1987 Springfield Armory M1911

[1srelluc]

I was in one of my local pawn shops this morning and came away with this 1987 SA M1911....$350.00

I called SA and they told me what year it was made and how it left the factory.....They don't do polished blue anymore.

It had different grips, sights (night sights), recoil system, and safety, but all the old parts were included (plus a new SA barrel). I switched out the recoil system for the OEM one and the grips......It shoots damn good.

It came with a SA case and a right neat holster.....They were made post-war in Austria for GIs that wanted an extra mag pouch on the holster that the GI M7 didn't have.

 

[Concerned American]

I was in one of my local pawn shops this morning and came away with this 1987 SA M1911....$350.00

View attachment 1006965

I called SA and they told me what year it was made and how it left the factory.....They don't do polished blue anymore.

It had different grips, sights (night sights), recoil system, and safety, but all the old parts were included (plus a new SA barrel). I switched out the recoil system for the OEM one and the grips......It shoots damn good.

It came with a SA case and a right neat holster.....They were made post-war in Austria for GIs that wanted an extra mag pouch on the holster that the GI M7 didn't have.

I've got one of those--not SA, mine is a Colt MK IV 1972. Got it for a song. I bought it to fit my MP holster from 1970 and discovered the holster was for a Colt 38 Super 1911, LOL the 45 is too big, back to the drawing board.

 

[1srelluc]

I've got one of those--not SA, mine is a Colt MK IV 1972. Got it for a song. I bought it to fit my MP holster from 1970 and discovered the holster was for a Colt 38 Super 1911, LOL the 45 is too big, back to the drawing board.

Early SAs are good pistols....I have several M1911s but I could not pass-up an early SA for $350.00.

 

[hjmick]

I could not pass-up an early SA for $350.00.

You'd be a fool to walk away at that price. Even if you used a smith to bring it up to snuff it's a bargain.

I'll never part with my Colt 1911.

 

[westwall]

I've got one of those--not SA, mine is a Colt MK IV 1972. Got it for a song. I bought it to fit my MP holster from 1970 and discovered the holster was for a Colt 38 Super 1911, LOL the 45 is too big, back to the drawing board.

Everything is exteriorly dimensionally the same between the .45 and .38 super.

The only differences are internal, and the width of the magazine.

In other words a holster that fits a Colt 1911 chambered in .38 super, will likewise fit the .45.

 

[1srelluc]

Everything is exteriorly dimensionally the same between the .45 and .38 super.

The only differences are internal, and the width of the magazine.

In other words a holster that fits a Colt 1911 chambered in .38 super, will likewise fit the .45.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.....Unless one or the other is a long-slide or Commander.

 

[westwall]

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.....Unless one or the other is a long-slide or Commander.

Those are the only external dimensional changes, and a Commander will fit in any standard holster too.

Only the long slides will not fit. Unless the holster has an open toe, in which case they fit too.

 

[Concerned American]

Everything is exteriorly dimensionally the same between the .45 and .38 super.

I wasn't aware. I carried this gear in the late 60s, and I thought is was a .45 but when I bought the .45, it is clear that it was not the weapon that the holster was designed for. As I recall--after 55 years, it was an auto, but the memory isn't real clear. I assumed the .38 would be a smaller frame.

 

[1srelluc]

Those are the only external dimensional changes, and a Commander will fit in any standard holster too.

Only the long slides will not fit. Unless the holster has an open toe, in which case they fit too.

I determine fit by a properly sized holster for the weapon.....Holsters are not "make do" to me.

 

[westwall]

I wasn't aware. I carried this gear in the late 60s, and I thought is was a .45 but when I bought the .45, it is clear that it was not the weapon that the holster was designed for. As I recall--after 55 years, it was an auto, but the memory isn't real clear. I assumed the .38 would be a smaller frame.

Nope. They are exactly the same. The Colt Ace, which is in .22LR, is likewise exactly the same dimensions as the .45.

Just heavier empty because there is more steel. Loaded the .45 is heavier.

 

[westwall]

I determine fit by a properly sized holster for the weapon.....Holsters are not "make do" to me.

Yeah, me too. But I was describing what will fit. Not what is optimal.

 

[Grumpyolman]

I'll add that when I first shot a 1911A, or as my dad called it a ".45", I was amazed by how it felt like it belonged in my hand. Very comfortable, very accurate.
My old man was a member of the Army Air Corps in New Guinea, 1942 through the duration. He was a maintenance mechanic at an airfield. As I got older, the war stories got more real. Banzai charges were met with aircraft mechanics armed mostly with .45's.
He told the first shot stopped the Jap's forward motion, and the second shot dropped him, even if he was doped up.
I assume he burned up a lot of .45 ACP in target practice.