Auto Ordnance Army WW2 copy 1911a1 45acp

[ramit]

get the serial number and call Karh Arms.
Find out when it was manufactured.
It was Karh that started offering their version of the AO1911A1, as discussed above.

IIRC Karh bought AO back in 1999.

The version that has gotten all the bad rep, and deserving so, was originally made by Numrich when they owned AO, it was a parts bin gun POS.

The old AO use to cast their frames in Spain.
A 1911 forum member reported, after speaking to Karh, that the slide and frame is milled in factory in Worchester Mass from a solid bar of steel right here at the Worchester Mass factory from German steel.

A quick google search...
found a review from 2007 for the newly introduced Karh AO1911A1...."A few years ago the brand was owned by Numrich Gun Parts Corp. West Hurley, New York. Quality of Auto-Ordnance firearms under Numrich's stewardship is generally regarded as questionable. Kahr Arms bought Auto-Ordnance in 1999 and, from what I understand, the quality was improved upon. "

[DaveN]

The one I bought says Worchester Ma. On the frame , which may be a dead give away, I'm just saying. I don't know what the early guns had on them. It doesn't say kahr anywhere.

[ramit]

yea mine too, so maybe your right..
IIRC , the early ones from Numirch AO, had some billboard type marking on it anyway...

did some googling....

this rings a bell as they were before Karh.. very different than the nice repro style markings Karh is doing...



Ah found a nice posting about the pre Karh AO 1911's, the Numrich parts box guns, ...

" “ West Hurley” Thompsons "

yea, isn't that where numrich was ?

From....
http://justdandcomments.blogspot.com...-standard.html

..."...This is an Auto-Ordnance “Thompson” line of 1911 style pistols. Thompson pistols are still being made under their current owner Kahr Arms. This particular one pre-dates that acquisition and is sometimes called a “West Hurley” Thompson, named after the manufacture city of its time."
..."...
In its early years of production it was made from military parts on a Essex frame and slide with a commercial colt barrel. Production then moved to cheaper "market" parts that gave the gun a poor reputation for quality. This transition into cheaper parts started in earnest after SN 4000 (1983). Some online research puts this gun back into 1987 or possibly 1986.Kahr Arms has been improving the quality of the Thompson since its purchase."

---------- Post added at 08:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:24 PM ----------

I'm very happy with my AO GI clone 1911A1! I went a step further and replaced the stock barrel with a wartime High Standard barrel I had reblued.

Compare that with "LeagleEagle" pix.. very different markings... said it before, sorry for repeating, but I like the repro style of the minimalistic markings Karh decided to go with. No billboards.

[ramit]

Just two more, to compare markings.

From Karh's AO website.......

Auto-Ordnance 1911PKZMA - Style # 1911PKZMA, Tommy Gun Shop / Firearms


Karh AO, new...





Numrich AO , old .....

[DaveN]

Good job ramit that should help

[gijills]

clear as mud. now I am properly educated! Thanks guys.

[LeagleEagle]

Interesting to compare it with a GI Ithaca I recently bought:


Ithaca

[DaveN]

It was mentioned earlier that the area in front of the grip on the original curves immediately and the replica has a flat strip before it curves. I have both and will measure to see if it is the grip is narrow ,which should be easy to check?

[browningautorifle]

Yes, you'll find the current Auto Ord has a much deeper grip then the standard 1911s had. You can see it immediately when examining it with standard grip scales. You can tell in the dark because of the feel. More of a handful.

[DaveN]

Checked the grip. Compared it to the 43. The plastic panels are identical the AO is just bigger and your right it feels bigger but its something I can live with cause I really like the way they kept it simple and as similar to the real thing.