I would not normally buy a "Commemorative Firearm" to just hide in the safe and hope that its value increases with time. But about a month ago I was browsing a local gun shop and this little gem caught my eye and the next thing I knew I had put it in layaway. A week ago I got enough mula together and got it out of "hock." In the meantime I ordered a standard 1911 base for a JPoint (used to be Optima) red dot sight. Today I modified the base to fit and put it all together, and sighted it in.



I bought this gun to shoot it; I already have over a hundred rounds through it. I need to work on the base a bit more as it took 3 JPoint shims to get the sight aligned, but that is not a big problem.

Gregg,

That is a nice looking gun. I am like you, if I have a gun I plan to shoot it. I bought a nice Browning Auto 5 Magnum Twelve (not commemorative)a few months ago - in mint condition. It will go turkey hunting with me in a couple of months, Lord willing. Even so, I probably will be avoiding briarpatches.

How does she shoot?

I agree with ya on that point!

When I bought my Colt Anaconda in 45 colt a few months ago, the guy I bought it from about had a coronary when I told him I will be hunting hogs, deer, and bear with it next season. His words were, "You do NOT want to do that!!! This gun will more than double in value within 5 years!!" I said, "Great! But I don't think the pigs are gonna care." He said, "Well, its your gun! Have fun with it."

I don't believe a gun was EVER made to just sit on a shelf, or in a closet. If there was, I'll never own it.

Gregg,

That is just so wrong ;^) Seriously, I have one of the standard versions that I have had for a little over a year, and it is a great little fun gun. The only gripe I have is that the stock sights are almost impossible to see. But dayum, a red dot......

On the Rim Fire Central board, one member sent his off to Novaks for an install of a .380 Novak sight. I guess I would be concerned that the aluminum/alloy composition of the slide might not hold up well to that kind of weight. But I guess you will find out.

And I think that commerative version was only sold as part of a two gun set (with a full size 1911). If this is the case, perhaps you need to pester the source for the other gun ;^)

Craig

Sorry......I think it is hideous.

I'm not much for billboards either. Would like a 1911 22 tho.

Does it shoot good?

LOL!

That is why the saying goes: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

As far as for how it shoots, so far I have only shot it at 20 yards with resting it on the side of a tree. It groups well, about an inch.

One reason I did not like the stock rear sight is that it is plastic.

Yep, that's right, I have it right here; it is black plastic. Since both it and the modified base I installed just fit in a dovetail, I can change it back in about two minutes to "stock."

Colt has one out too and although I haven't handled it yet they all look like the one imported by Chiappa which is what I just bought. I just put an adjustable rear sight on mine. I have two collectors edition rifles that get shot. The one is the Craig Boddington Ruger#1 Leopard in 7x57 and the other is a Marlin 1895 LTD V in 45-70, it has the 24" half octagon bbl. I've seen both guns go for over 1500 on Gunbroker but I don't buy safe queens. The Ruger was a gift for my daughter as her first hunting rifle.

Yep....and my pain meds did not make it anymore appealing.

It's OK, Dan. I know all about being on pain meds. You have the right to your opinion. I'm OK with that. Just don't be mean or angry about it. I'm not sayin' you are; it's just that written words sometimes come out different than really meant vs. spoken words.

I am happy with my Browning and that is all that matters, it is my money. I just wanted to share with my friends on here.

Enjoy the pistol, envious!