The Springfield is a beautiful gun, and definitely a good representation of the original WWII 1911. The slight variation in the color scheme really sets it off. I agree completely to get something like this to make sure your 1943 lasts another 80 years or more. That's a real piece of history.
Yeah man! When I was an MP, We were pretty close to the last generation to carry the 1911. We were issued two magazines with three rounds in each before shift! Just enough to get us killed! Lol. That was back in the mid 80s. Word was we were going to be issued 9mm's, but I didn't stay long enough to see the change.
@JohnWhite-xc3md the last time I saw "military" carry of 1911 was in 1994 here in Los Angeles. After the Northridge earthquake of 94, an office building that was severely damaged was being guarded by national guard troops. I remember the officer in charge had a 1911 with no mag on his holster. None of the national guard troops had magazines loaded.
11:50 I was an M1 tanker in the Army, 87-91. Tank crewmen at the time carried the WWII era 1911s, the same as you have there. All different manufacturers. We used the lanyard loops with lanyards as standard. The other end of the lanyard was attached to our LBE or shoulder holster. We only used leather shoulder holsters. All our 1911s functioned flawlessly and I loved shooting them. 👍
@@darthtyranus7683 The “Tanker“ version was NEVER issued to the US military. It was a post-war gimmick that gunsmith‘s and manufacturers made from surplus parts.
@@ericplaysbass I mean, technically there were prototypes if I’m not mistaken, but yeah they were never issued. What interests me more with the M1 Garand variants were the prototype models that took BAR magazines. If they actually got those to work reliably, the M1 Garand would have been an even better gun than it already was
A 1911 has the sweetest, iconic sound when racking the slide back.. I found my SA mil spec in a pawn shop, it was love at first sight! I know I paid more than I should have, but I consider the purchase, a rescue mission to what is now, my edc sidearm... :)
It took me forty years of shooting handguns to arrive at this model. I lacked wrist discipline and so for years shot revolvers, passing on the reliability issue from my brain to the firearm. Then one day I discovered that all that shooting had internalized my attention to grip: I found that I actually shot a Glock 9mm better than I shot my revolvers, and soon after realized I could shoot a Series 70 .45 with equal success. It wasn't long after that I cleaned out all my S&Ws and chose this SA model for my sole handgun. One consideration (as discussed in another of your videos) is that I retired to an "impossible" CCL state, where neither the law permits nor the culture requires that I feel I need to carry--so size doesn't matter. My father loved the 1911A1 but never could afford one while raising a family following WWII. I'm happy to be fulfilling his dream.
During my Army service “back in the day” I was issued both M1911 or M1911A1 pistols at various assignments. I’ve also played with the Springfield All Custom version with modern Novak sights. I personally preferred the smaller military sights over the modern gigantic three-dots because of the precise sight picture I could achieve even under stress. Aim small, miss small. YMMV
@@hoppinggnomethe4154 If you need a pistol in the dark they probably are close enough to just point and shoot. If you are defending they are close if they are running away, then you should probably hold your fire.😀, If you are attacking with a pistol then you should probably be weighing up your career choice.
@@hoppinggnomethe4154 that's what knives are for. If you're in the dark, and didnt bring a light, you have bigger problems than what sights are on your pistol
My wife was passed down an original from WWII complete with leather holster. The holster has Peleliu scratched into it along with tally marks (who knows what it’s counting). It still shoots as good as new 1911’s and is about the same shape as yours in the video except hers has a lot of wear inside the slide.
We both know what those tallys are counting. I have a rifle my grandma was given by a guy she worked with that he brought back from ww2 europe. It has tally marks on it too. He clarified to my grandma though that those tallys were kills and he said "take care of it and itll take care of your family"
I'm really glad to see that Springfield is getting some respect back after alot of people boycotted them. They really make the best production 1911s out there, I loved my light weight ronin commander so much I bought another one.
They’re good. Definitely top tier. When so many companies make high quality versions of the same product you can’t really say any of them are number one. It’s just the minor differences that push different models to the top of each individuals priority list, but that’s the great thing about capitalism.
@@stevepauley2437 I own several colts also but you can see the difference in quality and reliability from the one's I bought in the 80s and the more recent 2019 lightweight commander. I would would also add that since that post, Bul Armory is really giving all those companies a some real competition.
@@BLACKWOLF-1911 true, all companies seem to have ups and downs. I just can’t see putting Springfield as the number 1, on the list. Those Bul guns seem pretty solid!
Just got a Springfield 1911, here in CA you have your choice between a Springfield or a kimber- literally only those 2. It’s a beautiful gun, I didn’t understand the following of the 1911 before but now I do, just something about it.
I felt the same way about 1911's. I went to turners when I heard CA was gonna take colts off the roster. I went and almost got the last one and got denied because I had got a handgun with the 30 day period. I was bummed out. I got the. KIMBER stainless II and I love it. I got the Springfield milspec after that, I love them both. I fell in love with the simplistic beauty of them.
Love the basic 1911A1! Fits my hand perfectly, and I shoot "OK" with it. If I could have only *ONE* handgun, it would be a 1911!! Thanks for the video, David!
