Originally Posted by
Jim Watson
Which brings up something I have wondered about.
Tisas and RIA sell a lot of basic pistols, what I call "imitation Army surplus" on their low prices. There were Tisas being blown out in the low $300 range.
Let's assume you get a good one, as I am sure most are. A friend has one of each, the RIA required some tinkering for full function, nothing expensive, the Tisas was fine as is.
You might be happy with it for casual shooting, the GI Experience, CMP as issued shooting, CAS Wild Bunch.
But you might decide Grandpa was right, that forty-five is a tough gun to shoot, as issued. The sights are small, the trigger is tough, the hammer bites. So you want to improve it. If you can handle it DIY, fine, but if you have to hand it to a gunsmith, the costs are going to go up fast. The material and dimensions are said to be ok, so you can come out with as nice a pistol as you can envision and budget for. Kind of like the customized Norincos we used to see.
That should make a good shooter to your taste, but what of resale value, which seems to be always on the mind of a custom or deluxe gun buyer? It is not likely to sell for as much as the same options on a Colt or SA.
You could have bought one of their higher end models. RIA and Tisas make guns with more prominent sights, beavertails, bilateral safeties (NRAspeak) and rails. RIA has double stacks, Tisas has stainless steel. At higher prices, of course.
Want something nice? How about the $1000 Tisas Match?
I suspect you would want a US name brand for that kind of money.
Just rambling, fishing for ideas. I think I will get my stuff and go shooting.