How do I buy this gun?

[Stop Resisting]

I want to purchase a 1911 pistol (I've already read the thread). I want it to be a chrome or nickeled 1911 .45.

I have no idea how to purchase a gun like this. I have checked local retailers but no luck. Do I buy a 1911 and have it chromed or nickel plated? Can I special order one? Where and how would I do this?

Also, just imagine money is no object, within reason.

[nkpd44]

look online and get it shipped to an ffl in your area....easy.

[Nathan K]

Well first how fancy of a 1911 do you want. Are you thinking about a plain GI model or a more customized one. If you want a more basic 1911 you will probably have to get one and have it refinished since almost no production 1911 come with those finishes. If you want a fully custom 1911 and money is not as much an option, then check some of the top of the line custom 1911 makers like nighthawk custom or Les Baer and custom order one with a chrome finish. After you have decided what 1911 you want go check with any of the local retailers to see if they can special order one for you. Hope this helps.

[DAL]

You could buy a stainless 1911 and have it polished -- not that I recommend having a shiny gun. But it's probably necessary to get that authentic bandido or narcotraficante look. At one time, Colt made nickel-plated 1911s.

[Surf]

Also, just imagine money is no object, within reason.

So which do you prefer? Money no object or within reason? And if within reason, what is reasonable to you? Some people cringe at the costs of many off the shelf 1911's. A customized 1911 can be very expensive. Again one mans cheap, is another mans expensive.

[CPD7297]

Do a search of the major gun makers and check their sites, i.e., Wilson Combat, Para Ordnance, CZ, Kimber, Smith & Wesson, SigSauer, Springfield, etc. Any top notch gun store can order a firearm.

[LA DEP]

Go to Gunbroker, do a search for the weapon and buy it.......you just then have to have it shipped to a FFL who will do the required paperwork for you

[Blackdog F4i]

If money is no object...call the Colt Custom Shop and tell them what you want.

HOWEVER I will caution that there are better choices for finishes than Chrome or Nickel Plate for a working or hard use pistol.

[Stop Resisting]

Should have probably clarified a few things:

This will not be a carry gun. Mainly just a range piece, my own created heirloom. For price, I'm looking with a range of $0-$2000. Preferably less, but I'm going to buy what I want.

And I really have no idea how to specially order a gun. What is a FFL?

[WC145]

An "FFL" is a Federal Firearms License, the letters "FFL" are often used as slang for a gun dealer. Any gun you buy online has to be shipped to an FFL holder so they can process the transfer paperwork and run a NICS check on you. This is stuff you should probably already know....

Anyway, call Maine Military Supply in Brewer, ME - 202.989.6783. I was just there last night and they have a bright nickel plated Rock Island Armory GI model (their version of the standard 1911) in stock. They have it tagged at $499.99. RIA's aren't Colt's by any stretch of the imagination but they're solid, good shooting guns, I have two, a .45 and a .38 Super. I don't know that I'd save them for family heirlooms but they're a good place to start getting into the 1911 world without spending a fortune. I have no idea what they charge for shipping and it's up to you to find an FFL holder for them to ship it to that will do the transfer, there's usually a small fee for that also.

[SHU]

If money is no object I'd go with a Kimber Custom.

http://www.kimberamerica.com/pistols/custom/

[jwise]

For an heirloom, you want either a full custom job, or a Colt.

I'd recommend a Colt, just because it is the original. For a shooter, this recommendation would be different, but for an heirloom, there are few better.

Check out some of these:

http://www.centralfloridapawn.com/coltcustom1.html

[jwise]

Look into just getting a stainless pistol, then have it polished. Here's what a professional metal polish can look like:

[R12GS]

If money is no object I'd go with a Kimber Custom.

http://www.kimberamerica.com/pistols/custom/

No disrespect but I can easily think of half a dozen companies who are easily heads and tails better than anything coming out of the Kimber custom shop. Wilson Combat, Les Baer, Ed Brown, and even Springfield Armory's own custom shop are better choices.