1911 in mirror shine, Buy bright stainless or have polished?

[TheRedStar47]

My brother been wanting to get a 1911 with that mirror shine for quite some time. Me and his wife will be going to split on cost for there 10yr anniversary.

I don't care for them but to each there own, since others don't understand why I shoot BP revolvers when you can just load a cartridges in modern revolvers

I know most who have them don't shoot them so I was going to post a WTB on EE to find one barely used, unfired or worse case buy one retail.

My question is to current owners of shiney 1911"s. Lol. Knowing what you know now. Instead of buying a polished 1911 or sending one out to be polished. Would you have just gone out and bought bright stainless from the factory?


Doing research and asking shops. No Canadian companies do nickel plating on restricted guns. The gun shops that do only do the matte refinish or will polished them so buying factory or polishing only way I've come across

 

[Fargone4sure]

I'm not an expert by any means, but I bought a Colt Custom High Polish awhile back. It's a mirror like stainless steel. Aside from the beautiful asthetics, the barrel bushing & lockup fit on the gun is incredible. So you definately get more than just looks. Personally I like the look of nickle better than SS, but the nickle wears easily.

 

[fire@will]

Not a 1911, but similar. I did this about 15 or so years ago. There was a fair bit of bluing loss and I was going to get it re-blued. 80% of the cost of re-bluing is the prior prep work, so I figured I'd do it myself and save some $. The guy I was going to get to re-blue it, no longer does it and I haven't found anyone else around here that does it, so I just left it polished. It does get some use, but not a lot. It may give you some idea what to expect, if you go the polishing route.

 

[Ganderite]

I think Rodger Kotanko does Nickle in either satin or high polish.

I have seen his work and it is excellent.

519 426- 6739 Simcoe, a simple drive straight south for you.

 

[45C]

I bought a RIA series 70, bright nickel finish.
Looks awesome, but the trigger and sights are terrible.
But, it's now at Roger's,getting upgrades.
So it may be worth while to look at a Colt.

 

[Booters]

I'm not an expert by any means, but I bought a Colt Custom High Polish awhile back. It's a mirror like stainless steel. Aside from the beautiful asthetics, the barrel bushing & lockup fit on the gun is incredible. So you definately get more than just looks. Personally I like the look of nickle better than SS, but the nickle wears easily.

I have one of these, too. Beautiful gun and would say buying one is a better choice than having a gun polished. That said, they are not common in Canada. Mine was purchased in Buffalo and imported back when Buffalo Gun Centre did that sort of thing.

And sorry, OP. I use it a lot so it's not for sale.

 

[Hitzy]

RIA (ARMSCOR) make a nice polished nickel 1911..

 

[45C]

RIA (ARMSCOR) make a nice polished nickel 1911..

That's the one I have.
It is a nice finish but the four stage trigger and the sights suck.

 

[VICIOUS]

Put some mother of pearl grips on that and pimps would love it.

 

[45C]

Put some mother of pearl grips on that and pimps would love it.

That's what's on mine.
I bought it for my son, he wanted a pulp fiction look a like..lol
Hes only 14 ,so I cut him some slack..lol

 

[Taurkon]

I just polished my Para 14-45 and pulling the slide back sucks now. Tough to get any grip on it without gloves.