Springfield 1911 Government - The Firearms Forum

312shooter · 12-30-2009, 10:29 AM

Can anyone offer information or opinions on the springfield government model 1911? I believe it was discontinued around 2001.

Also, what price range would a 99% condition stainless model, one owner; fired 200 rounds be?

Thanks to everyone, I am anxiously looking forward to jumping into the 1911 world if I get the right price, pictures will be on the way.

Lotsdragon · 12-30-2009, 10:46 AM

Dunno about that think the springfield arms co. is still producing them. Depends on your preference's I guess. Seen the standard springfield a few weeks ago for 528. new. At only 200 rounds I would have to be worried why the guy dont like it. Stainless will be higher than blue or parkerized. I bought a charles daly 45 last summer and really like it I gave 550 for it and didnt think I was getting hurt. And really the value of a gun depends on you, whats it worth to you? Hope you do good!
oh 1 thing though I still prefer my wheel guns. LOLOLOLOL

312shooter · 12-30-2009, 11:23 AM

Lotsdragon,

$400 was tossed around but I wanted to ask the pro's. Its a co-worker so I don't want to make a bad deal for either on of us.

gdmoody · 12-30-2009, 11:43 AM

shooter, I have been looking in the Blue Book for the past 10 minutes trying to answer your question. It does not show a "government model" 1911. The closest thing I can find is a 1911-A1 Standard Model but is doesn't show one in stainless. I just don't know if I am looking in the right place or not.

I will say that if you can get it for $400 then you had better grab it. I bought two used 1911's during the month of November, both blue finish, and paid $425 for one and $480 for the other.

308 at my gate · 12-30-2009, 11:45 AM

I have a colt 1911 series 70 and a springfield 1911. Both guns shoot fine. The finish is not quit as nice on the springfield but it is a good shooter. Google it and see what one prices out for. I would think that 400.00 seems fair.

Double D · 12-30-2009, 11:53 AM

I would buy it if it has only had 200rds thru it.

NonPCnraRN · 12-31-2009, 05:52 AM

As others have said, I would want to know why someone got rid of it with only 200 rounds through it. If the gun is without problems and the price is right, go for it. However, I would get a Milspec instead. It has a few changes that I feel are necessary but the gun closely resembles a GI Gov't Model. It has a polished chamber and feed ramp. It has a lowered and flared ejection port. It has much better sights. That is the most important to me. It retains the hammer, grip safety and arched main spring housing of the GI Model. It does not have a lanyard ring which may or may not be important to you. It also has slanted slide grooves vs the perpendicular slide gooves of the GI. Again, I don't know if that is important to you. It retains the GI look with the minor changes previous noted. The sights of the Milspec will make it much easier to aim. The GI model has a notoriously small front sight. If you are going to use it for self defense and use the point shooting technique then the smallish front sights won't matter. I prefer a good front sight as that is what one should focus on with the rear sight and the target a bit fuzzy. Both will need an action job if you are picky like me. I paid SA $80 for an action job for a 4# trigger that breaks like a glass rod. The trigger pull was out of spec at 8# and SA paid FedEx both ways. They would have fixed the trigger to be within spec, but 5.5-6.5 pounds is too heavy for me. 4# is as low as they can go with the original stainless parts. If you pay for a tool steel hammer and sear you can get a 3 pound trigger. Since my gun is for self defense I figured 4# was a better choice, as my wife will use the gun and is not as experienced as I am. If I gave her the stainless Milspec I would get another in a heartbeat and pay the extra money for a 3# pull. So if you want a GI looking gun, but with a few extras that will vastly improve your gun, get the Milspec either park'd or stainless. I like the look of the stainless and I can have it blackened by Robar if I change my mind. Good luck with whatever gun you decide to go with.

312shooter · 01-01-2010, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NonPCnraRN

As others have said, I would want to know why someone got rid of it with only 200 rounds through it. If the gun is without problems and the price is right, go for it. However, I would get a Milspec instead. It has a few changes that I feel are necessary but the gun closely resembles a GI Gov't Model. It has a polished chamber and feed ramp. It has a lowered and flared ejection port. It has much better sights. That is the most important to me. It retains the hammer, grip safety and arched main spring housing of the GI Model. It does not have a lanyard ring which may or may not be important to you. It also has slanted slide grooves vs the perpendicular slide gooves of the GI. Again, I don't know if that is important to you. It retains the GI look with the minor changes previous noted. The sights of the Milspec will make it much easier to aim. The GI model has a notoriously small front sight. If you are going to use it for self defense and use the point shooting technique then the smallish front sights won't matter. I prefer a good front sight as that is what one should focus on with the rear sight and the target a bit fuzzy. Both will need an action job if you are picky like me. I paid SA $80 for an action job for a 4# trigger that breaks like a glass rod. The trigger pull was out of spec at 8# and SA paid FedEx both ways. They would have fixed the trigger to be within spec, but 5.5-6.5 pounds is too heavy for me. 4# is as low as they can go with the original stainless parts. If you pay for a tool steel hammer and sear you can get a 3 pound trigger. Since my gun is for self defense I figured 4# was a better choice, as my wife will use the gun and is not as experienced as I am. If I gave her the stainless Milspec I would get another in a heartbeat and pay the extra money for a 3# pull. So if you want a GI looking gun, but with a few extras that will vastly improve your gun, get the Milspec either park'd or stainless. I like the look of the stainless and I can have it blackened by Robar if I change my mind. Good luck with whatever gun you decide to go with.

