I'd love to have an 1911 but the .45ACP cartridges are really getting expensive now...

I had to order Beretta 92FS 9mm as my first pistol (I have a rifle and a revolver). But Colt 1911 feels really well in my hand.

I'm looking at a Colt Mark IV right now. Had 2 P90's get past me (ambi firearm). Need to find out if this one is ambi before I go droppin' any coin.

Here ya go Frank, yeah, they'd change out parts to loosen them up for field conditions. Nice article.

http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/history/s70_colts.htm

Now, Les...... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" /> I don't have an i-fone, I don't drink latte or go to Starbucks like you folks in CA..... I'm just a southern redneck that doesn't believe anyone needs a crappy weapon..... at least not an easily concealed sorry pistol.



Marge, no - a wrecker driver hauled it to me - he got it from who knows where - likely via a magistrate's order on an impounded abandoned car. I need to check it out a little further, but I ain't gonna hire a private eye. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />



I'm guessing that if I can shoot it well enough, I won't need too many rounds. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> I think that model is referred to as the "Last Word". <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />

Frank <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Thanks, Marge - either this one hasn't been shot very much - or it's been tightened up... because lightly oiled, it doesn't rattle at all when you shake it. I suspect it's had little use because it feels new in every department except the grip safety.... that's a little soft, but maybe that's the way it was when new. It's been so long since I've held one, I don't remember.

Frank

When I was stationed in Germany, the Army made the switch from .45 to 9mm for sidearms. Would that have been 1911s they had prior to going to the 9s? I had a chance to buy 2 for 50 bucks each...I regret not going to the sale that day about once a month. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Yes, the M9 replaced the 1911 because the rest of NATO was using 9mm and we wanted to have ammo compatibility. At the time I had just bought a Browning 9mm Hi-Power and was shocked that they chose the Beretta instead of the BHP. IIRC, the difference in bid price was between $25-75/each.

Interestingly, the 1911 is reportedly still used by SWAT teams, FBI Hostage Rescue, USMC Force Recon, Army Spec Ops and Delta Force. There's an ongoing interest - particularly among the USMC - to develop an improved 1911.

web page

I can already see that I'm going to need some range time to get used to the thumb safety. I don't want to carry it in Condition 1/cocked and locked, but there may be times when I would want to.... and that's not the time to be trying to remember to flip the lever. I guess I need to shoot it enough so it becomes a natural instinct and/or find out if I can draw it and rack the slide fast enough to carry it in Condition 3/empty chamber, magazine in.

At my age, I probably don't have the reflexes to jack the slide fast enough in an emergency, but there is a half-cocked hammer position that appears to allow for a round in the chamber, thumb safety off..... full cock is then very easy and it's ready to fire quickly with a minimum of effort. Unless a 1911 expert tells me that's a bad idea, it might be the best way for me to use it.

[EDIT] I've found several 1911 discussion threads that seem to agree that the half-cock position isn't safe - so, I guess it's gonna be cocked and locked for me. [EDIT]

Frank

What's the story on those Titanic revolvers. Couldn't find much on the web. Do they have any historical value. Were they made a long time ago.

IMO, if it was something made pre WW2, it should be preserved and saved, if not fired. After WW2, probably not worth a whole lot. Although, now that I think about it, aren't snubbies sort of a 1950s and newer thing? And I see what you mean about it looking like a garbage gun. I'm kind of curious about the history of those things.

As far as the 1911, very good find. I hope you do run the numbers to make sure they aren't stolen, but as mentioned before I'd avoid any police departments. You say that you have friends there, so maybe they can run the numbers off the grid, but my experience has been that certain police departments have an official policy of not returning guns when found or turned in, under any circumstances. They are usually melted down at regular intervals. That's the case with our Portland PD. Even if you reported your gun stolen and it was recovered, they will refuse to give it back to you and will melt it down.

Smaller departments tend to be a little better about it, but I guess it depends on the agency and the state you live in and how anti-gun they are. The fact that the guns aren't even yours to begin with...ie..they weren't officially transfered to you in a regular purchase, or whatever your local laws require, makes it even more unlikely that any police department would want to give them back.

Seems like you could probably run a serial number over the phone ananomously. I've had two guns stolen in my lifetime and I call the local police department every few years to see if they are still listed as stolen or if they were recovered. After I learned that the ultimate fate would be that I would never get them back no matter, I sort of stopped calling, but the point is, they never asked who I was or anything, just ran the number and said, yep, it's still stolen.

Titanic was a brand made in Miami and distributed by F.I.E. (Firearms Import Export) of Hialeah, FL. The Titanic line included various semiauto and revolver models. I don't know what happened to the manufacturing plant, but F.I.E. went out of business before 1990. They were also distributors of Italian-made Franchi shotguns, German-made Arminius revolvers, Italian Tanfoglio TZ 9mm semiauto and such.

My 2000 edition of the Firearms Guide has some Titanic pistols listed under F.I.E., but doesn't list that cheapo revolver model.

Frank

Thats kind of what I meant about that gun. Not very many of them around anymore. Hang it on the wall for laughs.

I see your point about "throw aways" but some folks just want a cheapo for home protection. The idea is that the weapon will only be used at time of incident and not a shooter you take to the range. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> "Yea I'll take 400 rounds and the Titanic please" <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

"stick shift" <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> Thats awesome.

Good point about the Titanic. It may be crap, but it also my hold some sort of collecting value. If it were me, after I'd determined it wasn't involved in any crime, I'd maybe remove the hammer spring (or something) and keep it separate.

Tough call on having either one of them tested by police. But here's what you could do...have the Titanic ran through testing first, DON'T mention the 1911, and tell them you want it back. If you get it back with no issue, then you stand a better chance of the same thing happening afterward when you have them test the 1911. And if you don't get it back, then that should help you with your decision on what to do with the 1911. There's nothing that says you need to run them both at the same time, right?

I guess the remaining question in my head is this: if they DO find it was involved in a murder, could they come back and charge you? What protection do you have that could prevent that from happening?

If you determine that you won't be running the 1911 through testing, preserve it well in a sealed box and bury it in the wilds somewhere along with some ammo. Might come in handy if the SHTF. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />