High Standard 1911

[czechsonofagun]

I heard good things about 1911 made by High Standard:

High Standard World Famous Pistols- Products

anybody here has or shot one of those?

 

[Sigarms]

I've got to ask because I didn't see, but is that the company website?

If it is, I wouldn't buy one if you paid me to take one.

Per the website

"WARNING:[SIZE=-1] Be a safe shooter. Never chamber a round until you are ready to shoot!"[/SIZE]

Yeah, my 1911 is carried in condition one without a round in the chamber.

I expect crap from the anti gun crowd, but not from the manufacturer.

 

[YanmarFever]

I've got to ask because I didn't see, but is that the company website?

If it is, I wouldn't buy one if you paid me to take one.

Per the website

"WARNING:[SIZE=-1] Be a safe shooter. Never chamber a round until you are ready to shoot!"[/SIZE]

Yeah, my 1911 is carried in condition one without a round in the chamber.

I expect crap from the anti gun crowd, but not from the manufacturer.

Sig I agree with you --- however i think its there for a liability issue, thats all.

Remember there are lawyers in this world

 

[MossRoad]

I've got to ask because I didn't see, but is that the company website?

If it is, I wouldn't buy one if you paid me to take one.

Per the website

"WARNING:[SIZE=-1] Be a safe shooter. Never chamber a round until you are ready to shoot!"[/SIZE]

Yeah, my 1911 is carried in condition one without a round in the chamber.

I expect crap from the anti gun crowd, but not from the manufacturer.

Take a chill pill. They're most likely talking about the target range, not personal protection.

 

[Sigarms]

Take a chill pill. They're most likely talking about the target range, not personal protection.

Should I ask you for permission when I should take that pill

Ernie, I understand about the liability issue, however, we're talking about a gun here, it's designed to kill. Personally, when I see a gun manufacturer "caving" in to public opinion, I prefer to spend my money elsewhere.

 

[LMTC]

Should I ask you for permission when I should take that pill

Ernie, I understand about the liability issue, however, we're talking about a gun here, it's designed to kill. Personally, when I see a gun manufacturer "caving" in to public opinion, I prefer to spend my money elsewhere.

So I gather you don't own any Smiths or Rugers then? Ruger caved in years ago when they supported the assualt weapons ban and Smith when they started supplying and supporting trigger locks on everything. Even a round chambered does on no good on a home defense weapon if you use the trigger lock they recommend. Just making the point that most of the manufacturers play the liability-avoidance game in one way or another. I'll buy the product (or not) based on my need for it, my level of desire for it. With a few exceptions....we won't buy Levi products, haven't for years. They took a social stand, nothing to do with trying to keep safe from silly liability issues.

 

[WTA]

That is a liability issue for the reason they said that. I was a manufacturer but gave up my class 7 and just went back to a class 01 FFL and only do custom gunsmithing now because of liability. I don't know how anybody can afford the insurance for that anymore. It won't be too much longer before American gun manufacturers are sued out of existence over stupid stuff.
I had a customer last year who asked me to shorten his barrel and against my better judgment I did and that started a manure storm like you wouldn't believe. It was a legal length too.

What happened was on one gun forum he was singing words of praise about all the work I did on his rifle and on another one he got together with the owner of the forum who I had refused to do free work for. He was wanting thousands of dollars of free work and threatened me if I wouldn't do it. That's called extortion in most states. On that forum he was saying I was a hack and that I riped him off. They were telling everyone they could their lies and encouraging everyone to report me to the law and sue me. Noone did but I sure had a lot of talks with the law trying to shut them down. There were other false claims and bald faced lies too (all of it was lies) but you wouldn't believe the number of people that actually believed it and were threatening to sue me. They were all just jumping on a bandwagon and blowing smoke trying to get something for free.

This business is bad enough without having to worry about criminals trashing my reputation. I gave up manufacturing real fast after that. Even a small part of the pro gun crowd is off their rocker so who needs it.
I'm not the only one it's happened to either.

