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The Department that I work for recently had a administration change. We have always been able to carry just about any traditional DA/SA, DAO or safe action pistol in 9mm and above. Well the new Sheriff has voiced her opinion that Officers who can pass a transition course should be able to carry a 1911 type of weapon if they choose to. Part of the stipulation is that it be a production type pistol. Currently policy is being changed to reflect this, maybe sometime before I retire it will become effective. Now my question is two fold. Given the parameters of a factory 1911 with only sights, grips and magazines allowed to be changed which would you choose? Do you have real world experience with the one you picked and how does it perform. From my understanding the policy does not specify series 70 or 80 and would include Springfield Armory, Colt and Kimber. I am sure that some of the higher end 1911's could be included ie Wilson and maybe Ed Brown. I am patiently putting my pennies back to have a 1* package doen to a Milspec SA and would probably jump on that as a duty weapon but dont think it would be allowed because of the Mods.

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And this eternal resting place Is known as Fiddlers' Green.

My first choice would be the Wilson or EB route. The productiuon guns you named are all good guns but bring a much higher potential for needing tuning. I'd say that yes, you could get one of them and even with a bit of a going over by a smith still be under what the Wilson or EB would cost, but, if the money is there, go with one of the latter.

Depmur, I don't believe that the mods on a 1* or 1* Enhanced would disbar it from being a duty pistol on a SA Milspec. For all intent and purposes other than the sites, grips, grip safety and thumb safety, everything else is internal and handwork. Heck you can make a SA Milspec with the 1* Enhanced package look on the outside like any of the other "Loaded" pistols in the SA line up. For that matter, it would like any of the Kimber, Wilson or Ed Brown guns.

You can't go wrong with the 1* Enhanced on a SA base gun from Ted and Company, or Ned or CT or Chuck or any of the pistolsmiths on this site. Just a pure working gun with no frills and goes bang every time you pull the trigger.

Just my 2 cents.

Will

I agree 100% on the 1* package from Yost and crew. I know for the money that is the way I would prefer going. But as with most Dept's change is slow. In order to change you have to go along while trying to make change. I currently have 2 Milspecs, one that has <500 roounds through it and one that has approx. 2000 rounds. I would trust either one as far as function. The one with less than 500 rounds is the one I plan in sending to Ted and crew in the next couple months. I guess I am realy just testing the water so to speak. I've always carried my own pistol and will continue to in the future. I have also always had two exact pistols to carry, down to the sights on them just in case. I've realy become interested in the 1911 platform in the last year and then I found this sight and you all know the rest, God I wish I was rich....

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And this eternal resting place Is known as Fiddlers' Green.

Depmur, you're absolutely correct! I too am guilty of things in pairs. But that's why we have two hands!

I have a buddy that believes in muliples of 2 for handguns.....Christ and I thought I was nuts just wanting 2

Yes you're right the wheels change are incredibly slow and I would imagine even slower at the LE level. But at least you're heading in the right direction.

Good Luck!

Will

Well, I'm a little bias but I do think the 1* package especially the 1* Enhanced is a perfect gun for the parameters you mentioned. And I agree with DEA the mods on any of the guns mentioned shouldn't be an issue with your agency. You can always make the argument to the Sheriff why those changes were made to the gun. I guarantee you if the Sheriff picks a 1911 it won't be a stock gun of any kind. If he does give us a call.

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Heirloom Precision, LLC.
480-804-1911

"If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking."
- General George Patton Jr

I only left out the custom end because it sounded like that was taboo, but yeah, I mean, is sending a factory gun to a smith for a good thorough check-out, and some reliability, durability, accuracy and ergos work really custom work..... really? In this context? Seems like that should be an easy stretch to make. I mean, the argument could be, OK Chief, I'll leave it in its current unreliable, semi-safe, can't-hit-nuthin' condition, that way policy won't be violated......

What Steve said. I'd go for the 1* on your SA in a heartbeat.

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Sic Semper Tyrannis

If it looks like there might be room to argue for custom work, point out that a 1* pistol is going to have less done to it than an cataloged top-end Wilson gun. And the Wilson still needs test-firing before it is street-ready.

If the "custom gun" route is barred, you could simply do a stealth custom: Everything on the inside that matters, while leaving the exterior box-stock. If you start with a model that has what you need on the outside, you haven't given anything up.

I took a Colt Gunsite and sent it to Mr. Chuck Rogers. It turned out GREAT. It still looks factory but is nowhere near what it was before I sent it to him. Chuck by the way is "the man". He is great to deal with and does a wonderfull job. I know that it is not a true custom pistol but it should be able to do all I would ever need a pistol to do. It also feels like a custom pistol to me. It has a lot of the feature's out of the box that I like and then Chuck's master touch. For myself this is just the ticket. Good luck with your current situation. (God know's the paper pushers can take a while )

You my friend have it made. Allowed to carry a 1911 on duty. Very insightfull boss you have there. Wish I could say the same.

Tim

I too agree that a Yost 1* would be my first choice and maybe thats the way to go without any external markings. I guess I'll see what the revised weapons policy brings and then make my decision. This decision by the Sheriff has realy suprised a lot of people. I was actualy able to get one of my SA Milspecs signed off on for off duty carry yesterday. This is something that during the past 14 years would have never happened. During the previous administration we were not even allowed to shoot any single action pistol or revolver on the Dept. range. I guess I was the 5th person to get a 1911 approved for off duty carry and pass the OD qualification. Hum maybe the new Sheriff will do a good job....

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And this eternal resting place Is known as Fiddlers' Green.

Based on personal experience, custom gun mods WILL come up in a civil action but it's easily defended. It shows to most folks that you took EXTRA precaution by having your firearm double-checked and properly fitted to ensure the tool worked properly, blah, blah. Don't get me wrong, the plaintiff' attorney tried to use it but it flopped. However, every judge/jury is different as well as regional attitudes, etc During the course of the internal affairs investigation, it came up but I believe it was only to determine if a mechanical malfunction or such was involved. I was asked to give an account of work done and that was about it. Locally, it's common to see custom builds so I'm sure that helps. FWIW.

PS: If you have to use your firearm, you are going to be sued..period. No matter how justified, it will happen. So take it into account for your mods since every region's attitudes differ.

Lance-

After re-reading your original post, I forgot to include that I'm currently in the same boat of an admin change and that I plan on a 1* package Colt as my primary duty gun. Previously, I had carried a Kimber Pro Elite and a Wilson Combat Tactical Elte with no issues. If your new boss allows the custom route, you can't beat the custom build for tailoring to fit your individual needs. Stay safe!