Great video. I’ve got 8 1911’s. & 1 Remington Rand 1944 US army issue 1911. I’ve had it for 30 + yrs and have never fired it. The gun is in great shape but it’s not replaceable. To me. I’m just a 1911 lover. Love your channel. Thank you for doin good info vids.
I was issued the M1911A1 in the 80s. My USAF match gun had a Remington slide and Colt frame. Adjustable sights and trigger were added with TLC by USAF armorers. Made me look good. The SA Mil Spec used to be made in Brazil by Imbel and assembled here; look and see if it says "Itajuba" or "Imbel" on the frame under the grips. Imbel made them for the Brazilian military (in 9x19) before they switched to the Beretta 92 (as we did). The 1911 clones made in Brazil, Turkey and the Philippines seem as well made as anything I was issued. An ISO 9000 CAD/CAM machine in Turkey can do a better job than a 1940s sewing machine company. ;)
Those lanyard loops were used by M.P.s, Navy Shore Patrol, Guard posts, and others. The reason you have never seen the lanyards used is, you were not in the military back when we actually carried 1911s.
Hell yeah, nice collection man. My grandpa was a ranger in north Africa, France, and Germany. As a retired combat vet myself, I appreciate seeing this. Good on you sir.
My first automatic pistol was a mil-spec Springfield Armory 1911 purchased brand new in 1988 for.... $315. Lightly modified shortly after purchase to include better sights (3 dot weren't standard back then), a Wilson Combat hammer, trigger and sear, and a throated, polished barrel by a friend who was my company armorer. I still have that pistol to this day and though I have a dozen other 1911s including a couple Les Baers, I'll never part with my original Springfield Armory.
I carried a Remington Rand 1911 for years back in the 70's. I installed a match barrel and bushing and it was a very good shooter. It gobbled up 230 ball without a hick up and never experience tolerance stack up with it.
Excellent video. My first 1911 was a Rock Island as well. I just purchased this Springfield and get to pick it up on November 19. In addition, I have a Colt 1911 Competition chambered in 9mm and a Ruger SR1911.
I think the definition of mil-spec and how to interpret it as it applies to these firearms needs to be discussed. I was always told and from what i have read, mil-spec is short for military specification. I thought that meant that there are a certain number of categories and guidelines that the military set and a firearm must fall within those guidelines in order to be a quote “mil-spec” firearm. I am really sure that if a firearm meets all the criteria of what is considered mil-spec that if it surpasses military specifications that is does not get disqualified as mil-spec. It doesn’t have to be an exact copy of an original 1911 from wwII to be mil-spec. I think S/A put together a 1911 that very closely mimics a genuine original one but with a couple liberties such as the sights, grips, and checkering which really improved the gun, but still stayed true to the intention of the appearance of a back in the day govt issued 1911. I certainly do not think that disqualifies if from being mil-spec.
Wow, perfect video for me! I have owned a stainless steel Springfield mil-spec 1911A1 for a long time. And I carried a Remington Rand in a shoulder holster while I was in Vietnam.
Bought a mil spec in 2004 sold it later and bought another couple years ago both functioned flawlessly with ball ammo which is all I shot from either. Accuracy was excellent with both for the most part, bare bones pistols. Nice video and I like that WW2 model too they just look so darn good , small sights and all.
The ONE "Mod" I did to my NM Springfield Armory 1911A1 was taking flat white modeling paint and 'enhancing' the sights by painting the front ramp and two lines on the rear (on either side of the notch). It has worked WELL over the years, and I would recommend it for those not wanting to swap out sights and keeping to the original in the way of design. I've owned that 1911A1 from Springfield Armory for some 35+ years, and it still DRIVES THE NAILS.
I absolutely love my Kimber custom 2! Over 1k rds no issues, have 7 sets of grips, 5 holsters, it will hit any target I point at, put fiber a optic front sight changed all the black pieces to stainless, it’s my favorite piece! Kimber has a bad rap, mine is a beauty though!
I love my Kimber Gold Match. Very reliable and very accurate. I have a Colt Series 70 to compare it with and the Kimber is far the better gun. I did buy a Wilson Combat magazine as my spare for the Kimber.
@@robs4517 Overpriced bling. Why buy that when most of its rivals can produce good results for 20% less money? If a Springfield or S&W version of the 1911 can put out 2" groups with half-decent ammo without jamming, it's good enough for me. Other than that, I don't see what makes Kimber so special.
@@largol33t1 I didn't say anything about price. I just said Kimber was good. However, where I live in can get a Kimber for the same price as a "nicer" Springfield and its still under $1000. The Springfield will run the same price with "upgrades" that are standard on the Kimber. Plus, the Kimber is US made.
Springfield Armory used to make a "GI" model. No lowered and flared ejection port, same lower sights, same safety lever, same arched mainspring housing, same hammer, etc.....as your Remington Rand. I currently own two Springfield Armory 1911's, a 'GI' model and a 'Loaded' model. If I carry my 'Loaded' model, it's in a shoulder holster.
Nice guns, good review. While in the Navy back in the day I carried an early colt 1911, now I find those are very rare because the Army got most of them, so I bought a new Colt Government Model because of nostalgia. It is like the Springfield with the new sight picture, I also bought the holster in black because that was what we used in the Navy.
My buddy has this same Springfield and man it is slick! Those are VERY VERY nice pistols with smooth slick nice handling controls and awesome triggers!
