It's not a Colt, but it's a GREAT deal. I owned a blued TISAS .45 about 15-20 years ago and miss it. It did everything a $1K+ Colt would do at almost 1/3 the price. If I had the extra funds, I would buy this gun in a heartbeat.
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TISAS .45
- Thread starter BlueOvalFitter
- Start date
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
There has to be a reason a 1911 is $329.
Because it's made in Turkey?
I still stand behind the one I had. It was a great .45.
TİSAŞ - Wikipedia
That's the reason exactly. Tisas is a world class firearms manufacturer. I have one of their Stainless Steel clones of the Browning Hi-Power, and it's a beautifully crafted pistol. And it functions flawlessly.Because it's made in Turkey?
I still stand behind the one I had. It was a great .45.
TİSAŞ - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
Girsan, (who I believe is a Turkish sister company of Tisas), produces beautiful clones of the Beretta 92 / M9 pistol. The Tisas / Girsan family of firearms are a bit better crafted than the Rock Island Armory series of 1911's.
They are better finished, with fewer tool marks. At least the ones I own and have handled. But I will say my RIA 9 MM 1911 has one of the best triggers of any 1911 that I currently own... Including my Series 70 Colt Gold Cup. And I paid $329.00 for it about 6 years ago.
Their plant is as clean and nicely equipped as any you'll find here.
I think there is WAY too much emphasis put on country of manufacture, along with price, in regards to quality. Especially today. While the old saying, "You only get what you pay for.", is true to some extent, there are a LOT of other factors that control price today. Especially regarding overseas production.
This involves guns, as well as a lot of other things. Take for example the "new" Hi-Powers that are all coming out now from companies like Springfield, Tisas, (Girsan), and FN.
I've examined both the new Springfield SA-35 Hi-Power, as well as the new FN model. I'll give the edge to the Springfield hands down. Mostly for 2 reasons. Design and cost. Belgium, like most of Continental Europe, is socialist. The cost of manufacturing anything there have driven prices through the roof. It's not how they're manufactured. But rather where.
I don't believe for a New York second that a "new" or "old" FN Hi-Power is any better than the Springfield.... If they're even as good. The 2 new Springfield SA-35's I handled were both very nicely put together. The fit and finish was excellent. I will also say the FN models were also nicely made...... But not for what they're charging for it. Not even close.
Quality isn't driving up cost over there. "free" government health care is. Along with 6 weeks paid vacation as soon as you walk through the door. Not to mention early, fully company funded retirement, a 35 hour work week, and having most every paid holiday off known to mankind, have all driven production costs of most anything over there through the roof. They're not going to pay for any of it. You the consumer are with inflated prices.
It's the main reason why Browning left Belgium and took up production in Japan. Can you just imagine what a new Citori would cost if they still made it in Belgium? And I seriously doubt the quality today would be anywhere near as good as a Miroku produced gun.
You're not getting any better quality, you're just paying more for the same quality. Perhaps for even less quality. For example, Springfield Armory can produce their SA-35 Hi-Power to Browning's original design, with a MSRP of around $700.00 in Illinois. Like most guns, street price on it runs around a hundred or so less, give or take.
Illinois in reality is a very heavily taxed state compared to most others. So much so that it was one of the controlling factors why Les Baer left Illinois, to set up production of his guns across the river in Iowa.
FN produces much the same gun as Springfield. But they have to sell it for over twice as much to turn a profit. Sure, people want to believe it's a higher quality gun. But they can't show any proof of that. It's not even built to the same design, and takes proprietary magazines that won't fit other Hi-Powers.... Not even the ones they made. What the hell is with that?
The cars they manufacture over there are much the same nonsense. If you look at what people pay for these new BMW's and Mercedes, in direct comparison to similar class American vehicles, in relationship to all the expensive problems they have, not to mention the God awful depreciation the first 3 years, they're worse not better. Yet people still buy into all the, "German quality and engineering", B.S.
It never ends. Their guns are much the same. Just look at what H&K charges. It's yet another reason Glock, as well as Beretta took up production of a lot of their guns here. It's simply more cost effective to do so.
