ltwguns.com

Hey guys,

Have any advice for buying a lightweight 1911 in Cali? (Yea, i know CA is a terrible place for these kinda toys) I'm lookin for a commander or gov size that's got good fit/finish, an alloy frame, a crisp skeletonized trigger, night sights, and is accurate to about 2 in @ 25 yards. I really like the Kimber CDP II Pro, but it's got too many probs for me to handle. Have any suggestions as to what i should get? I'm totally willing to have a few mods done to it to fit my liking, but i don't want to have any real serious work done on it b/c i want to test out a new gunsmith with this piece.

Thanks for the help!

Gotta, It seems to me like a Springfield lightweight Gov't. is what you're looking for. I don't know if it's on the Calif. approved list or not.

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
Thunder Ranch THG & UR(x2), Gunsite 250C,
Yavapai Firearms Acad HG1(x2), HG2, & SG,
Shootrite Prvt Inst HG, NRA Life Member

You may want to consider Wilson Combat. I have two (steel frames) and one at WC getting done and they are flawless. Utterly reliable and accurate! Even though they're not catalogued, they do lightweight frames in the configuration's you want. I know you can get a GOV or Commander sized (Professional model and CQB/CQB compact) CA approved. Just call and see if they can do it for you. However, they may end up on your speed dial like mine at 800.955.4856!!

Smith & Wesson maybe. Their Scandium frames are quite light and are offered in both sizes. Had there not been a temporary hiccup regarding their Titanium source, I'd have suggested getting a Ti frame and slide from Caspian, giving those to one of the 'smiths here, and cutting them loose. Man, just think what the end result of that would have been.

Good luck in your quest . . .

Gunfighter, is it true that the lightweight SA's have a reputation for shooting low and having probs? At the moment, i'm deciding between the Scandium Smith, the aluminum SA, or an old Kimber CDP I. I really want to begin with a good lightweight platform that's already accurate and reliable. With that, i'll send it off to one of the smiths here to customize the heck out of it for me. Oh yea, so how does the aluminum SA and Scandium Smith feel? Is it off balance like a glock? Traditionally, i'm not a SA or Smith man, so i haven't had the chance to pick one up.

As for Caspian titanium... I sure wish i could buy one in this state! (damn CA!) And as for WC, have they ever made lightweight alloy frames? I know they don't sell alloy framed pistols here in CA b/c none are on the legal DOJ roster. Have they ever sold alloy frames here b/c maybe i could buy a used one?

I'm 300 rounds into a new S&W 1911PD (Scandium). So far I like it. Noticably lighter on the belt. No night sights but that is an easy fix.

Gotta, I haven't heard of any problems on the Springer lites but most of the examples I have seen were already customized. One was a "mean" Gunsite Service Pistol by Mr. Yost. They do feel a bit top heavy to me, but I think that's because I'm used to the steel GM.

_________________
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
Thunder Ranch THG & UR(x2), Gunsite 250C,
Yavapai Firearms Acad HG1(x2), HG2, & SG,
Shootrite Prvt Inst HG, NRA Life Member

suggest you check with jess gypim who posts regularly. he is building a light weight S&W for a customer, look down this page a couple of inches-good luck-cameron

The gun you describe was on my hip today. Only two things missing and that is the two dots on the rear sight.









It is a very accurate LW 5" , but not for sale.

My Kimber CDP Series I is a fantastic pistol. If the price was right, I'd buy another in a heart beat!

Dave's pistol is gorgeous.. You got me drooling on the keyboard!! I'll PM jess to see what he thinks i should do.

I'm at the deciding stage where external extractors are concerned, and the S&W Scandium was my choice as a platform to evaluate the system. I have to admit that so far (2400+ rds) it has been flawless. It's also encouraging to see that there is also support from some of the real gunsmiths for this system. Mr. Heinie in particular has good things to say about the reliability of the external S&W extractor.

There are of course detractors, but like anything else you have to winnow the chaff from the grain. One hobbyhorse part-time wannabee smith even spouts empirical "findings" that the S&W extractor is improperly designed. Guess S&W's engineers need to go back to school