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Seems like so many of my guns...

2K views 5 replies 6 participants last post by  lashlaruhe 
#1 ·
Have stories behind them.

Around 1998 I was perusing Auction Arms and I see this Norinco 1911. Looked like new and I bagged it for $300. I heard good things about these but Daddy Bush (in a move that pissed off the NRA and gun owners everywhere) issued an executive order banning importation of Chinese military arms so this model went bye-bye from the market.

Told a buddy about the purchase and he made a face and hemmed and hawed like he wanted the gun. So I offered it to him at what I paid for it.

At some point I mentioned that I liked the lanyard ring on the bottom of the mainspring housing as the Norinco featured. He said he didn't care for it. So we swapped. I liked this so much (I like weird things sometimes) that I purchased several more of these from Numrich and installed then some of my other 1911s.

Around 2001 I see a Universal Carbine in a pawn shop. Looked well worn like it had been shot a lot (good sign on these as many never worked right). Tagged at $250 I lost interest. Guy really wanted to sell it. So I said make me an offer I can't refuse. He said $165 out the door.

OK, I couldn't refuse.

That little rifle never failed me. Worked 100% all the time. Used GI magazines without complaint as well as the original 10 round box that came with it. Then a couple months ago I started yearning for a genuine GI M1 Carbine. So I dashed off an order to the CMP.

And waited.

And waited.

Growing weary of waiting I picked up the same model I had on order with the CMP from a Gunbroker auction. Now I had one in hand and another on the way.

Someday...

So the Universal became superfluous. (Wow, I spelled that correctly on the first try.) Mentioned to my buddy (same one) that I was looking to sell the little Carbine and he offered me the Norinco in trade. Um... OK. I figured the Carbine would sell for $400-$450 and I thought the Chinese made 1911 would fetch about the same, maybe $50 more. Might also be easier to sell. So I decided it was a good deal and the Carbine went to a new home and got the Norinco... back. Recall that I owned it first about 11 years ago and had passed it on to my friend.

It came back to me in the same condition as when it left. I don't think he ever fired the damn thing. Still looked like new.

But now I am having trouble selling it. Started thinking it might be nice to have a strictly GI 1911 pistol. As I started balking at the notion of selling it I began working on it. The original rubber grips had to go. I absolutely DETEST rubber grips. All I had on hand were original Colt wood and a pair of fake pearl stocks I picked up about 10 years ago for $10 at a show. Didn't seem right to have Colt emblems on a Chinese gun so I went with the fake pearls. For imitation they looked pretty good but I never had a gun needing stocks... until now. A tad pimpish but i like the look. So does my wife. Not sure what that says about her. Then there was the matter of the swapped mainspring housing.

Now I wanted the lanyard ring back on this gun. So I dug out the last of the ring equipped housings hiding in the "Box of Parts" and swapped in on. I may eventually sell it (along with a couple others I am steeling myself to unload) but for now I will just play with it. If you figure the price I paid for the Carbine and the cost of the fake pearl stocks I have $175 invested in this pistol.

At that price it can afford to hang around for a while.


 
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#3 ·
SaxonPig said:
A tad pimpish but i like the look. So does my wife. Not sure what that says about her. Then there was the matter of the swapped mainspring housing.
Ivory or Pearl on a classic black 1911 or Revolver are never pimpish... ;)
 
#4 ·
A nice set of stocks does more to dress up a plain 1911 than almost anything you can do for it.

BTW if you decide to sell that Norinco, I'd like a chance at it. ;)
 
#5 ·
Looking mighty good. kfjdrfirii Let us know how it performs and whether it would qualify as a reliable carry piece. ihjf
 
#6 ·
Just for info, it wasn't Bush that banned Norinco's, it was Mr. Slick Willie Klintoon. He did it to suck up to Sarah Brady during the 1992-94 period. I got one at about 1993 and was just under the wire. They are still available new in Canada, but to evil for the USA to import.
 
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