With all of this said, I'm sure the new FN Hi-Powers are decent guns. They're just not worth what they're charging. In that regard most of Europe, (with the exception of Turkey, and a few other places), is completely overrated, as well as overpriced, in most everything they manufacture. They're just really good at getting people to believe all their B.S.... (Rant Off).
This involves guns, as well as a lot of other things. Take for example the "new" Hi-Powers that are all coming out now from companies like Springfield, Tisas, (Girsan), and FN.
I've examined both the new Springfield SA-35 Hi-Power, as well as the new FN model. I'll give the edge to the Springfield hands down. Mostly for 2 reasons. Design and cost. Belgium, like most of Continental Europe, is socialist. The cost of manufacturing anything there have driven prices through the roof. It's not how they're manufactured. But rather where.
I don't believe for a New York second that a "new" or "old" FN Hi-Power is any better than the Springfield.... If they're even as good. The 2 new Springfield SA-35's I handled were both very nicely put together. The fit and finish was excellent. I will also say the FN models were also nicely made...... But not for what they're charging for it. Not even close.
Quality isn't driving up cost over there. "free" government health care is. Along with 6 weeks paid vacation as soon as you walk through the door. Not to mention early, fully company funded retirement, a 35 hour work week, and having most every paid holiday off known to mankind, have all driven production costs of most anything over there through the roof. They're not going to pay for any of it. You the consumer are with inflated prices.
It's the main reason why Browning left Belgium and took up production in Japan. Can you just imagine what a new Citori would cost if they still made it in Belgium? And I seriously doubt the quality today would be anywhere near as good as a Miroku produced gun.
You're not getting any better quality, you're just paying more for the same quality. Perhaps for even less quality. For example, Springfield Armory can produce their SA-35 Hi-Power to Browning's original design, with a MSRP of around $700.00 in Illinois. Like most guns, street price on it runs around a hundred or so less, give or take.
Illinois in reality is a very heavily taxed state compared to most others. So much so that it was one of the controlling factors why Les Baer left Illinois, to set up production of his guns across the river in Iowa.
FN produces much the same gun as Springfield. But they have to sell it for over twice as much to turn a profit. Sure, people want to believe it's a higher quality gun. But they can't show any proof of that. It's not even built to the same design, and takes proprietary magazines that won't fit other Hi-Powers.... Not even the ones they made. What the hell is with that?
The cars they manufacture over there are much the same nonsense. If you look at what people pay for these new BMW's and Mercedes, in direct comparison to similar class American vehicles, in relationship to all the expensive problems they have, not to mention the God awful depreciation the first 3 years, they're worse not better. Yet people still buy into all the, "German quality and engineering", B.S.
It never ends. Their guns are much the same. Just look at what H&K charges. It's yet another reason Glock, as well as Beretta took up production of a lot of their guns here. It's simply more cost effective to do so.
With all of this said, I'm sure the new FN Hi-Powers are decent guns. They're just not worth what they're charging. In that regard most of Europe, (with the exception of Turkey, and a few other places), is completely overrated, as well as overpriced, in most everything they manufacture. They're just really good at getting people to believe all their B.S.... (Rant Off).
There is a long history of quality firearms manufacturing in Turkey.
My c. 1938 Turkish Mauser is an example. It’s been beat up - not the best cosmetically - but is accurate and well made. That’s quite good for 80+ years of hard service.
I’m not in the market for a .45 but the Tisas appears to be a quality firearm at an exceptionally attractive price.
It’s also important to note that my “Made in the USA” Colt Competition model had a poorly fitted safety from the factory. Mushy, difficult to operate, questionable reliability.
A bit of stoning fixed it and it “snicks” on/off properly now.
Yep, I got a $1,000* Colt with a defect from the factory.
So, no, higher price doesn’t equal higher quality. Sometimes you do not get what you pay for.
*I paid about $800, plus taxes, shipping and transfer fees. The MSRP was just over $1,000 however.
