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Ok, ok. I'm getting the "wants" for another 1911. I had one many, many, many years ago and it's time to start maybe thinking about putting it on the list of guns to think about.

I'm looking for an intro 1911. And I'm convinced that the RIA offers the best value(for me) on someone on a verrryyyyyy tight budget(like me).

With that in mind I've been scouring the web for THE one that looks best to me. It's been difficult as I'm looking at only RIA new guns(or used, but they are scarce considering the kind I'm looking for).

I have one specific gun in mind.....if it really exists.

My criteria:
1911 in .45acp
NOT full size gun. possibly a Commander size or more likely a sub-compact.
Ambi-safety, as I'm left handed
7 round magazine
Price: WELL below $500

I THINK I found the EXACT gun I want.....if it really exists. The RIA 1911 Compact Tactical. MFG. code 51429. I've found it called a Combat Tactical Compact; Armscor 1911A1-CSP; Armscor 1911A1-CS PS; Rock Island Armory Tactical 45 Compact Mfgr Item 51429FC, etc, etc, etc ad nauseum.

I had to do a double take when I saw this, as it's THE first truly left handed 1911 I've ever seen. And I've seen this on several online retailer websites:



Can anyone verify that this gun exist as depicted in the photograph? Or is it a reverse image thing going on that Armscor has failed to correct?

The thing about it is I can't find out anything about it on the Armscor website, as it's not even listed. Nor is ANY of their subcompacts, or Commander sized .45's. I'm thinking about calling their armorer out in Nevada and chat with him about it.

Soooooo, any of you 1911 owners shed any light on the subject, or have any recommendations based on the above criteria?

Edit to add: I've been hanging out big time on: 1911Forum.com & M1911.org websites as both have an Armscor dedicated forums, and they've been of little help as well. I really don't want to do any mods to the gun. Just buy & go..ya know?

i cant. Never saw a production left hand 1911.

I have heard of a production left handed 1911, but not at RIA prices! In fact, a guy from S.A.W. told me at the FT Worth gunshow a few months back that he had a matching set of mirror image 1911s with consecutive serial numbers in the shop. The left handed one is a true, lefty, with everything including the ejection port configured for a left handed shooter. They aren't for sale.

Mostly likely, that picture is not a left-handed gun. It's a right-handed gun, but the image got "horizontally flipped" in PhotoShop or something. For example:

Here's the original image from Kimber's website:


Now here's the flipped version of the image which I just made:


Took me less than a couple of minutes to do.

TAM, I was thinking that's exactly what's going on in those ads. Thanks!

That being said, I think they make a RIA either a Commander sized 1911 with ambi-safety, or a sub-compact one. I'm trying to find a good and valid model number that a dealer would recognize. I may have to make that phone call.

Thanks AndyC. I may have to go that route, to get what I want.

joe817 wrote:Thanks AndyC. I may have to go that route, to get what I want.

That's what I had to do with my Kimber Stainless Ultra, which didn't come stock with ambi safety.

The Annoyed Man wrote:

joe817 wrote:Thanks AndyC. I may have to go that route, to get what I want.

That's what I had to do with my Kimber Stainless Ultra, which didn't come stock with ambi safety.

TAM, did a local gunsmith do the fitting, or did you send it back to the service center to have it done?

(& if you don't mind me asking, how much did it set you back?)

That's m RIA compact in the pic posted above. If you take your time and are careful you can install an ambi safety yourself. The one in that pic is a Wilson tactical ambi but I wouldn't recommend it to a lefty as the right side lever is much smaller than the left. Something like an Ed Brown tactical would be better suited.