[LASur5r]

One of the guys from my old office came to my office today and we reminisced about guns. He's always wanted an old G.I. .45, but has been too cheap to buy himself one.
He's in his early 60's and he just wants an ol' .45 to have more for a keepsake than a shooting iron...he wants it reliable, accurate he's not too worried about.
What do you folks recommend for this old timer?

[jimfox]

If he's willing to settle for reliable with ball ammo - with a "maybe" that it'll work with various HPs or FPs - then almost any old 1911 style that still has rifling and doesn't look like A) a rust bucket or B) something that has been used as a hammer to forge horseshoes.

[Jim V]

USGI are getting hard to find if one does not want to pay alot of $. The Systema 27's ouf of Argentina are inexpensive, built on Colt machinery by Colt trained workmen, and compare well to the Colts of the day and are better than many of the 1911A1's on the market today. The Rock Island Armory 1911A1a offered by Sarco (and others) are inexpensive and have a USGI look - if you ditch the funky magazine - they are machined in the Phillipines and, according to a report I've read, work.

If you can find one a a reasonable price, the Chinese made Norinco "Model of the 191A1" pistols are as reliable as anything manmade. My 3 have fed, fired and ejected everything I've loaded in the magazines.

[Frenchy]

I'll second Jim V on the Systema 27. Another one to consider from the Argie's, is the Ballister Molina. You can check the JLD (importers) website for technical and historic information on these two pistols.

http://jldenter.com/Index.htm

[Darth Dadoo]

If he does not mind a newer pedagree the auto ordiance 1911 copy is nice. Looks like the GI original but without the collectors price tag. around 400 bucks I do belive. Other wise if he wants to get silly I have a modern 1911 or two he could buy. Cheep aint on the block however sorry

Darth :D