When history’s greatest firearms designer, John M. Browning, first conceived the pistol that would become known as the Model 1911 after it was adopted as the standard U.S. service pistol in that year, he likely had a pretty good idea that his brainchild was a very fine pistol. Still, it is doubtful that he foresaw the lasting popularity and world-changing effect that his pistol would enjoy well into its second century. After World War I, the 1911 pistol saw some minor design enhancements, with the modified version being officially adopted as the M1911A1 in 1926; these enhancements included a shorter trigger, relief cuts in the frame behind the trigger, an arched mainspring housing, a slightly longer grip safety spur, a slightly shorter hammer spur, a slightly wider front sight, and redesigned grip panels. Glock® fanboys notwithstanding, the M1911/M1911A1 pistol remains the finest combat sidearm ever devised; its popularity continues to soar today, as evidenced by the ever-increasing number of companies who are climbing aboard the 1911 bandwagon, carrying its banner forward into the 21st Century and beyond.
One company that is anything but a “bandwagon-jumper” is Armscor. With roots running back as far as 1905, Armscor (Arms Corporation of the Philippines) has been making firearms since the early 1950s, and currently is among the world’s largest producers of 1911 pistols under their Rock Island Armory brand. With their U.S. headquarters in Pahrump, NV and a manufacturing plant in Cedar City, UT, Rock Island Armory currently exports to over 50 countries on 6 continents. Rock Island Armory has earned a reputation over the decades for crafting high-quality 1911 pistols at very competitive prices, and the model under consideration here is a case in point: the Rock Island Armory M1911A1-FSP GI Standard FS 45 ACP Pistol.
Armscor / Rock Island Armory M1911A1-FSP GI Standard FS pistol.
The M1911A1-FSP GI Standard is an all-steel pistol, and finished in GI-type black Parkerized, which is a tried-and-true method that traditionally and effectively protects the steel from corrosion while increasing its resistance to wear. The end result is a tough, aesthetically pleasing, dull-black finish that appears very businesslike. The pistol’s all-steel construction is not exactly light in weight, but the 2.5-pound heft goes a long way towards taming the recoil of the “as God and John Browning intended” 45 ACP cartridge.
Standard GI-Style spur hammer, right-hand thumb safety, and grip safety.
While the M1911A1-FSP GI Standard is pretty much a pure, GI-style M1911A1, there are a few notable enhancements that make the Rock Island Armory pistol perform even better than the genuine item. I remember well the days of my youth, when a shooter would have to pay a small fortune for a Colt 1911A1, then would have to spend several hundred more hard-earned bucks at the Gunsmith’s to make the thing run reliably with modern hollowpoint ammunition; the Rock Island Armory pistol comes with just the sort of enhancements that were previously the Gunsmith’s livelihood, and the RIA pistol runs like a sewing machine right out of the box. First, the extractor is perfectly tuned for positive extraction, while the slide’s ejection port is lowered and flared to aid in positive ejection, eliminating the familiar “stovepipe” jam. Secondly, the barrel’s chamber is throated and polished along with the frame’s feed ramp for reliable feeding. The 1911’s design incorporates a feed ramp built into the frame, creating a transition between the feed ramp and the chamber; this is seldom a problem when feeding GI-type FMJ Round-Nose “Ball” ammo, but often creates a feed jam when the sharper shoulder of a modern hollowpoint tries to transition over the feed ramp into the chamber. Throating the barrel and polishing the feed ramp greatly improves upon this, and my M1911A1-FSP GI Standard ran perfectly using a variety of ammunition types, from GI-style Ball to Lead Semi-Wadcutters to Jacketed Flat Points to Jacketed Hollowpoints, both in Standard and +P pressure loads. Feeding, extraction, and ejection were positive every time with no (as in, ZERO) malfunctions of any kind.
GI-Style front sight and drift-adjustable rear sight.
Another difference between the GI-style M199A1 and the Rock Island Armory pistol is the mainspring housing: with the A1 redesign, the standard 1911’s flat mainspring housing was changed to an arched unit, supposedly making the pistol point better for smaller-handed shooters. The RIA M1911A1-FSP GI Standard features a vertically-grooved flat mainspring housing, as preferred by a great many modern shooters, myself included.
The M1911A1 design modifications that are retained in the M1911A1-FSP GI Standard include the A1’s frame relief cuts, along with the slightly longer grip safety spur and slightly shorter hammer spur, which goes a long way towards preventing the web of the shooting hand from being pinched between the hammer spur and grip safety spur; I have fairly large hands, with substantial meat between my thumb and trigger finger, and I had no problem with “hammer bite” using this pistol.
