A STI Elektra 1911 followed me home today

[Txhillbilly]

I went to a gun show today just to pass some time. Didn't find anything that I wanted, but I stopped at a gun shop that is about 10 miles from my house. It has been a couple years since I've been there. He was trying to push some Kimber 1911's and I told him I prefer a higher quality 1911. I have a Kimber lite weight 1911, and like it a lot, but it's just a high production run of the mill 1911.
Me and my big mouth! The owner reaches into the gun cabinet and pulls out a barely used STI Elektra in 45 acp. I'm like Damn It, why did you even say higher quality to this guy. I look the STI over real good, it is clean and tight.
I asked what he wanted for it, and then offered him a cash offer. He took it, and now I have a badazz 1911. I got home and went out to the shop where I took it apart and cleaned / lubed it real good. Then loaded up a couple magazines, it runs smooth as butter. I'm a happy guy!!!

https://images.gunsinternational.co...ER-PRICE_101312008_26118_C08334F9AF02475C.JPG

 

[ONE-TEN]

Fixed it.

I went to a gun show today just to pass some time. Didn't find anything that I wanted, but I stopped at a gun shop that is about 10 miles from my house. It has been a couple years since I've been there. He was trying to push some Kimber 1911's and I told him I prefer a higher quality 1911. I have a Kimber lite weight 1911, and like it a lot, but it's just a high production run of the mill 1911.
Me and my big mouth! The owner reaches into the gun cabinet and pulls out a barely used STI Elektra in 45 acp. I'm like Damn It, why did you even say higher quality to this guy. I look the STI over real good, it is clean and tight.
I asked what he wanted for it, and then offered him a cash offer. He took it, and now I have a badazz 1911. I got home and went out to the shop where I took it apart and cleaned / lubed it real good. Then loaded up a couple magazines, it runs smooth as butter. I'm a happy guy!!!

Very nice!

Ahh, the S.T.I. , before changing their name to that horrible name
Staccato. STI stood for Strayer-Tripp International. Perfectly respectful! And STI had a nice ring to it. But Staccato?? I mean… what the Phugging PHUG?!?

 

[ONE-TEN]

Hey Tx… you like high end 1911s?

Do you have a Nighthawk Custom yet? Without a doubt, the finest 1911s ever made.

 

[Txhillbilly]

Hey Tx… you like high end 1911s?

Do you have a Nighthawk Custom yet? Without a doubt, the finest 1911s ever made.

I've never had the pleasure of owning a Nighthawk, but have shot one. Great gun! I've owned Les Baer, and an Ed Brown, also great guns. While I like the higher end stuff - Guns & Optics, I in general look for good deals on gently used items. Let someone else pay for the NEW, I just want the quality.
1911's are one of the greatest handguns IMO. I currently own several in 40 S&W and 45 ACP.
Para Ordnance has always been one of my favorite brands, the original double stack magazine 1911. I have a Tac Four 12+1, and a Limited 14-45, as well as a 16-40. Other than being a bit heavy, they are all good shooters.
Springfield also used to have a double stack 1911 that came in a basic GI form. I bought one and had a Local 1911 wizard Glen Riddle work his magic on it. I made the mistake of letting a friend shoot it, and he had to have it. I also have a Springfield EMP 40, basically the same size as the new STI. This is one of my favorite carry guns.

S&W Performance Center 1911's are also some great guns for the money, as are Dan Wesson 1911's. I do own one Kimber, it's OK, but I only bought it because a guy was in a bind and it was a great deal.

 

[ONE-TEN]

Oh I agree! The 1911 is one of the very firearms I will ALWAYS own! I have gone on to building my own in the last decade, but I did also start with buying them. My first was Springfield GI model. I’m fairly traditional with my 1911s. I really only want them in 5” Gov. size & 45ACP. Although I will admit, I am really liking the new Springfield Prodigy. Also, the Para Ord. Double Stack, as you mentioned. That is a classic! And I can’t speak bad of the ORIGINAL STI 2011! Those were pretty awesome!