Very good video. I have a Springfield MIlSpec from 15-20 years ago that I bought new, I forget exactly when. When new It had black plastic grips, a lot closer to what is on your Rem-Rand. It has served me well and while I'm not currently carrying it EDC, I have in the past and do carry it sometimes still. OWB, Shoulder holster and IWB occasionally, though I generally dislike IWB, sometimes it's the only way to carry a full size pistol. For a few years Springfield made what they called a GI model, which was a lot closer to the WWII production guns than the MilSpec. Really wish I'd gotten one when they were available.
the SA Mil-Spec was originally a step up from their "GI Issue 1911 (back in the early 90s) the GI would match your WWII 1911 exactly. The Mil-Spec added the raised sights, a lowered ejection port, and the barrel. SA stopped offering the GI Issue, since the price point was exactly the same as the Mil-Spec. So no one was buying the GI version, except people looking for an exact WWII Army issue 1911 new in box. So now the Mil-Spec is their lower priced 1911.
I remember seeing the MP s having the lanyard on their 1911s growing up on military bases. I always thought they looked cool on there and maybe a bit more secure.
I have a Military Model from the mid 1990's. Shot it a lot. Looks just like that one but has Model 1911-A1/Cal .45 on the slid. I also have recently a Tisas Service Special. It came with the 1911 flat main spring housing with a lanyard loop. I got an arched one to replace it with with a lanyard loop. I also inherited a 1943 Ingram pistol. Tisas makes a closer to mil-spec 1911 they call the W W II model. There pistol has the original sites on it.
Great video. I have the Springfield also. And the holster, belt, and magazine pouch. Mine is black though. It’s from the Vietnam era. It goes well with my M1A.
Those pitting marks, the imperfections of not only the manufacturer of the time but the national crisis to weaponize our fighting men/alternatively the stuff you see on Walthers in late war....that stuff that cannot be faked...and it gives me, a history buff just the utter chills it's so cool, the tactile reminder of a period of true trials.
Some of the real differences in the two guns that are more than cosmetic are that the New Version has a lowered and faired back ejection port along with an extended ejector, and a beveled magazine well. The sights are also a big change and I happen to like the originals just fine, but I understand I’m an outlier here… SA does make a fine gun.
Speaking of finish on the R-R, I bought a Remington-Rand 1911A1 in 1987 for $300. After wiping the cobwebs out of the barrel, I discovered it was a new or nearly new High Standard barrel as you could see the marks of the drill bit on the lands and the rifling cutter marks in the grooves.
That Remington 1911 might have tired springs, particularly the recoil spring and the firing pin spring. Wolff Gunsprings make really good springs for the 1911 pistols.
Last year I found a small baggie of gun parts at a garage sale. Picking it up I noticed three near perfect 1911 barrels. All government marked and dated from 1944. There was also some other 1911 parts such as springs. I paid $12 for the whole bag! Because I didn't have a 1911, I sold the bag for $550 that very night.
Great video. Looks to be a different package compared to the Springfield Mil-Spec I got around 2015. The parkerizing on mine is beautiful, it’s like black velvet. By the way, thats a nice Remington!
I saw one at the store the other day for $550. Nice firearm, but I like my RI better. The RI looks more "milspec" than the Springfield. And my RI shoots every bit as well as my 70 series Gold Cup, albeit a little harder to hit the target with those crappy sights, but I do like the way those crappy sights look lol.
Thanks for the great review. I qualified with an Ithaca M1911A1 during my Army service in South Korea. The sights are rudimentary because the original 1911 was not designed for accurate target shooting. It was meant to be a close quarters combat, point and shoot, and quickly hit your enemy pistol. There was no zeroing of the weapon itself, the zeroing range was for zeroing the shooter. So while the sights of that Springfield would have been nice to have on the range for paper competitions, it could prove a deadly distraction during an enemy engagement at close quarters. I wouldn’t hesitate to carry one as a personal defense weapon.
I got the SA operator and yes the first upgrade was getting a GI lanyard mainspring house on it. They got these kimber ones that are flat and comes already assembled.
The big difference is the size of the ejection port. As for the serrations on the mainspring housing and slidestop, later Remington Rand and Colt pistols in WW2 were also serrated. From early 1944 to end of production.
When we lived near Springfield, MO I saw a WW-1 issued m1911 that was manufactured in 1916, and had served in the same artillery unit as Harry Truman. I also bought a Springfield Armory m1911a1 GI model, (one step down from yours) which unless You have a very good knowledge of the original, and really good eyesight, I doubt you could tell it from an issued WW-2 handgun. And it has a lanyard loop. 😁
That old Remington Rand looks pretty good to be made by a bunch of typewriter people. That's a really nice WW2 original gun. One thing about the old military 1911;s was they would rattle when you shook them, there was a pretty good amount of play between the frame and slide, you could actually feel the loose tolerances of the frame/slide fit. Question: Is the new one anything like the old ones on the loose tolerances? I would imagine the new ones are probably quite a bit tighter than the old ones.
I had a RIA GI 1911, i sold it to buy the springfield milspec 1911, I absolutely love it! I’m pretty accurate with it, I bought 2x magazines as well, I kinda miss my RIA and i may ask my friend i wanna buy it back lol, i also bought a springfield 10mm ronin not long ago as well!