Ejection port is subtly lowered and flared, and barrel throat / feed ramp are polished for reliable operation with modern ammunition.
The M1911A1-FSP GI Standard’s trigger is a compromise between the longer 1911 trigger and the shorter 1911A1 trigger. As I do not have overly-long fingers, my preference is for just such a “medium-length” trigger, and the 2.71-Inch trigger reach is just right for me. Rock Island Armory specifies the trigger pull at 4 to 6 pounds, with the trigger on my example measuring just under 3 pounds (2 pounds, 14.6 ounces, to be exact), with just a hint of take-up and a very smooth, grit-free pull. Perfect.
The sights are pretty much standard GI, meaning fairly rudimentary. The front sight is a slot-mounted, rounded, low-profile blade, while the rear sight is a low-profile unit dovetailed into the slide, and therefore is drift-adjustable for windage. If you are familiar with such tiny GI 1911 sights, then you know that they are not exactly quick to acquire, and the rounded front blade only works really well when lighting conditions are perfect; still, the low-profile sights have the advantage of being almost completely snag-free, and once you manage to find that little front sight, the sight picture is very precise. These are not Target or Competition sights; they are made to basically not be used with precision, only for quick and close-up work in combat situations, which equates very well for self-defense situations.
The factory grips on the M1911A1-FSP GI Standard are not unattractive: a plain, unfigured, lightly-colored wood, which are smooth rather than checkered. The appearance did not bother me at all, but I do prefer some texture to help me hold a positive grip, especially on a pistol that bucks and snorts like a stoutly-loaded 45 ACP. Of course, any aftermarket grip panels made for a standard full-size 1911 will fit the M1911A1-FSP GI Standard, so the sky is the limit: I chose a set of Eagle Grips’ Kirinite® Black Pearl grips with their new REAKTIV MAXX™ checkering. I have long been a fan on Eagle’s REAKTIV™ checkering for its retentive properties, but the new REAKTIV MAXX™ checkering takes retention to a whole new level. It is hard to describe the feel of these grips, and the positive hold that they offer, to one who has never handled a set, so let me urge you to try a set if you get the opportunity; you will be amazed at how well these grips grab your hand. The standard REAKTIV™ checkering is wonderful for most applications, and is really best for concealment underneath a jacket or a lightweight shirt, as the checkering will not hang up on your clothing. The REAKTIV MAXX™ is much more aggressive, and might affect the way your cover clothing drapes, so the MAXX is preferred for open-carry or off-body use; even so, the MAXX checkering is not abrasive to the hand, and is not at all uncomfortable under recoil. The hold is so positive that you can literally hold the gun with thumb and finger of one hand, and be unable to pull the pistol loose with the other hand; it really has to be felt to be believed. Raj Singh at Eagle Grips has really come up with something special in his REAKTIV™ and REAKTIV MAXX™ checkering patterns. These innovative patterns cannot be used on wood grips, but Eagle Grips’ proprietary Kirinite® material is perfect; both stable and beautiful, Kirinite® can be had in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Eagle Grips’ REAKTIV MAXX™ 1911 grips are available for a very reasonable $139.95 on Eagle Grips’ web site, https://www.eaglegrips.com/
Eagle Grips Black Pearl Kirinite® grips with REACTIV MAXX™ Checkering.
Standard 1911 magazines have a capacity of 7 rounds of 45 ACP, which has served Mankind well for 114 years, but modern spring technology allows an extra round or two to be squeezed into the same space, and the M1911A1-FSP GI Standard includes two eight-round magazines. These magazines are made by ACT-MAG; the body of the magazine is highly-polished blued steel, the follower is steel, and the base pad is polymer. These are very nice, high-quality magazines, and two are included in the bargain price of the pistol; also, of course, any magazine for a full-size 1911 pistol, everything from your “gun show specials” to the high-end magazines, will work just fine in the RIA.
Shooting the Rock Island Armory M1911A1-FSP GI Standard FS was a pleasure. As mentioned above, the weight of the all-steel frame mitigated the 45 ACP’s recoil, which really isn’t a problem for an experienced shooter anyway, and I was able to shoot the pistol all day without fatigue. Also as mentioned above, I experienced zero malfunctions of any kind. Accuracy was very good, bearing in mind that with the GI-style sights this is not meant to be a target pistol; informal plinking at targets of opportunity yielded minute-of-soda-can accuracy out to extended ranges, while standing offhand shots on paper at five yards yielded group sizes ranging from two to three inches with a variety of loads, with all shots landing reasonably close to point of aim.