Great insight! Thanks I think I might save another 300 bucks and get the milspec. I'm just PO'd about SA making them in Brazil, I wonder with the government model to get the ejection port worked, polish the feed ramp and get SA to adjust the trigger as you mentioned for same $300 difference.

12-30-2009, 10:29 AM	#1
312shooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 1,158	Springfield 1911 Government Can anyone offer information or opinions on the springfield government model 1911? I believe it was discontinued around 2001. Also, what price range would a 99% condition stainless model, one owner; fired 200 rounds be? Thanks to everyone, I am anxiously looking forward to jumping into the 1911 world if I get the right price, pictures will be on the way. __________________ "Democracy is based on citizenship- perhaps the greatest gift the United States has given to the world- Power is vested in the people themselves, and government flows from the people" James M Henslin -->

12-30-2009, 10:46 AM	#2
Lotsdragon Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Potosi, Mo Posts: 813	Re: Springfield 1911 Government Dunno about that think the springfield arms co. is still producing them. Depends on your preference's I guess. Seen the standard springfield a few weeks ago for 528. new. At only 200 rounds I would have to be worried why the guy dont like it. Stainless will be higher than blue or parkerized. I bought a charles daly 45 last summer and really like it I gave 550 for it and didnt think I was getting hurt. And really the value of a gun depends on you, whats it worth to you? Hope you do good! oh 1 thing though I still prefer my wheel guns. LOLOLOLOL __________________ "First comes smiles,then lies.Last is gunfire" Roland Deschain

12-30-2009, 11:23 AM	#3
312shooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 1,158	Re: Springfield 1911 Government Lotsdragon, $400 was tossed around but I wanted to ask the pro's. Its a co-worker so I don't want to make a bad deal for either on of us. __________________ "Democracy is based on citizenship- perhaps the greatest gift the United States has given to the world- Power is vested in the people themselves, and government flows from the people" James M Henslin

12-30-2009, 11:43 AM	#4
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,407	Re: Springfield 1911 Government shooter, I have been looking in the Blue Book for the past 10 minutes trying to answer your question. It does not show a "government model" 1911. The closest thing I can find is a 1911-A1 Standard Model but is doesn't show one in stainless. I just don't know if I am looking in the right place or not. I will say that if you can get it for $400 then you had better grab it. I bought two used 1911's during the month of November, both blue finish, and paid $425 for one and $480 for the other. __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

12-30-2009, 11:45 AM	#5
308 at my gate Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Lost in SW USA. Posts: 847	Re: Springfield 1911 Government I have a colt 1911 series 70 and a springfield 1911. Both guns shoot fine. The finish is not quit as nice on the springfield but it is a good shooter. Google it and see what one prices out for. I would think that 400.00 seems fair. __________________ You got to love it.

12-30-2009, 11:53 AM	#6
Double D TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North Florida Contributor Posts: 8,252	Re: Springfield 1911 Government I would buy it if it has only had 200rds thru it. __________________ I own a bunch of scary guns. You want em? Come and take em..... Liberalism is a serious, non curable, mental disorder... NRA LIFE MEMBER Oath Keepers Member NRA Certified Instructor 30 Yr CC permit holder.

12-31-2009, 05:52 AM	#7
NonPCnraRN Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 42	Re: Springfield 1911 Government As others have said, I would want to know why someone got rid of it with only 200 rounds through it. If the gun is without problems and the price is right, go for it. However, I would get a Milspec instead. It has a few changes that I feel are necessary but the gun closely resembles a GI Gov't Model. It has a polished chamber and feed ramp. It has a lowered and flared ejection port. It has much better sights. That is the most important to me. It retains the hammer, grip safety and arched main spring housing of the GI Model. It does not have a lanyard ring which may or may not be important to you. It also has slanted slide grooves vs the perpendicular slide gooves of the GI. Again, I don't know if that is important to you. It retains the GI look with the minor changes previous noted. The sights of the Milspec will make it much easier to aim. The GI model has a notoriously small front sight. If you are going to use it for self defense and use the point shooting technique then the smallish front sights won't matter. I prefer a good front sight as that is what one should focus on with the rear sight and the target a bit fuzzy. Both will need an action job if you are picky like me. I paid SA $80 for an action job for a 4# trigger that breaks like a glass rod. The trigger pull was out of spec at 8# and SA paid FedEx both ways. They would have fixed the trigger to be within spec, but 5.5-6.5 pounds is too heavy for me. 4# is as low as they can go with the original stainless parts. If you pay for a tool steel hammer and sear you can get a 3 pound trigger. Since my gun is for self defense I figured 4# was a better choice, as my wife will use the gun and is not as experienced as I am. If I gave her the stainless Milspec I would get another in a heartbeat and pay the extra money for a 3# pull. So if you want a GI looking gun, but with a few extras that will vastly improve your gun, get the Milspec either park'd or stainless. I like the look of the stainless and I can have it blackened by Robar if I change my mind. Good luck with whatever gun you decide to go with. Last edited by NonPCnraRN; 12-31-2009 at 05:55 AM..