The 45 auto 1911 is my favorite handgun in the world it is the 1st one that I have fell in love with back in the seventies when I used to watch starsky and hutch and to this day it is still my all time favorite number 1 handgun.
I have a Springfield 1911 .45 Mil Spec/stainless barrel. I brought it to TJs gunsmith in Aurora, CO and let him have his way with it. Phenomenal gun. Total cost of the gun was under $1000. I have had it for about 15 years, and have THOUSANDS of rounds through it. I have yet to trade a single part out. I can still shoot overlapping groups at 25 yds with it. I would not trade it for any 1911, no matter what the name or cost. Especially the so-called "custom" off the shelf guns.
Here in Brazil we have a company called Imbel, wich produced a mil spec 1911A1, but unfortunately they have recently annouced the stoped the production of theese. It has a lanyard on the mainspring housing like your original, but comes with a cold hammer forged barrel, bakelite grips, modern ejection port and modern sights, I actually own one. Imbel is a very respected company, they have produced 1911s for springfield for years
I just recently purchased a springfield armory 1911 and I was around $670 with a box of shells, on there website they say the msrp is around $709. I can't wait to shoot it
Being a old M60A1 mechanic and then a 19E20, when I here it’s a “All Original 1911” so I served in 5 Armor battalions and was issued a 1911 as my side arm in those units, now here is where the term goes off the rails, when we returned from the field or a range op, we as a either tank crew or normally a platoon would clean the 1911’s in a rather unconventional fashion, we would break all the weapons down, pile them in a shower, soak them in CLP break free, let it sit, then turn the shower on as hot as possible! Then a quick wipe down and you started reassembling the weapons, and if you served you know the only thing that matter was the serial number matched your weapons card that you turned in when you drew the weapons. Long and short is they were just assembled and functioned checked then turned in! So all original? Don’t thing those are in excistance
I’ve had two of the bare bones Mil-Spec since 2002. Only change I made was to replace the original cheesy plastic grip. Great pistols, after thousands of rounds, never had a problem.
I own a a1 and a mil-spec 1911 and many other 1911s from Springfield and other different manufacturers. The mil-spec is a wonderful entry level 1911, never had a problem with the old girl
The Springfield is a beautiful gun, and definitely a good representation of the original WWII 1911. The slight variation in the color scheme really sets it off. I agree completely to get something like this to make sure your 1943 lasts another 80 years or more. That's a real piece of history.
1911 is still my favorite. Used to carry on as an MP, but it was an old Colt.
Yeah man! When I was an MP, We were pretty close to the last generation to carry the 1911. We were issued two magazines with three rounds in each before shift! Just enough to get us killed! Lol. That was back in the mid 80s. Word was we were going to be issued 9mm's, but I didn't stay long enough to see the change.
@JohnWhite-xc3md the last time I saw "military" carry of 1911 was in 1994 here in Los Angeles. After the Northridge earthquake of 94, an office building that was severely damaged was being guarded by national guard troops. I remember the officer in charge had a 1911 with no mag on his holster. None of the national guard troops had magazines loaded.
11:50 I was an M1 tanker in the Army, 87-91. Tank crewmen at the time carried the WWII era 1911s, the same as you have there. All different manufacturers. We used the lanyard loops with lanyards as standard. The other end of the lanyard was attached to our LBE or shoulder holster. We only used leather shoulder holsters. All our 1911s functioned flawlessly and I loved shooting them. 👍
Not always sometimes carrying the M3 grease gun or few and far even the Tommy gun or M1 Garand tanker variant
@@darthtyranus7683 The “Tanker“ version was NEVER issued to the US military. It was a post-war gimmick that gunsmith‘s and manufacturers made from surplus parts.
@@ericplaysbass ,You are Correct ! 👍🇺🇸
Not much dirt or sand inside a tank to mess things up so one would hope that those guns ran fine.
@@ericplaysbass I mean, technically there were prototypes if I’m not mistaken, but yeah they were never issued.
What interests me more with the M1 Garand variants were the prototype models that took BAR magazines. If they actually got those to work reliably, the M1 Garand would have been an even better gun than it already was
Spent almost 20 years with the SA 1911 mil-spec A-1. Was very happy with that pistol.
Was?
@@johnchalleen3278 Was still happy with it, even though I let a family member talk me out of it 😉👍
A 1911 has the sweetest, iconic sound when racking the slide back..
I found my SA mil spec in a pawn shop, it was love at first sight! I know I paid more than I should have, but I consider the purchase, a rescue mission to what is now, my edc sidearm... :)
It took me forty years of shooting handguns to arrive at this model. I lacked wrist discipline and so for years shot revolvers, passing on the reliability issue from my brain to the firearm. Then one day I discovered that all that shooting had internalized my attention to grip: I found that I actually shot a Glock 9mm better than I shot my revolvers, and soon after realized I could shoot a Series 70 .45 with equal success. It wasn't long after that I cleaned out all my S&Ws and chose this SA model for my sole handgun. One consideration (as discussed in another of your videos) is that I retired to an "impossible" CCL state, where neither the law permits nor the culture requires that I feel I need to carry--so size doesn't matter. My father loved the 1911A1 but never could afford one while raising a family following WWII. I'm happy to be fulfilling his dream.
