Rock Island Armory 1911 GI Standard .45 ACP
Model: 51421
Rock Island Armory 1911 GI Standard .45 ACP
Model: 51421
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
The Rock Island Armory 1911 GI Standard is a full-size single-action .45 ACP built for range work and a first 1911. It has an MSRP of $420. It is a GI-pattern gun in the literal sense, with blade sights, smooth wood grips, a standard thumb safety and grip safety and nothing added, built from 4140 steel under Parkerizing.
That specification is the whole gun. Nothing adjusts, the sights are a blade in a slot at the front and a GI-type rear in a dovetail, and Armscor lists the trigger at 4 to 6 lb. It weighs 39.5 oz, holds eight rounds and measures 8.54 inches long, 5.51 inches tall and 1.3 inches wide, with a 5-inch barrel on a 1:16 twist. Parkerizing holds oil and goes grey under wear. There is no beavertail, no rail and no optic cut.
If you're cross-shopping, the Springfield Armory Garrison is twice the money at an MSRP of $878, with a forged frame and slide instead of machined 4140, a forged stainless match grade barrel and three-dot combat sights. The Colt Government is the blued carbon steel version of the same classic layout with a National Match barrel and a Series 70 action.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- Frame, slide and barrel are all 4140 steel, which is a tougher alloy than the mild steel used in some entry 1911s.
- Eight-round magazines, one more round than the seven-round GI pattern.
- The rear sight sits in a standard dovetail, so night sights or a target rear sight drop in without machining.
- GI sights, with a small front blade and a shallow rear notch that are slow to pick up.
- No beavertail grip safety, so the hammer sits close to the web of the hand on a firm grip.
- Smooth wood grips with no checkering.
Category Rankings
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Ballistics Calculator
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is it made?
In the Philippines, by Armscor.
What twist does the barrel use?
One turn in 400 mm, which is a 1:16 twist in inches, right hand.
Will aftermarket 1911 parts fit it?
It uses standard Government-model dimensions, so grips, sights, safeties and triggers made for a 1911 fit with little or no fitting.
