Chinese Copies

Dave waved me over to the gun case with a smile this morning, as I ambled into his pawn shop. Without my asking, he pulled out a Norinco 1911 and inquired "Whatcha think?" This was a Government sized Norinco 1911A1 with rubber grips. The grips had a "Ranger" medallion. The gun had no import markings.

The Norinco is a Chinese copy of the classic GI M1911A1. The steel is good enough that Clark's Custom will use them for a 460 Rowland conversion. The Norinco slides are known for dulling blades used to cut sight dovetails. They are accepted as a good in spec base gun, a diamond in the rough by renowned gunsmiths. They can often be shot as is by those who simply want a GI style 1911. They are no longer importable after Bill Clinton's presidency.

Dave was wanting $350 for the Norinco, and I thought about it a bit. I looked the pistol over, and noted the roughness of many of the parts. The mainspring housing looked like the serrations were cut with a grinding wheel. There were mill marks present in places that I am used to being smooth. Overall, the pistol had a third world look to it, kind of cool.

I handed it back to Dave. For $300, I might bite, but I have a bunch of 1911s. Perhaps I will kick myself in the future, I really don't need another project gun. I would keep the Norinco as it was, perhaps swapping out the rubber grips for double diamonds. Bottom line was I did not need the gun, and it did not insprire me. I handed it back to Dave.