STIs are great shooting guns when they work.They do have a reputation of needing tweaking out of the box often to get shooting well.Ive had 4 STIs;2 Spartans,a Trojan and a DVC.Ironically the Spartans,the budget gun of the STIs were flawless out of the box and have been extremely reliable and accurate.Its a pity that STI dropped them.The Trojan and the DVC needed a lot of work,fiddling with ammo and mags to get going.The DVC needed a few parts replaced(slide stop,barrel link,magazine release and barrel bushing) and a trip back to the dealer before it would work well and shoot accurately.Considering the price point of STIs now you would expect them to be pretty good from the get go.Ive had other high end 1911s/2011s such as a Les Baer and a SVI both of which were perfect from the start.STI does make interesting and innovative guns(but no longer 1911s)but there are quite a few other options in the marketplace.
STI reputation
- Thread starter welder179
- Start date
I have owned 5 STIs in the past years.
While I mostly agree with what's in this thread, I tend to disagree with STI warranty being great.
Had a jam-o-matic brand new out of the box 40 SW Trojan.
It would only work if using factory mags (which suck), since the metal form mags get's the bullet jumping higher on feedramp.
I contacted STI Canada, nothing to be done as factory mag works.
Brought it to a renowned 1911 gunsmith at the time (RK), for an assessment, he concluded the feedramp was unproperly cut, and the way it locked also made a gap between frame feedramp and barrel feedramp.
Told this to STI Canada, nothing could be done on STIs end.
RK recut the ramp, and the gun came back flawless.
I have sold it to a local since, but still see it on the line.
Now runs any mags, both 40SW and 10MM, in any ammo length of 40SW.
My 2 other 40SW trojans we're flawless with any mag also.
Just that only one that was unproperly cut (or so RK said, I trust him though), and STI Canada didn't man up to it.
- Location
- West Quebec
I was really disapointed when they stopped the Spartan line.. I got mine and a Trojan at around the same time but because of price increases I think if buying today I would look elsewhere..
Yes the Trojans really jumped through the roof. They went from $1200 guns to $2200 guns in the span of a few years. I believe they continued to be built on cast frames (I know, shouldn't matter in practice, but it does in theory (and price)). I recall that someone on a 1911 forum (how is that for a good source) had hypothesized that production of some parts for the Trojan moved from the Philippines to Texas and that partially explained the increase. I've never seen that verified. Final assembly and fitting I believe was always done in Texas. Anyways it is a great gun but yes i'd also have a hard time paying 2200 for one.
I may be wrong but it was always my understanding that it was the Spartan's that were assembled in Texas out of parts sourced in the Philippines while the Trojans were always fully USA guns?
I agree that the sudden $800-900 price increase was a little much to stomach. The Trojans were a great value at the $1450 list (and even better when Freedom Ventures put them on for $1050
)........not so much at $2295+I may be wrong but it was always my understanding that it was the Spartan's that were assembled in Texas out of parts sourced in the Philippines while the Trojans were always fully USA guns?
I agree that the sudden $800-900 price increase was a little much to stomach. The Trojans were a great value at the $1450 list (and even better when Freedom Ventures put them on for $1050
Ah yes that sounds more likely. I wonder if there was anything else that led to the increase in price. Maybe it was just a combo of currency flux and the forces of supply and demand. I passed on FV's last 6" 9mm Trojan for 1500. It was sitting there for awhile. I have been kicking myself ever since.
STI has pretty much gone out of 1911's in favour of high end 2011's
Yep, I'd say it's more a case of a change in business plan. If you look at their catalog it's all about $4,000+ race guns now.
Yeah, a definite shift in the company's direction since I bought my 5" Tactical Single Stack 6 or 7 years ago when the SS line first came out. A shame that they stopped making traditional 1911A1s, as my 5" Tac SS is as good as any other medium-range 1911 that I have had the opportunity to handle and/or fire. IIRC, mine was in the $2200 ballpark when I bought it. A nice piece. Inspires a high degree of confidence.
- Location
- West Quebec
The Trojans were made and finished in Texas I believe the Spartans were built and assembled in the Philippines and final QA done in Texas with some adjustments
- Location
- West Quebec
^^^ Exactly they priced themselves out of the market IMHOI may be wrong but it was always my understanding that it was the Spartan's that were assembled in Texas out of parts sourced in the Philippines while the Trojans were always fully USA guns?
I agree that the sudden $800-900 price increase was a little much to stomach. The Trojans were a great value at the $1450 list (and even better when Freedom Ventures put them on for $1050
I can't speak for an off the shelf STI but their 2011s make a great foundation for a custom build. Not one issue, not once.
From Cameron's Custom on Northside of Phoenix Arizona:
http://cameronscustomguns.com/index.php/firearms/view/limited_5_gun_full_length_dust_cover/
From Cameron's Custom on Northside of Phoenix Arizona:
http://cameronscustomguns.com/index.php/firearms/view/limited_5_gun_full_length_dust_cover/
- Location
- West Quebec
Very nice but from 3K U.S. and up a little too rich for this dude..
