Norinco 1911's

[huawilso]

Marstar Canada: Norinco Firearms Index Page Has anyone owned one of these if so what are the pro's and con's?

 

[hippykiller]

Has anyone owned one of these if so what are the pro's and con's?

Major con... Cant buy them new. Other then that, the ones I have seen and handled don't have a very good finish on them.

 

[chipdog4]

The steel they're made of is considered to be one the best to have a custom work done to.

I would love to own one to sit next to my Colts.

 

[Slow Hand]

Back wehn Bill Wilson (of Wilson Combat fame) was starting out, you used to see his custom 1911's in many mags and a large percentage fo them were built on Norinco's. That's pretty good endorsement right there.

 

[coltaceguy]

They used 5150 steel, much harder then the steel we use.

Damn fine guns.

 

[Max Volume]

Yes, they have been known to be an excellent base gun for a build. From what I have heard the only reason some smiths won't work on them is the steel is so hard it wears out the tooling. I picked up an unfired Norinco 1911A1 with the box a few weeks ago. Got to shoot it yesterday and the function was flawless and accurate. If I was to carry it (wich I may) I would change the sights, thumb safety and possibly a beavertail and get a trigger job.

 

[Hobie8]

Shut yer pie hole and get busy making beer!

 

[unforgiven1203]

I had one for a few years and I shot it a lot (when my custom colt was broken, which was frequently) It was reliable accurate and I bought it cheaply. I cannot complain.

 

[huawilso]

Thanks for all the input I am considering buying one just to experiment and if I don't like it I post for sale or trade here in INGO.

 

[SWAMPMASTER]

I have three and always on the lookout for more

 

[muncie21]

I've got an old Norinco, and gotta say it's one of my favorite 1911's.

 

[Uralguy]

I have shot them and wish I had bought one when I had the chance.

 

[arbitrary]

I enjoy mine. It is a military grade gun, meaning the finish is not pretty. But it runs very well. There will probably never be any more imported, so if you get a good one, it will probably be a good long term investment.

If you can, strip it and check for excessive wear on the barrel lugs. Some of the older ones had a problem with this.

 

[Colt556]

I've owned a couple and loved them! They are some of the guns I wished I'd kept! I've seen many a fine pistols built from Norinco 1911s. If you find more lmk!

 

[demmons]

Was in Bradis early today and they had a Norinco 1911 for sale $399 and change was a full size. Just a heads up.

 

[Colt556]

Was it the standard blue or the very rare hard chrome/nickle? Used I assume...

 

[demmons]

It was a dull blue slide and looked like a parkarized frame. Was fairly tight and showed very litte wear. Yes it was used

 

[Colt556]

Thanks man. If I go to Bloomington tomorrow I'll take 67 down and stop by for a peek.

 

[demmons]

No problem that's why we are all here. Let us know if you pick it up.

 

[Drail]

Back about 1989 or so a customer walked into our shop and wanted some custom work done on a Norinco 1911. I knew very little about them at the time. Installed a Wilson beavertail and barrel bushing and changed out the thumb safety and mag release and basic reliability work. When grinding the initial cut on the frame for the beavertail it threw sparks like I have never seen come off of a 1911 frame. A file would barely cut the frame steel. I had to final fit it the tail with stones. The slide was so hard that a swiss file just glided over it with no effect. Really hard steel those Chinese make. The gun turned out to be very accurate and very reliable. He shot IPSC with it for one summer and then took up reloading. Some of his first handloads contained a squib which stuck one in the barrel and of course he followed that up with a live one. Brought it back and said he couldn't get the barrel out of the slide. I finally got it out with some brute force and he had bulged it real nice. But the barrel did not let go. We put a new barrel in it and as far as I know he's still shooting it. Norincos aren't much to look at but they build a solid 1911.