WA
Colt Government 1911a1 Military |
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Why
the 1911a1? That bloomin Matt Dean has a world of
to answer for. I think he must be in the pay of Western
Arms or something like that ^_^ (you talk me into buying another
WA gun
this year and I will stick your “Castor
Troys” up you so far you’ll shooting your tonsils every time you sneeze!
^_-)
So, I’m looking for a WWII pistol to go with the Sten and, though that top blokey Ash Nichols supplied me with a wonderful Tanaka Browning, because I could not locate an airsoft Webley for the life of me in a fit of depression I started looking at Western Arms guns for something to do. Then the words of good Sheriff Dean came wafting across my mind:
“Remember the tooth….no, strike that…. Remember the 1911a1”.
Hmmmh, thinks I and has a look. 3 seconds later a First Factory guy is being pressed up against the cabinet with orders to get the bugger out for me to play with. In the hand she is heavy (925g with mag) and feels real – even the paint finish on the body/frame looks bang on for the real steel (AFAIAC). The only downside looks wise is with the grips, which are so clearly plastic – though a quick pair of aftermarket Altmonts later……..
The grip also sports a retaining loop which is strong enough to serve as did the originals - attaching the gun to the weilder. Finished in good quality metal, and it makes the piece a great deal more useable in the field - as well as upping the 'stylee' factor when you have her looped around yer neck all commando fashion.
Loading
is 15+1 into a single column R type magazine (as if it would be any other
way ^_^) and the magazine is finished perfectly to match it visually with
the spec of the rest of the gun.
Firing is, well, as
good as any non Speedcomp Western Arms gun gets and even through
the fixed sights I can drop shots in easily as accurately as with my big
buck Infinty. The action (MAGNA!!!!!!!!!) is crisp, sound and cycles fast
enough to drop out double tap after double tap without risking jams or cycling
issues. The single column mag rather reduces potential cooldown problems
so I can’t speak for that, but repeated loading and firing did not bring
on any real problems during work at the 10m range at First.
Downsides:
The
paint finish is a gunmetal grey over a black frame and is prone to wearing
on moving area such as the outer barrel/breach cover. The trigger pull is
– while accurate – a shade short, but that could simply me because I am
used to working with Infinties with their more positive pull.
Finally and worst of all, according to our First hosts, the gun has sold out at WA – who plan to run off no more it seems – and so she is, though not strictly a limited edition considering how many WA made, already becoming something of a sort after item.
Then again I feel I have to say that, unless you are collecting or going for a milsim outfit, softees out there would be better off purchasing the Striker Standard (for the rail mount), a Prokiller (just because), or one of the Inifity series as (saving the Speedcomp series and derivatives) all WA guns seem to be much of a muchness as far as power goes.
Prices as of September 17, 2001: 19,800 Yen First Factory Price (valid as long as stocks last or until end of Dec 2001) 15,800 yen |
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