My c. 1938 Turkish Mauser is an example. It’s been beat up - not the best cosmetically - but is accurate and well made. That’s quite good for 80+ years of hard service.
I’m not in the market for a .45 but the Tisas appears to be a quality firearm at an exceptionally attractive price.
It’s also important to note that my “Made in the USA” Colt Competition model had a poorly fitted safety from the factory. Mushy, difficult to operate, questionable reliability.
A bit of stoning fixed it and it “snicks” on/off properly now.
Yep, I got a $1,000* Colt with a defect from the factory.
So, no, higher price doesn’t equal higher quality. Sometimes you do not get what you pay for.
*I paid about $800, plus taxes, shipping and transfer fees. The MSRP was just over $1,000 however.
the newer tisas 1911's (last few years) have gotten a lot of praise--many people say they are nicer than RIA's when it comes to the bargain 1911's. i think RIA might have better customer service based in the US so for some people that might be more desirable. The only reason i've looked at em is because i'm kinda wanting a 1911a1 that looks like an original GI
I have one of these. Shoots great.
1911 Mil-Spec Handguns - Springfield Armory
www.springfield-armory.com
Only issue, for me, with a mil spec/GI configuration, is that the narrow beaver tail tears up the web of my hand after about 100 rounds.
An extended beaver tail, like this, is far more comfortable to shoot.
1911 Garrison Handguns - Springfield Armory
www.springfield-armory.com
Thanks for the reminder. I need to pick up one of these while still cheap because... Because... Uh, just need one and everyone says they are great.
First 1911 I got (besides shooting Dad's) was a Norinco I bought new for $225 in 1993. Those are - shockingly to me - now held in high regard but in reality the Tisas seem so much better and so much less in real $$.
For a real GI 1911, I have two genuine military .45s already, and another en route (1945 RR, all correct). I certainly don't need another basic 1911a1. But at these prices and these high reviews, how can you not sock one away? I'd rather one that was Parkerized and a more correct set-up (spur hammer and correct MSH/trigger combo), but I bet they have them that way also as they have a zillion iterations it seems. Thanks Astro and BOF for the reminder.
As an aside, when the new batch comes out, the SA-35 is a great gun. Have and getting another.
Here's some GI gun pron. Just this past week or so I finally got some correct keyes grips on this otherwise unmolested original one.
First 1911 I got (besides shooting Dad's) was a Norinco I bought new for $225 in 1993. Those are - shockingly to me - now held in high regard but in reality the Tisas seem so much better and so much less in real $$.
For a real GI 1911, I have two genuine military .45s already, and another en route (1945 RR, all correct). I certainly don't need another basic 1911a1. But at these prices and these high reviews, how can you not sock one away? I'd rather one that was Parkerized and a more correct set-up (spur hammer and correct MSH/trigger combo), but I bet they have them that way also as they have a zillion iterations it seems. Thanks Astro and BOF for the reminder.
As an aside, when the new batch comes out, the SA-35 is a great gun. Have and getting another.
Here's some GI gun pron. Just this past week or so I finally got some correct keyes grips on this otherwise unmolested original one.
ya that's the common complaint. i've only fired ones with huge beaver tails so not sure if the hammer will get me, but i love the plain jane GI A1 WWII era onesI have one of these. Shoots great.
1911 Mil-Spec Handguns - Springfield Armory
Only issue, for me, with a mil spec/GI configuration, is that the narrow beaver tail tears up the web of my hand after about 100 rounds.
An extended beaver tail, like this, is far more comfortable to shoot.
1911 Garrison Handguns - Springfield Armory
I don't find it a big deal - now. When I was younger and less experienced, I did. Also I have large-ish beefy hands, which makes the bite issue worse, but it can be fixed. You just don't try to jam a high hold (Astro14 talked about this), and if you focus on a more fore-aft hold, not a "baseball bat" grip, it's fine. I also deeply appreciate the ability to manipulate the hammer more readily with a tang safety vs a beavertail. The old-school wide spur hammer and tang provide better manipulation of the gun in some ways. Though TBH that's less common these days. Both have their place.
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