Norinco 1911 - ambidextrous / left hand conversion

DirtFoot

DirtFoot

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I'm just shopping around for my first handgun, and after tonnes of reading and a short time trying out a couple handguns I've settled on the 1911, the Norinco ones in particular since the price point is great.

I'm a lefty through and through, so I am hoping that the 1911's are convertible to ambidextrous or left handed. By that I don't mean to make the casings eject to the opposite side. I'm thinking slide release, safety and magazine release.

Normally I can find these types of answers online without much difficulty, but I think due to the manufacturer the information is a bit limited. Or does it matter, are the Norinco models exactly the same as the "name brand" models? And are there any models to stay away from in this respect?

Any links to sites for parts, or references would be much appreciated. I want to be ready the next time there's a 1911 sale through a retailer in my area or one of the sponsors listed above.
 
I'm also extremely left handed and shoot a Norinco 1911A1 'Police Model' bought from CanadaAmmo a few years ago.
It has extended slide-release and mag.-release buttons which I find easy and convenient to use with my trigger-finger, plus an ambidextrous safety. It's solidly built, and mine has been totally trouble free.
I love it, and think it was incredible value for money at the $349.00 I paid for it then.
They are currently shown as out of stock at CanadaAmmo, but in stock at Marstar as the 'Sport Model', and are still at $349.00 there, your choice - all blued or two-tone.
I used revolvers almost exclusively for over 30 years because for most of that time I found most semi-autos were a pain in the ass, but my 1911 suits me just fine.
Go for it, you won't regret it.
Regards, DaveF.
 
There's now way I know to modify a 1911 the way you want it. I'm a lefty, and I badly wanted a gun with ambi controls, so I decided to go with a FNP45 and an CZ 85 Combat. Both of these gun are perfectly adapted for a south paw. But still, a 1911 can be a joy to operate even if the slide release is on the "wrong" side. There plenty of videos on youtube of guys showing how they shoot left handed. And with the ambi safety on a 1911 you get everything you need to be secure and have fun.
 
I put a Wilson Combat Ambi safety on mt Norinco1911. It was not a drop in part. there was some smithing to do. Not hard but it needed fitting. The Wilson Combat series on smithing the 1911 was of great help. I only heard of 1 ambi mag release but I don't think it is available any more. No real way to mod the slide. I'm a lefty and I just pull the slide to close it.
 
Some Norc 1911s come with an ambi safety,all the other standard controls are as easily manipulated by leftys as well as righties.
I once handled a LH Randal 1911 (a mirror image 1911) and the slide and mag realease couldn't be used without shifting my grip.
 
Thanks for the tips everyone. Sounds like I'll manage just fine since it sounds like safeties are ambi. Looks like the next purchase or two will be a CZ85 and/or FNP45 (thanks Riflefreak).
 
DirtFoot said:
Thanks for the tips everyone. Sounds like I'll manage just fine since it sounds like safeties are ambi. Looks like the next purchase or two will be a CZ85 and/or FNP45 (thanks Riflefreak).
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The later model 5" Norc 1911's all seem to have the ambi safety, but the commander length ones do not. All of them have the extended mag release and slide lock from what I have seen. Just check with whoever you buy from before spending the $$ to be sure you get what you want.

Be aware that the extended slide lock makes the gun not fit properly in most, if not all, holsters. I had to put a standard slide lock on both of my later Norc 1911's in order to holster them.


Mark
 
Spawn-Inc said:
How did you become extremely left handed? As opposed to just left handed?
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Yeah! Like you can't even do a good job of picking your nose right handed or what? :D

For the hell of it a few range trips back I tried working the slide lock and mag release while shooting with my left "weak" hand. Frankly I found that it took me very little to learn to use my trigger finger to sweep down the slide lock and it was only slightly awkward to work the mag release. When I consider this against some of my handguns where shooting right handed it's tough to reach the slide lock and requires a shift in my grip to effectively push the mag release I'm sort of thinking that it's US RIGHTIES that are at the disadvantage.... :D Of course this will vary from gun to gun and person to person but guns set up for righties are not allways that "perfect" for us right out of the box.
 
DirtFoot said:
Thanks for the tips everyone. Sounds like I'll manage just fine since it sounds like safeties are ambi. Looks like the next purchase or two will be a CZ85 and/or FNP45 (thanks Riflefreak).
Click to expand...
Well, it's a pleasure. Not yet the moment for me to buy a venerable 1911... Despite, it's on the wish list. For the moment I just found a new lover in the name of M&P 9L, another great gun who offers a lot for lefties. Just wish you to get what you want. Happy shooting!
 
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