Mil-spec refers to the tolerances on the prints the gun has been made too.They are made so ALL the parts are INTERCHANGEABLE...that is mil spec!
Exactly.
Turned 21 a couple years ago, this was the first gun I ever owned. Do not regret, even though my collection has grown its still my favorite.
During my Army service “back in the day” I was issued both M1911 or M1911A1 pistols at various assignments. I’ve also played with the Springfield All Custom version with modern Novak sights. I personally preferred the smaller military sights over the modern gigantic three-dots because of the precise sight picture I could achieve even under stress. Aim small, miss small. YMMV
If you need a big sight picture then you probably don't practice enough.
@@stephenshallcross7832 have fun aiming in the dark in modern days
@@hoppinggnomethe4154 If you need a pistol in the dark they probably are close enough to just point and shoot. If you are defending they are close if they are running away, then you should probably hold your fire.😀, If you are attacking with a pistol then you should probably be weighing up your career choice.
@@hoppinggnomethe4154 that's what knives are for. If you're in the dark, and didnt bring a light, you have bigger problems than what sights are on your pistol
Agreed!!
My wife was passed down an original from WWII complete with leather holster. The holster has Peleliu scratched into it along with tally marks (who knows what it’s counting).
It still shoots as good as new 1911’s and is about the same shape as yours in the video except hers has a lot of wear inside the slide.
We both know what those tallys are counting. I have a rifle my grandma was given by a guy she worked with that he brought back from ww2 europe. It has tally marks on it too. He clarified to my grandma though that those tallys were kills and he said "take care of it and itll take care of your family"
I'm really glad to see that Springfield is getting some respect back after alot of people boycotted them. They really make the best production 1911s out there, I loved my light weight ronin commander so much I bought another one.
Couldn't agree with u more. I have several springfields. My favorite, my range officer elite in 10mm.
They’re good. Definitely top tier. When so many companies make high quality versions of the same product you can’t really say any of them are number one. It’s just the minor differences that push different models to the top of each individuals priority list, but that’s the great thing about capitalism.
They’re pretty good. I wouldn’t say “best production 1911”, with companies like Kimber, Colt, Ruger, and Sig, out there!
@@stevepauley2437 I own several colts also but you can see the difference in quality and reliability from the one's I bought in the 80s and the more recent 2019 lightweight commander. I would would also add that since that post, Bul Armory is really giving all those companies a some real competition.
@@BLACKWOLF-1911 true, all companies seem to have ups and downs. I just can’t see putting Springfield as the number 1, on the list. Those Bul guns seem pretty solid!
Just got a Springfield 1911, here in CA you have your choice between a Springfield or a kimber- literally only those 2. It’s a beautiful gun, I didn’t understand the following of the 1911 before but now I do, just something about it.
You mean to tell me CA chose a couple of good guns? That is really a genuine shocker!
I felt the same way about 1911's. I went to turners when I heard CA was gonna take colts off the roster. I went and almost got the last one and got denied because I had got a handgun with the 30 day period. I was bummed out. I got the. KIMBER stainless II and I love it. I got the Springfield milspec after that, I love them both. I fell in love with the simplistic beauty of them.
Love the basic 1911A1! Fits my hand perfectly, and I shoot "OK" with it. If I could have only *ONE* handgun, it would be a 1911!! Thanks for the video, David!
Been shooting a Springfield A1 for many years, but CZ won my heart.....now shooting a Shadow 2
Excellent comparison! You're very calm and composed when talking about these guns. Thanks for making this video!
Great video. I’ve got 8 1911’s. & 1 Remington Rand 1944 US army issue 1911. I’ve had it for 30 + yrs and have never fired it. The gun is in great shape but it’s not replaceable. To me. I’m just a 1911 lover. Love your channel. Thank you for doin good info vids.
I was issued the M1911A1 in the 80s. My USAF match gun had a Remington slide and Colt frame. Adjustable sights and trigger were added with TLC by USAF armorers. Made me look good. The SA Mil Spec used to be made in Brazil by Imbel and assembled here; look and see if it says "Itajuba" or "Imbel" on the frame under the grips. Imbel made them for the Brazilian military (in 9x19) before they switched to the Beretta 92 (as we did). The 1911 clones made in Brazil, Turkey and the Philippines seem as well made as anything I was issued. An ISO 9000 CAD/CAM machine in Turkey can do a better job than a 1940s sewing machine company. ;)
Those lanyard loops were used by M.P.s, Navy Shore Patrol, Guard posts, and others. The reason you have never seen the lanyards used is, you were not in the military back when we actually carried 1911s.
True that
Hell yeah, nice collection man. My grandpa was a ranger in north Africa, France, and Germany. As a retired combat vet myself, I appreciate seeing this. Good on you sir.
My first automatic pistol was a mil-spec Springfield Armory 1911 purchased brand new in 1988 for.... $315. Lightly modified shortly after purchase to include better sights (3 dot weren't standard back then), a Wilson Combat hammer, trigger and sear, and a throated, polished barrel by a friend who was my company armorer. I still have that pistol to this day and though I have a dozen other 1911s including a couple Les Baers, I'll never part with my original Springfield Armory.
