Posted: 1/14/2011 1:48:50 PM EDT
| Hey all -Was in the gun store and they had a used 1911. I thought it was a commander but it said SA Compact on the side. Gun store employee said he didn't know when it was made or anything about it. Side by side it was the same size as a commander. Anyone know anything about this pistol ? They wanted $475.00 for it, is that reasonable? Thanks |
|
It is not a commander. The barrel length of a commander is 4.25" whereas the SA (and Kimber) is 4". I thought SA called the 4" model the "champion" and their 3" model the "ultra-compact".
The gun must be a few years old because SA's naming convention has been champion (not compact) for the 4" model for quite some time. I have no opinion on the price as I do not usually buy used. I hope you find something you like. |
|
Quoted:
Hey all -Was in the gun store and they had a used 1911. I thought it was a commander but it said SA Compact on the side. Gun store employee said he didn't know when it was made or anything about it. Side by side it was the same size as a commander. Anyone know anything about this pistol ? They wanted $475.00 for it, is that reasonable? Thanks Older model. Mine was all steel and a very good little pistol. I'd offer them $425 out the door and see what happens. JD |
|
I've got a SA Compact that is an excellent daily carry gun. Has the 4" Commander length barrel/slide and the officer sized grip. No problems with the gun, runs a bit heavier spring than a standard 5", but functionally it works great. Since the frame is aluminum make sure the one you are looking at has a ramped barrel. From what I could ascertain there were three "generations" of the SA Compact. The first was an aluminum frame with a standard barrel. The second was with the ramped barrel and the third came with night sights and I believe they went to a full-length guide rod. The loaded model series has a the oversize frame safety, beavertail grip safety, skeletonized hammer and trigger, adjustable for over-travel. Mine is a second generation, having all the loaded features but with plain black sights. The front sight was a staked on style, but has since been removed and the slide milled with a dovetail and replaced with a tritium job. The barrel is a bull barrel style bushingless setup. It uses a standard GI guide rod with a reverse style plug. The reason you want the ramped barrel is there was apparently problems with HP bullets damaging the frame by digging into the feed ramp on the frame. Functionally, mine runs great. I use the Wilson Officer sized magazines and they work great. I don't recall the price I paid for mine, but $475 seems pretty good if it has the "loaded" features. If you are looking for a carry 1911 I'd pick it up. Coupled with a Milt Sparks VMII holster it's a great all-day, everyday carry setup. |