S.A.M. Thunderbolt 9mm

Zee705

Zee705

CGN Regular
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Location
Northern Ontario
I was going to buy an Norinco NP29 and rebuild it but I think I'd like something a little nicer. The SAM Thunderbolt from Wolverine Supplies caught my eye, I like the front strap checkering and the 1913 rail.

Does anyone have one? I watched a handful of reviews on YT and they were all positive.
 
i have the thunderbolt in 45 and its a absolutely beautiful solid gun.

just go into it aware that they are hand fit guns so doing any after market modifications to them will have to be done by someone that knows what they are doing - which usually comes with a price tag attached to it.

they are the opposite of a 'drop in part' gun.

that said i have 2 SAM's and they have both been flawless since day one.
 
just for comparison, here is a NP29 and a SAM stainless thunderbolt.

no comparison to the fit and finish between them.

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and a Norinco with the thunderbolt slide on it.... not really sure why i did that but it was in my photobucket so at some point i felt it was a good idea to try.

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I built two comped pin guns on thunderbolt frames and Norinco slides . One I ramped with a Trubor 38S barrel the other is a Clark barreled 45ACP. The cast frames are heavy and a few thousand oversize but all the holes are on spec like previously stated most after market parts require minor fitting. I liked the frames so much I ordered another for a longslide build.
 
All I plan on doing in the near future are some grips and a lighter trigger but the trigger requires minor fitting on most 1911s as far as I can tell.

I've been cleaning out my safe to generate funds for this. Almost ready to pull the trigger.
 
I'm told I have bad luck, but with 3 shooters arms guns through my hands, each with issues ranging from minor/cosmetic to show stopper, I won't touch another.

"Hand fitted" yes, but there is obviously quite a delta of experience and skill in the factory.

I have a springer Range Officer coming this week that I have higher hopes for.

That being said, Wolverine and the other importer of those pistols will stand behind their product if you have issues. I've no beef with the after sales support behind this product.
 
More money spent doesn't guarantee quality. Sure Norcs are rough but mine were great shooters and functioned perfectly. My brand new Range Officer is at the gunsmith right now for a warranty barrel replacement due to bad accuracy right out of the box.
 
Mark-II said:
I have a springer Range Officer coming this week
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thatmikeguy said:
My brand new Range Officer is at the gunsmith right now for a warranty barrel replacement due to bad accuracy right out of the box.
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I bet that was not the post you wanted to see follow yours. :runaway:

I have a SAM Military 1911A1 as a generic plinker to abuse and the fit and finish on it is excellent. I loaded some light ammo for it and try and spend the shooting time on grip, stance, trigger control and such. So far I have no complaints for what I use it for.
 
I have been very impressed with my Sam omega6 .40...decided it's a keeper...accurate and reliable...
 
Sam are nice guns. Beats out springfield/kimber/para by a long shot. They are of real high quality and the price is just very cheap.
 
I'll make this short: I ordered a SS 9mm Thunderbolt and it was crap. Slide/frame fit was sloppy, barrel land had a chip in it, chamber looked like it was cut with a dull rat tail file, mag well didn't fit properly, barrel link was dented. Sent it back to Wolverine & got it exchanged. Second one was just as bad. Some sloppy fit, same grossly rough chamber, this one even came pre-idiot scratched. Returned it as well. I ended up out two return shipping charges and a $100 for a Solely Canadian holster that I bought for the gun that doesn't fit anything else.
What really hurt was that I had bought 3 cheaper SAMs previously and they were all excellent. Bottom line is that their QC sucks. I would never buy another unless I could personally inspect it prior to purchase. Consider yourself warned.
 
sky52 said:
Sam are nice guns. Beats out springfield/kimber/para by a long shot. They are of real high quality and the price is just very cheap.
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I own both the SAM 1911's and a Kimber custom II in .45 ACP. While in your opinion, the SAMs may be better made than Springfield or Para, not by any stretch of the imagination, are they better made than Kimber.Comparing a SAM with a Kimber is just foolish.
 
Ted - mine was a 9mm stainless as well. The tool marks and heavy galling inside the slide was something to behold. The part should have never passed inspection.

They even mismatched the grips - only one had the mag well profile at the bottom lol.

Agreed that one should inspect the gun they are buying, and learn what to look for in a 1911


The only cheap 1911 I'd buy again would be Norinco - with the expectation of it being rough, or Remington and Ruger - both of which were excellent
 
I just got back from a local shop and they just so happened to have ordered a bunch of SAM pistols, including a 9mm Thunderbolt, from Wolverine Supplies. The price will be the same as WS, I'll have the opportunity to check it out before committing and I'll save the shipping.

Today is a good day.
 
Zee705 said:
I just got back from a local shop and they just so happened to have ordered a bunch of SAM pistols, including a 9mm Thunderbolt, from Wolverine Supplies. The price will be the same as WS, I'll have the opportunity to check it out before committing and I'll save the shipping.

Today is a good day.
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Hopefully they'll let you strip it down to check the internals. The majority of my issues were in the interior of the gun that you couldn't see by external inspection (rough chambers, damaged barrel link, chip in land).
 
Mark-II said:
Ted - mine was a 9mm stainless as well. The tool marks and heavy galling inside the slide was something to behold. The part should have never passed inspection.

They even mismatched the grips - only one had the mag well profile at the bottom lol.

Agreed that one should inspect the gun they are buying, and learn what to look for in a 1911


The only cheap 1911 I'd buy again would be Norinco - with the expectation of it being rough, or Remington and Ruger - both of which were excellent
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When the Ruger SR1911s were $725 they were a much better deal than the Thunderbolts. Unfortunately the plunging dollar has made them far less attractive although the SAM prices have risen as well.
 
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