If you think that's bad, try manufacturing a gun and selling it in california. No 1911 type pistol can pass their new safety tests. I think they have to drop it from a height of more than 30 feet and see if it accidentally fires. Among other stupid tests. I refused to submit several of mine for testing so I couldn't sell any in Ca. I can make a really nice custom 1911 model too.
Now there is only one in existence and it's the one that stays on my belt here in the free state of Texas! Here is probably the only picture of mine anywhere:

Notice the position of my hammer. Condition 1 is the only way I carry it. What good does it do if I have to waste time loading it when someone breaks in and is trying to steal the ones I work on here. I doubt they would come unarmed or lightly armed considering I work on military weapons only here. I am always ready just in case. I have to be. That said, every 1911 manufacturer out there says not to carry one with a round in the chamber for liability reasons. SInce I built this gun and can only blame myself if it developed a mind of it's own and went off I can carry it like that. I don't have to worry about it causing cancer to someone in California or anything. It will never go to California.
I duracoated it to that desert color at first because that's what everyone seemed to want at the time. Since I'm not trying to sell them anymore I parkerized it like it is supposed to be and am leaving it black now.
It's just not worth the liability selling guns that you actually make when there are so many idiots in the world with no sense of personal responsibility!

I don't know what started it but it seems very few people can take responsibility for their own actions anymore. With the rifles I restore now I have to tell people don't handload for them because of what a couple of boneheads have done in the past. Overcharging the cases, using the wrong powders, wrong bullet weights and all kinds of dangerous stuff. I handload for all of mine but I do it correctly and safely. Still accidents can and do happen all the time. I sure don't need it blamed on me when someone uses IMR4350 in their reloads even when I tell them it is too slow and unsafe in this particular action.

Anyway, FWIW, I think the pistols they make are fine. They definitely are better than some others on the market. Colt and Taurus make good ones too.

I will not be doing this much longer for the general public. I may not even keep the military contracts. I haven't made up my mind yet. My point is though, what used to be my passion now has my family living in fear of bogus lawsuits and the constant fear of being robbed. I'm not that old but I sure feel like I am.

 

[MossRoad]

Should I ask you for permission when I should take that pill

Ernie, I understand about the liability issue, however, we're talking about a gun here, it's designed to kill. Personally, when I see a gun manufacturer "caving" in to public opinion, I prefer to spend my money elsewhere.

Yes. Usually after you are home from work and will have 24 hours before operating anything with a throttle or trigger.

Many folks never plan on using a gun to kill. They use them for target shooting. I enjoy target shooting, but do not carry a firearm for personal protection.

 

[MotorSeven]

Rats...just wrote a 4 paragraph response, & "POOF" gone.......argggg

ANyway, i was recently researching the value of a used Kimber Compact because a auction is comming up nearby. I came across the Rock Island Armory 1911 new for under $400, so it peaked my interest. If i remember correctly, the Rock Island, Charles Daly & the High Standard were all imported thru Armscor which assembles them in the Phillipines. I read alot of owner comments & test reviews which were all favorable. Fit & finish were rated as very good. Malfunctions were mostly restricted to bad magazines which caused feed jams & a failure to hold back the slide after the last round. Most replaced the mag with a higher quality one and had no more trouble. They are rated as very accurate for self defense. Some of the target guys changed out a few minor parts and brought the accuracy up.
Overall, they seem to be an outstanding value for the average guy(or Gal).

About 8 or so years ago, i built my 1911 from various gunshow parts, a Remington-Rand slide(WWII vintage) and a new Essex frame. It ran me about $200, but at todays prices, one of the mentioned 1911's would likely be a better value. Do youself a favor, get a reactionary target(metal spinner, dueling tree, etc) and you will have alot more fun than shooting paper. I still marvel at John Brownings design...a fully functional, user friendly piece of artwork....

 

[WTA]

The rock islands are made in the PI and almost all of the gun forums have nothing but trash to say about them but they are so wrong it's not even funny. That is a fine pistol for the price. It's about the equivalent of a GI pistol in fit and finish. From the beginning they weren't meant for accuracy but for reliability. I still haven't figured out why overseas mags for these pistols are such junk but that part is true for the most part. A lot of the problems people are having though is a problem with the ammo. These guns were meant for ball ammo going by the original design. Often a few slight mods need to be done for hollow points. Just a little polishing usually. Shooting star brand mags are about the best. Those are what I trust enough for carry. They are labeled under many different brand names but all of them have the shooting star emblem on the follower. Some companies stick their name on the outside and charge 4 times more than they are worth but the cheap ones with the shooting star follower are the same thing.
You really can't go wrong with the rock islands. I would rather do upgrades on one of them for someone than on a few other brands.

All the "internet experts used to talk trash about the Norinco and Polytech M-14 also but look at them now. They used to be 400 bucks but these days they have almost tripled due to demand. They have a few not so well made parts on them but the receivers are forged and the closest to GI specs there is. Many of the other parts are fine to reuse too. Just check the headspace often if you are shooting an original. I really don't recommend shooting one right out of the box.