I do appreciate the high end. And the Nighthawk Custom 1911s are the tip of spear, so to speak. As far as I’m concerned anywho! However, I would never buy one. Not even a used one. I wouldn’t want to shoot it, they are so nice. And while I don’t carry 1911s for defensive purposes, I would be even less likely to carry a high end 1911. It’s true that the top shelf 1911’s can be less reliable. But they are working pieces of art! I have the next best thing. I stuffed a frame & slide with all Nighthawk Custom parts… even down to the pins! Over 90% of the internals are Nighthawk. And any I build in the future will also use Nighthawk parts.

 

[DarryH]

Early STI 1911's used ARMSCOR frames form the Philippines. STI sales rep at a dealer buying show told me that long time ago.

 

[ONE-TEN]

Early STI 1911's used ARMSCOR frames form the Philippines. STI sales rep at a dealer buying show told me that long time ago.

Could be… I’ll admit, I used to go pine over the whole Forged vs Cast frame debate. But after many years of shooting, owning & customizing/repairing/building, I’ve never seen a Cast frame fail. A Forged frame does nothing a Cast frame can’t do. Honestly, any apprehension I once had, was put to rest after really studying the CZ 75 family of firearms. The CZ75 is one of the most iconic pistols in history. Their quality, accuracy & toughness has been well documented. All with a CAST frame.

 

[Alan]

I've never had the pleasure of owning a Nighthawk, but have shot one. Great gun! I've owned Les Baer, and an Ed Brown, also great guns. While I like the higher end stuff - Guns & Optics, I in general look for good deals on gently used items. Let someone else pay for the NEW, I just want the quality.
1911's are one of the greatest handguns IMO. I currently own several in 40 S&W and 45 ACP.
Para Ordnance has always been one of my favorite brands, the original double stack magazine 1911. I have a Tac Four 12+1, and a Limited 14-45, as well as a 16-40. Other than being a bit heavy, they are all good shooters.
Springfield also used to have a double stack 1911 that came in a basic GI form. I bought one and had a Local 1911 wizard Glen Riddle work his magic on it. I made the mistake of letting a friend shoot it, and he had to have it. I also have a Springfield EMP 40, basically the same size as the new STI. This is one of my favorite carry guns.

S&W Performance Center 1911's are also some great guns for the money, as are Dan Wesson 1911's. I do own one Kimber, it's OK, but I only bought it because a guy was in a bind and it was a great deal.

STI you got looks bad ass. Good for you! Kimber looks great too.

 

[chronoblip]

That's a nice pistol! The 1911 design is a classic, and I've wanted to try and build one myself.

Though for now I am in the Tokarev camp, as I have two M88's, and that design being a compact M57, which was itself downstream from the TT-33, which was copied and redesigned by the Soviets based on Browning designs like the FN 1903.

The M88 is a late 80's design, 3.8" barrel, single stack 9mm, 8 round capacity, so a nice and solid EDC in an era of polymer pistols with half a warehouse of 9mm crammed into a double stack. Can usually be obtained for pretty cheap too, in the $2-300 range if you know where to look.

There's even their own flavor of custom, with Zastava at one time offering custom engraved versions of their M57 pistols, which is a rather different kind of flair than a lot of the tacticool stuff with modern 1911s:

Anyways, these pistols were never produced in Serbia with the kind of care and attention to detail that 1911s now are, but it's not for a lack of potential.

I have wondered and wanted to see what kind of effort it would take to bridge the design gaps and marry the two convergent lines of designs into a singular design. Yet another project concept...

 

[ONE-TEN]

I wanted an STI so badly back in the day. I was fixated on the 2011. The STI Edge. I would have traded every firearm I had for this, at the time.

But I gotta say, I LOVE what Springfield has done with this Prodigy Pistol. I’d love one of those full size frame, 4.25 barrel models. Perfect design! Springfield hit a home run with it, I think. Unfortunately, I’ve really gotten away from pistols. Where as they were 90% of my love for firearms when I was younger, I’ve transitioned to appreciating my long guns more now. I have my 1911 which I’ll always have at least one, and I have my compact carry gun. But everything else I sold or gave to others.