Boge shoots the Armscor / Rock Island Armory M1911A1-FSP GI Standard FS pistol.
Five-shot group at five yards, fired standing offhand.
Specifications: Armscor / Rock Island Armory M1911A1-FSP GI Standard FS 45 ACP Pistol
SKU: 51421
Series: GI
Caliber: 45ACP
Finish: Black Parkerized
Action: Semi-Automatic
Barrel: 5 Inches
Overall Length: 8.54 Inches
Overall Width: 1.3 Inches
Overall Height: 5.51 Inches
Weight: 2.47 Pounds
Trigger Reach: 2.71 Inches
Trigger Pull: 4 – 6 Pounds (specified), 2 Pounds, 14.6 Ounces (actual)
Front Sight: GI type, mounted on slot
Rear Sight: GI type, mounted on dovetail cut
Grips: Wood
Magazine Capacity: 8
Magazines Included: 2
CA/MD/MA Compliant: Yes
MSRP as of May 2025: $499.00 US
Again, as the Armscor / Rock Island Armory M199A1-FSP GI Standard is basically a standard M199A1 pistol, any holster made for use with a full-size 1911 or 1911A1 will fit perfectly. I own several 1911 holster rigs, but as I seldom wear pants with a belt, I prefer a shoulder holster for concealed carry of a 1911. My favorite shoulder holster for concealment has long been the Galco® Miami Classic; made famous 40 years ago by the TV show “Miami Vice”, the Miami Classic is an evolution of the original Jackass rig that first put Galco on the map. Made from premium steerhide, the holster is perfectly molded to the pistol, featuring a vertical double magazine carrier with secure flaps on the off side. The 1″ steerhide adjustable Spider Harness straps are mated to an innovative Flexalon™ swivel back plate, allowing the system to move with your body. The Miami Classic carries comfortably and balances perfectly without tie-downs, and is the most comfortable concealment shoulder holster I have ever used. Also available from Galco® is the Miami Classic II system, which features a horizontal double magazine carrier with open front on the off side, and 1.5″ steerhide Spider Harness straps. Either Miami Classic system sells for $329.00 on Galco’s web site: https://www.galcogunleather.com/, and is highly recommended.
Galco® “Miami Classic” Shoulder System.
There are many options in 1911 pistols these days, for which I am thankful; one can only stand so many plastic Wondernines without seeking the sanctuary of steel, wood, and John Browning’s design genius. It might just be because I am old, but the lines, the heft, the feel, and the smell of a fine 1911 pistol stirs the soul as no striker-fired polymer tool can. With all the brands, and all the models, of 1911 pistols available in this Golden Age, it is easy to spend thousands of dollars on a 1911 pistol; these high-end, boutique 1911s certainly have their place, and I do own several such pistols, but the 1911’s true place is a companion machine that you can depend on for your life, without spending that life’s savings. This is where the Rock Island Armory M1911A1-FSP GI Standard FS really excels: it is a quality, basic M1911A1 pistol at a price that is accessible to all shooters. Current MSRP of the Rock Island Armory M1911A1-FSP GI Standard FS is only $499.00 US, and can be had for substantially less than that price with a bit of judicious shopping. This is far less than most pistols on the market, for a pistol that is better than many pistols costing hundreds more. The Rock Island Armory M1911A1-FSP GI Standard FS is built to last, and is backed by a Lifetime Warranty.
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About the Author:
Boge Quinn is a life-long shooter, born and raised in the Great State of Tennessee. A co-founder of Gunblast.com (https://gunblast.com/)in the year 2000, along with his brother Jeff Quinn, Boge has continued on with Gunblast after Jeff’s passing in 2020. A Lifetime Endowment member of the NRA, Boge serves on the Board of Directors of The Shootists (https://shootists.org/), an organization started by John Taffin in 1985, as did his brother Jeff. Boge appreciates firearms of all types, but his soul is particularly stirred by the “older style” guns: lever-action and single-shot rifles, along with Single-Action and Double-Action revolvers and 1911-style pistols. As a former professional artist, Boge appreciates the aesthetics of a fine gun, as well as its mechanical precision and practical application. His particular affinity lies in the world of handguns, and he has hunted mostly with handguns of all types since the mid-1970s. A regionally well-known musician, Boge is also a Deacon in the same Baptist Church where his brother Jeff formerly served as Deacon, and where their Dad finished his 50-year career as Pastor.