Most Colts, Springfields, Dan Wessons and any $1200 plus 1911 will usually be forged frames. Too many to count. Almost all slides outside of Ruger will be forged regardless of manufacturer. The Turkish made guns and RIA/ Philippine made pistols/ Ruger have cast frames usually but not always.

 

IE proprietary pieces that don’t interchange generally.

Sights don’t matter as long as they can be swapped.

Sights are the most significant feature. There are an awful lot of sight dovetails on 1911's and not all will accommodate all sight options. If you choose wrong on your sight dovetail you're going to end up doing some welding or grinding to fix your choice.

Kensight Common 1911 Sight Dovetails

Novak Sights 101

 

Sights are the most significant feature. There are an awful lot of sight dovetails on 1911's and not all will accommodate all sight options. If you choose wrong on your sight dovetail you're going to end up doing some welding or grinding to fix your choice.

Kensight Common 1911 Sight Dovetails

Novak Sights 101

Thank you! I had discovered that there were some differences, but this will allow me to ferret out those that might not easily play nice. Though that list of who uses “imitation” Novak sights is interesting….

 

Tisas are forged frames and slides. So is Springfield.

It's a selling point, if they don't claim forged, they probably aren't.

 

This might be helpful covers a number of guns. Once you get above 2K I would hope it would be all forged

Production 1911s

Info from Mil Spec to upper level production guns. By no means is this meant to be complete. I am sure there are mistakes and /or typos. I just made an attempt to show info on a few models from some of the major manufacturers. Please if you see any errors or if you want to add a model please add ...

docs.google.com

 

Perfect! Thank you for sharing that list. Should narrow down the potentials very much. Thank you

 

Springfield was a cast frame until recently. You do know that a cast frame isn't necessarily a bad thing. I certainly wouldn't worry about a Ruger cast frame. I don't own any Ruger's at the moment, but they have always been known as a very strong gun. I read that they have their own casting plant in Az. I would rather have a well-done cast frame as a poorly done forged frame.

 

Springfield was a cast frame until recently.

This comment seems contrary to my memory of Springfield's products. Do you have a source you can give us for this information.

Springfield previously sourced their forged frames and slides from Imbel in Brazil, but about a decade ago ended their association with Imbel.

 

I get it that some people don't trust cast frames or MIM parts but there's no reason for the mistrust. People will buy plastic guns all day long and complain about a cast frame. GEEZ!!!

 

Actually, I read that on this forum, If I'm wrong it isn't the first time and won't be the last time. I can say from experience that S.A. has sold some junk, unfortunately some of it was to me. There C.S. leaves a lot to be desired also!!! Sooo, you were there for 8 years huh?

 

Actually, I read that on this forum, ...

I'm sure this is true, because we often get posts like this in threads...

Springfield was a cast frame until recently.

You can search the forum all the way back to the beginning days of the forum and folks will emphasize Springfield's forged frames and slides. It seems as if it would be unlikely for somebody to make a claim that Springfield's frames are cast in a thread and not have members correct that assertion, just like what happened in this thread.

A "sticky" found in our Springfield sub-forum from 2012...

All SA's made in Brazil?

I've had my sights on a SA 1911 Loaded SS 45 for my very first 1911 purchase. I would prefer an American made 1911. It's my understanding that some of the SA's are made/assembled in Brazil. Does anyone know if all SA 1911's have the Brazilian connection? I'm open to other 1911's if anyone has...

www.1911forum.com

Springfield steel and stainless steel frames and slides are forged...

 

Tisas.

 

My Ruger 1911 has a cast frame?

 

It was erroneously stated earlier in the thread that Ruger's SR1911 series guns utilize cast slides. This is not true. Rugers use cast frames, but the slides on their SR1911s are machined from stock, just like (almost) everyone else's.

 

Your correct. I fixed my error

 

I'm pretty sure Springfield frames have always been forged. Dan Wesson frames made prior to the CZ takeover in 2005 were cast.

 

Taurus 1911s have forged frame and slide among other parts. Nothing wrong with the SA guns forged in Brazil either.

 

According to Deb at the SA Custom Shop, my Mil Spec, circa 2002, has a forged slide and frame. Good to go.

 

Tisas 1911 have forged frame and slide. Very nice 1911 at decent prices.

 

Are Caspian frames cast?

 

Yes they're cast. I don't see what the hullabaloo is about cast vs. forged. Cast is every bit as good as forged. I guess forged just sounds better.

 

When I built a Fusion, about 8 years ago, they were all forged. Checking the web site now, seems the frames and slides are "machined from bar stock", not sure what 'type' of bar stock they use. The prices now are roughly half of what I paid. Don't see any issues with a cast frame, as has already been stated, Caspian frames are cast, haven't heard any problems with those, I think a few have been built!