The other day I was browsing and ended up on Palmetto State's website and saw an ad for a Tisas 1911 GI model at a very dang good price. So I started researching Tisas and SDS Imports. After watching many utube reviews and written reviews, I thought I have to try this. I settled on the Govt. 1911 Duty model cerakoted in black, ordered it from PSA this past week and it arrived Tuesday at my local gun shop. Now I know there are many reviews out there, but just thought I'd share my experience with this . Just to get it out of the way, I paid 469.99 plus shipping and tax came to 526.00

First, I like the plastic case. It's not too big, well made, and the gun and everything fit in it perfect. Came with a spare magazine, cleaning rods, take down tool, empty chamber indictor, and paperwork.





They have many choices, but I chose to go with the Duty black cerakote because I wanted something I could do my action job on, upgrade parts if needed, then try my dangest to carry it and shoot the barrel out. I love my Ruger, Colt, and S&W 1911s, but I try to save them as much as possible. This gun I want to use. So the cerakote finish is great. Very even, not too heavy. I love the Novak style sights. the ejection port is flared, and the gun itself is 70 series....thank you Lord. The aluminum trigger moves a little too much for my taste, but the trigger pull is consistent at 5 lbs and no creep. There's the normal takeup, then snap. I may go ahead and hand fit a Wilson trigger some point soon. I like being able to adjust the over travel and this trigger you can't.






The little bumps you see in that last photo is just some Ballistol oil that I had sprayed and didn't wipe it all off. It does have the ambidextrous safety that I'm not a fan of and I've already ordered an extended left side only safety to replace it. I also don't care for the black grips on this which I believe is some sort of wood. I'll find some good rubber grips like on my S&Ws or maybe a crimson trace green laser grip. I'll tear into it later, do my smooth up action job, polishing, polish the feed ramp, etc. I've also ordered a WC full length guide rod and will add the shock buffer to it. I haven't shot it yet but I plan on doing that once my parts are in and the action is polished up to my liking. But so far I'm very pleased with it and can't wait to get it fixed up and start breaking it in!

Next time we get together, I'll bring mine! (Maybe offer a free shooting lesson!)

Tisas makes a rock solid 1911.

I DID NOT NEED TO SEE THIS THREAD….

How’s the barrel lockup and slide/frame fit?

Cowboy, Both are fitted very nice. No extra movement on the slide, zero rattling, barrel locks up very nice as well. I'm very impressed at this point. The only wiggle I've found so far as been on the trigger both side to side and up and down just a little. But I'll hand fit a WC trigger and that'll fix that.
Slim. I thought we settled who was the better shot years ago, do you need a reminder? lol
Snake, I'm sorry! Just do what I did and pull the trigger (pun intended).
Choctaw. Yes Sir, you are very right.

I have two Tisas. One SS and one black model. I think they’re the cats meow. Great price point and built better than a bunch out there. Way beyond Girsan, Taurus, and RIA in my opinion. Fit and finish are solid. Also better than Ruger, Springfield (less maybe loaded or TRP), and others. I would not rate them higher than my Sigs or even the underrated S&W 1911s. Here’s a pic of them. I added a mag well and some G10 grips from eBay. Cool hand I think. Came with fancy screws as well.



blkt2 here on THF is a huge fan as well. He bought a duplicate I had some time back.

OP. Glad you got this and that you got a good case. Both of mine were in cheap cardboard boxes. You’re on the right track for upgrades. I haven’t gotten too far yet but did spruce it up as mentioned above and polished the feed ramps.

Keep us updated for sure. Always interested in others ideas and thoughts on making good guns better.

Are the slide sides rollmark free? It looks like that from the pics. If so, thats a big plus that they dont have some stupid model name on the side like “Operator” or “Warrior”.

Looks like a lot of gun for the $ if it runs as expected.

Stop posting these

unless they come with a threaded barrel

The right side is clean. Left side on this particular model has the word “duty“ and a bird in the rear.

I feel you Buzz.

Nice. Thats not too bad and I can live with that.

Here’s an example from GB this morning. Crazy good deal. Spend a little making it better and you have a winner. +/- a threaded barrel for Buzz.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/939848858

Well I got back on PSA website and they are sold out of these model and a bunch of the others. Sure glad I was able to get this one. My parts should be in today or tomorrow, but I can already tell I'll be ordering more of these. Back when USFA was making SAA revolvers, my dad and I each bought a .38 and .45LC Rodeo model for 460ish a piece. Now that they are out of business and the price on USFA's have tripled, I wish I'd bought 20 of them.

Can a threaded barrel be added to a Tisa? I have a PM to Kenz Cusroms

Buzz, I have no idea because I've never messed with a threaded 1911 barrel.
I did replace the thumb safety today, had to be hand fitted which I expected, added the full length guide rod, and got rid of those ugly plastic grip panels and added this set of LaserMax laser grips. Next up is to shoot it, but it's too dang hot so I'll wait till the morning.

I would not hesitate to add something like a storm lake drop in barrel and bushing combo. If fitment or timing was off then it’s off to popo.

Like this: https://youtu.be/EBtFyG7-jPc

looks like Storm Lake was purchased from Remington. low stock or no stock available. seem like great barrels. I love Ultimate Reloaders stuff. thanks for the link BB

I swapped the OEM full length guide rod and ambi safety OFF my RIA 1911 in favor of GI parts. To each his own.

I picked up a stainless steel version from a member on this board and then a short time later PSA had them on sale for about $150 less than what I paid for the one I picked up here so I bought two more.

Swapped to thin wood grips on all three. Did a trigger job using factory parts on one, left one alone, and swapped to a Wilson Combat hammer and sear on another. All three got a wolff recoil spring. All three shoot just as accurately. I just wish they would sell the stainless version without a rail. I work outside and sweat like a lawn sprinkler so I prefer stainless everything if I can get it. Eventually I'll get around to swapping sights on these but I haven't done so yet. Overall I'm very pleased with the quality and it far eclipses the quality of the GI Surplus ones I bought 30 years ago.

Hey BLKT2? Get the cerakoted version and that will help with getting it sweaty. I'm definitely going to get a few more of these.
So this morning I had just a few minutes to shoot while I was at the barn feeding. Only shot 7 rounds through it, 230 grain hardball, but the pistol performed flawlessly. I was shooting into a cedar log at about 20-25 yards and the group I could easily cover with the palm of my hand. I can't wait to have some time and cooler weather to it on a bench and really test the accuracy. I love the mods I have done to it. Some people have told me that adding the recoil buffer will mess up the timing, but I have found that not to be the case. It locked back on the empty magazine and definitely had felt reduced recoil from metal on metal. So far this thing is a keeper.

Here’s one without a rail on GB. Cheap enough.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/937051207

Wow I might need to check these out. I have a Ruger and have owned a S&W (wish I hadn’t sold it) and I’d say they’re both on same level and for the money, when I bought my Ruger, it was best bang for the buck. But I’ve seen the prices lately and they’ve gotten really expensive. Think I paid $625 for a commander stainless and $750 for one of the TALO exclusive night watchmen all black with the rail. Now they’re around double the cost.