Excellent! Thanks for a side by side review of the Classic and modern Mil spec 1911's
Excellent video bud!
I absolutely love my new production SA Mil Spec 1911...the gun is TIGHT and the fit and finish is equal to a $1500 gun.
I carried a Remington Rand 1911 for years back in the 70's. I installed a match barrel and bushing and it was a very good shooter. It gobbled up 230 ball without a hick up and never experience tolerance stack up with it.
Great video, I love my Springfield 1911 congratulations on your purchase. My wood grips came with the Springfield emblem emblazoned on the grips
Excellent video. My first 1911 was a Rock Island as well. I just purchased this Springfield and get to pick it up on November 19. In addition, I have a Colt 1911 Competition chambered in 9mm and a Ruger SR1911.
I think the definition of mil-spec and how to interpret it as it applies to these firearms needs to be discussed. I was always told and from what i have read, mil-spec is short for military specification. I thought that meant that there are a certain number of categories and guidelines that the military set and a firearm must fall within those guidelines in order to be a quote “mil-spec” firearm. I am really sure that if a firearm meets all the criteria of what is considered mil-spec that if it surpasses military specifications that is does not get disqualified as mil-spec. It doesn’t have to be an exact copy of an original 1911 from wwII to be mil-spec. I think S/A put together a 1911 that very closely mimics a genuine original one but with a couple liberties such as the sights, grips, and checkering which really improved the gun, but still stayed true to the intention of the appearance of a back in the day govt issued 1911. I certainly do not think that disqualifies if from being mil-spec.
Your enthusiasm elevates these videos, Dave, and makes them really enjoyable. Thanks.
Wow, perfect video for me! I have owned a stainless steel Springfield mil-spec 1911A1 for a long time. And I carried a Remington Rand in a shoulder holster while I was in Vietnam.
Bought a mil spec in 2004 sold it later and bought another couple years ago both functioned flawlessly with ball ammo which is all I shot from either. Accuracy was excellent with both for the most part, bare bones pistols.
Nice video and I like that WW2 model too they just look so darn good , small sights and all.
I have a Springfield Mil Spec 1911. It’s more a Mil Spec tribute than a part for part copy. Mine is a great shooter.
The ONE "Mod" I did to my NM Springfield Armory 1911A1 was taking flat white modeling paint and 'enhancing' the sights by painting the front ramp and two lines on the rear (on either side of the notch). It has worked WELL over the years, and I would recommend it for those not wanting to swap out sights and keeping to the original in the way of design.
I've owned that 1911A1 from Springfield Armory for some 35+ years, and it still DRIVES THE NAILS.
The Springfield has a Lowered Ejection Port too compared to the Mil-Spec.
I absolutely love my Kimber custom 2! Over 1k rds no issues, have 7 sets of grips, 5 holsters, it will hit any target I point at, put fiber a optic front sight changed all the black pieces to stainless, it’s my favorite piece! Kimber has a bad rap, mine is a beauty though!
I have heard never anything bad about Kimber. Just the opposite - they are great guns.
I love my Kimber Gold Match. Very reliable and very accurate. I have a Colt Series 70 to compare it with and the Kimber is far the better gun. I did buy a Wilson Combat magazine as my spare for the Kimber.
@@yokoshemp you need more mags than! I have seven! One is Kimber the others are Wilson combat, 8rd tactical fit nice with my magwell too!
@@robs4517 Overpriced bling. Why buy that when most of its rivals can produce good results for 20% less money? If a Springfield or S&W version of the 1911 can put out 2" groups with half-decent ammo without jamming, it's good enough for me. Other than that, I don't see what makes Kimber so special.
@@largol33t1 I didn't say anything about price. I just said Kimber was good. However, where I live in can get a Kimber for the same price as a "nicer" Springfield and its still under $1000. The Springfield will run the same price with "upgrades" that are standard on the Kimber. Plus, the Kimber is US made.
Springfield Armory used to make a "GI" model. No lowered and flared ejection port, same lower sights, same safety lever, same arched mainspring housing, same hammer, etc.....as your Remington Rand. I currently own two Springfield Armory 1911's, a 'GI' model and a 'Loaded' model. If I carry my 'Loaded' model, it's in a shoulder holster.
Nice guns, good review. While in the Navy back in the day I carried an early colt 1911, now I find those are very rare because the Army got most of them, so I bought a new Colt Government Model because of nostalgia. It is like the Springfield with the new sight picture, I also bought the holster in black because that was what we used in the Navy.
@Deborah TheMiorgan 👍🏻
My buddy has this same Springfield and man it is slick! Those are VERY VERY nice pistols with smooth slick nice handling controls and awesome triggers!
Nice review! The Springfield Armory mil spec is really a decent 1911 for the money. A stainless steel mil spec was one my first 1911 pistol.
Very good video. I have a Springfield MIlSpec from 15-20 years ago that I bought new, I forget exactly when. When new It had black plastic grips, a lot closer to what is on your Rem-Rand. It has served me well and while I'm not currently carrying it EDC, I have in the past and do carry it sometimes still. OWB, Shoulder holster and IWB occasionally, though I generally dislike IWB, sometimes it's the only way to carry a full size pistol. For a few years Springfield made what they called a GI model, which was a lot closer to the WWII production guns than the MilSpec. Really wish I'd gotten one when they were available.
