of whimsy. I've already spent more than I would have if I'd just bought a Springfield with all the bells and whistles, and I've put a ton of time into it.
That said, I'm very, very happy with the result, and am enjoying every step, as well as getting a great hands-on education in the platform that I don't think I could've gotten any other way.
Anyway, the article:
It's not unusual for my opinion to be requested by people who are considering buying a 1911 for the first time. In many ways, the 1911 is emblematic of the gun world. It has it's aficionados, it's true believers, and it's know-it-alls. There are few experts. I often wonder why people ask my opinion, but it happens often enough that it must seem valuable to some. I want to quantify this blog post by stating I am no expert. I have owned a lot of different 1911 style pistols. I have shot a lot of 1911 style pistols. I carry a 1911. Those are my qualifications. I have not owned or shot them all though, and I'm certain there is much I do not know. This, however, is my opinion and advice, if you think it may be valuable, take it. It's your's. If you think it's opinionated crap because I don't fall to the altar of your particular brand of gun, you are welcome to your own opinion.
I do not mean to disparage anyone's pistol of choice here, only relate my experiences. This is not a blog post about what a 1911 is and is not. If you want to read my opinions concerning that, go here. In this blog post, "1911″ and "1911 style pistol" are synonymous.
The problem with choosing a first 1911 is there are so damned many of them. The 1911 is not just a pistol. It is a weapons platform. The original patent expired years ago, and almost every major firearms manufacturer has produced at least one 1911 style pistol, often several. Some manufacturers, at any given time, can deck out an entire gun store in multiple variations of the 1911. Gun stores are unable to carry every possible variation, and they need to sell what they have in stock. The guy behind the counter will give you his opinion. He may be a seasoned shooter of the 1911, or he may be a know-it-all true believer of a particular brand. Unless you know him personally from the range, it's difficult to determine if he knows what he is talking about when your own knowledge base is spotty. He may have vested interests, and that's a bad thing when it's your money being spent.
Realize too, that your first 1911 may not be your last 1911. Some people feel like they got burned when the 1911 they chose did not live up to their expectations. The truth is, they just chose poorly. This blog post is about how to make the right choices for that first 1911, and how to continue to make subsequent wise choices on the next ones.