Very nice review and info on 1911’s. Greatly appreciate your knowledge.
Hi Dave,
Beautiful firearms, thanks again for showing me Mill-Spec and what it means.
Be well
Great review DR Drake you have good taste in equipment.
the SA Mil-Spec was originally a step up from their "GI Issue 1911 (back in the early 90s) the GI would match your WWII 1911 exactly. The Mil-Spec added the raised sights, a lowered ejection port, and the barrel. SA stopped offering the GI Issue, since the price point was exactly the same as the Mil-Spec. So no one was buying the GI version, except people looking for an exact WWII Army issue 1911 new in box.
So now the Mil-Spec is their lower priced 1911.
I remember seeing the MP s having the lanyard on their 1911s growing up on military bases. I always thought they looked cool on there and maybe a bit more secure.
Great report on the 1911. I love that old war horse pumpkin roller.
This video just made me even more excited about my incoming Springfield 1911 Mil Spec. I can’t wait!
Looks amazing and I believe it would look even better on my hip ! Thanks for showing
You are welcome!
I have a Military Model from the mid 1990's. Shot it a lot. Looks just like that one but has Model 1911-A1/Cal .45 on the slid. I also have recently a Tisas Service Special. It came with the 1911 flat main spring housing with a lanyard loop. I got an arched one to replace it with with a lanyard loop. I also inherited a 1943 Ingram pistol. Tisas makes a closer to mil-spec 1911 they call the W W II model. There pistol has the original sites on it.
I have both a Remington Rand WW2 and a mil- spec, both awesome platforms.
So beautiful brings a tear to my eye. Much love and respect from Australia 🇦🇺🇺🇸
Great video. I have the Springfield also. And the holster, belt, and magazine pouch. Mine is black though. It’s from the Vietnam era. It goes well with my M1A.
Got a few of these, good work. - Neo
Those pitting marks, the imperfections of not only the manufacturer of the time but the national crisis to weaponize our fighting men/alternatively the stuff you see on Walthers in late war....that stuff that cannot be faked...and it gives me, a history buff just the utter chills it's so cool, the tactile reminder of a period of true trials.
very detail comparison of the two, thanks.
Some of the real differences in the two guns that are more than cosmetic are that the New Version has a lowered and faired back ejection port along with an extended ejector, and a beveled magazine well. The sights are also a big change and I happen to like the originals just fine, but I understand I’m an outlier here… SA does make a fine gun.
The Turkish made Tisas M1911A1 “U.S. Army” imported by SDS is the closest clone currently in production that’s out there.
Have a stanless milspec. Beautiful pistol and functions like a sewing machine. The milspec is a fine pistol, you wont be disappointed. Great video
Speaking of finish on the R-R, I bought a Remington-Rand 1911A1 in 1987 for $300. After wiping the cobwebs out of the barrel, I discovered it was a new or nearly new High Standard barrel as you could see the marks of the drill bit on the lands and the rifling cutter marks in the grooves.
Love my MilSpec Springfield. It has always worked with any ammo.
I picked up one of these too - Defender Series Mil-Spec in the carboard box with just one mag, a good deal at $475 new.
That Remington 1911 might have tired springs, particularly the recoil spring and the firing pin spring. Wolff Gunsprings make really good springs for the 1911 pistols.
Awesome《☆》The GI cardboard box from Remington is in remarkable shape & probably just as important as the actual gun👍🤓
He could probably get more for that box then he could get for the Springfield. Lol
The first trigger had a distictive ring tone like a silver coin has vs a nickel one. interesting.
1911A1compartable to my hand thanks for video, David!
Last year I found a small baggie of gun parts at a garage sale.
Picking it up I noticed three near perfect 1911 barrels. All government marked and dated from 1944. There was also some other 1911 parts such as springs.
I paid $12 for the whole bag! Because I didn't have a 1911, I sold the bag for $550 that very night.
Cool piece of 1911 history you have there I also like the new version 1911milspec gi both basic dependable design good video sir.
Great video. Looks to be a different package compared to the Springfield Mil-Spec I got around 2015. The parkerizing on mine is beautiful, it’s like black velvet. By the way, thats a nice Remington!
Excellent review!
As with prices I got the RIA 1911. Comparing apples to apples it wasn't a rotten apple by any means. That Springfield is nice also.
1911, what a work of art.
I own more than one 1911. One of them being a mil spec Springfield and i think it's awesome.
1973 Army Military Police here. I had the remington like you show and we had to use lanyard loop all the time.
I saw one at the store the other day for $550. Nice firearm, but I like my RI better. The RI looks more "milspec" than the Springfield. And my RI shoots every bit as well as my 70 series Gold Cup, albeit a little harder to hit the target with those crappy sights, but I do like the way those crappy sights look lol.
I would've LOVED those sights when enlisted!
Good content! Interesting and informative. I'm a cz guy but been leaning toward a 1911 lately.
Thanks for the great review. I qualified with an Ithaca M1911A1 during my Army service in South Korea. The sights are rudimentary because the original 1911 was not designed for accurate target shooting. It was meant to be a close quarters combat, point and shoot, and quickly hit your enemy pistol. There was no zeroing of the weapon itself, the zeroing range was for zeroing the shooter. So while the sights of that Springfield would have been nice to have on the range for paper competitions, it could prove a deadly distraction during an enemy engagement at close quarters. I wouldn’t hesitate to carry one as a personal defense weapon.
I got the SA operator and yes the first upgrade was getting a GI lanyard mainspring house on it. They got these kimber ones that are flat and comes already assembled.
The big difference is the size of the ejection port. As for the serrations on the mainspring housing and slidestop, later Remington Rand and Colt pistols in WW2 were also serrated. From early 1944 to end of production.
ABSOLUTELY STUNNING VIDEO
When we lived near Springfield, MO I saw a WW-1 issued m1911 that was manufactured in 1916, and had served in the same artillery unit as Harry Truman. I also bought a Springfield Armory m1911a1 GI model, (one step down from yours) which unless You have a very good knowledge of the original, and really good eyesight, I doubt you could tell it from an issued WW-2 handgun. And it has a lanyard loop. 😁
That old Remington Rand looks pretty good to be made by a bunch of typewriter people. That's a really nice WW2 original gun. One thing about the old military 1911;s was they would rattle when you shook them, there was a pretty good amount of play between the frame and slide, you could actually feel the loose tolerances of the frame/slide fit. Question: Is the new one anything like the old ones on the loose tolerances? I would imagine the new ones are probably quite a bit tighter than the old ones.
I had a RIA GI 1911, i sold it to buy the springfield milspec 1911, I absolutely love it! I’m pretty accurate with it, I bought 2x magazines as well, I kinda miss my RIA and i may ask my friend i wanna buy it back lol, i also bought a springfield 10mm ronin not long ago as well!
I have the same Springfield its a very good shooter. Love it..shoots every bit as good as my Wilson.
The 45 auto 1911 is my favorite handgun in the world it is the 1st one that I have fell in love with back in the seventies when I used to watch starsky and hutch and to this day it is still my all time favorite number 1 handgun.
I have a Springfield 1911 .45 Mil Spec/stainless barrel. I brought it to TJs gunsmith in Aurora, CO and let him have his way with it. Phenomenal gun. Total cost of the gun was under $1000. I have had it for about 15 years, and have THOUSANDS of rounds through it. I have yet to trade a single part out. I can still shoot overlapping groups at 25 yds with it. I would not trade it for any 1911, no matter what the name or cost. Especially the so-called "custom" off the shelf guns.
EXCELLENT video, thanks very much. Greetings from Mexico City
I've had that Springfield for a while now, great gun for the money. Hell, great gun for a bit more.
Here in Brazil we have a company called Imbel, wich produced a mil spec 1911A1, but unfortunately they have recently annouced the stoped the production of theese. It has a lanyard on the mainspring housing like your original, but comes with a cold hammer forged barrel, bakelite grips, modern ejection port and modern sights, I actually own one. Imbel is a very respected company, they have produced 1911s for springfield for years
I just recently purchased a springfield armory 1911 and I was around $670 with a box of shells, on there website they say the msrp is around $709. I can't wait to shoot it
Favorite pistol. I have a colt made in 1942 . It was my dad's gun. I gave it to my son.
Being a old M60A1 mechanic and then a 19E20, when I here it’s a “All Original 1911” so I served in 5 Armor battalions and was issued a 1911 as my side arm in those units, now here is where the term goes off the rails, when we returned from the field or a range op, we as a either tank crew or normally a platoon would clean the 1911’s in a rather unconventional fashion, we would break all the weapons down, pile them in a shower, soak them in CLP break free, let it sit, then turn the shower on as hot as possible! Then a quick wipe down and you started reassembling the weapons, and if you served you know the only thing that matter was the serial number matched your weapons card that you turned in when you drew the weapons. Long and short is they were just assembled and functioned checked then turned in! So all original? Don’t thing those are in excistance
The better term is about as original as we can get given how many times these things were taken apart
Nice pistols both! I have a Colt 1911Series 70 model which I also like. I wish it had the Springfield sights though.
Got one, love it. Shoots great and feels good. Sights are different but I can adjust.
Nice pair of pistols! I shot expert in the Marines with the 1943 version, just sayin. I'd rather have the sights on the Springfield, though.
I’ve had two of the bare bones Mil-Spec since 2002. Only change I made was to replace the original cheesy plastic grip. Great pistols, after thousands of rounds, never had a problem.
I own a a1 and a mil-spec 1911 and many other 1911s from Springfield and other different manufacturers. The mil-spec is a wonderful entry level 1911, never had a problem with the old girl
Nice review. Would have liked to see trigger pull weight (lbs) of the SA Mil-Spec vs RR.
Good review. I'd like to have a Springfield Mil-Spec.
You can see physical differences in tolerance of slide to frame fit. Very interesting
Slide to frame fit does not need to be extremely tight. Does not equate to more or less accuracy.
@@jamesorth1521 no mention of accuracy. I was speaking to the difference in tolerances by modern manufacturing processes..
The sound of the hammer cocking sounds like the signature sound for Hammer cocking guns in the movies.
Great vid, Drake!
💪🏻🇵🇷👍🏻
I’ve got the same gun, and I love it. Planning on making a leather holster for mine.