Tisas 1911 A1 US Army Review: Most Affordable Retro 1911?
We take a look at an affordable yet faithful reproduction of a classic design by way of the Tisas 1911A1 US Army.
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The 1911 is undoubtedly an icon at this point, one of John Moses Browning’s most recognizable creations. With over 100 years in service, these guns are still popular with many shooters.
That popularity has given rise to some impressive, high-end, versions of the classic, while still other companies have created faithful reproductions of older models.
We can agree these types of firearms can be a lot of fun, but are they worth your time? We recently got our hands on one such model from Tisas, the 1911 A1 US Army.
The Pew Pew Crew took it out to the range and tested it to learn more. So keep reading as we cover specs, features, and share our range report!
Table of Contents
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Why You Should Trust Us
Sean Curtis has been shooting since childhood but really began to delve into guns more during his law enforcement career of over two decades. He received continued training for his roles in SWAT and as a POST-certified handgun instructor.
He began writing in 2014 for Police1.com, covering many topics, including firearms reviews. From there, his works spread to Guns.com, American Survival Guide, Gun World Magazine, and the Glock Annual.
Sean wrote freelance reviews for Pew Pew Tactical since 2018, then came on board full-time in 2021, where he soon began focusing on videos.
Tisas 1911 A1 US Army Pros & Cons
Pros
- Affordable
- Historically accurate
- Reliable (with the right ammo)
Cons
- Ammo finicky
- Poor sights (but historically correct)
The Bottom Line
The 1911 A1 US Army is a retro-cool pistol with military flare that won't cost you an arm and a leg to appreciate.
Tisas 1911 A1
Specs
- Caliber: 45 ACP
- Action: Semi-Auto
- Width: 1.29 in
- Height: 5.75 in
- Weight: 2.4 lbs
- Barrel Length: 4.85 in
- Overall Length: 8.5 in
- Magazine Capacity: 7+1 rounds
Features
- Forged carbon steel frame and slide
- 70-series internals
- Turkish walnut grips and plastic grips included
- Barrel Bushing tool
- 5" cold hammer-forged barrel
- GI style sights
- 2 7-round magazines
Specification Source: Tisas USA
Tisas 1911 A1 US Army Background
The story of the 1911 is pretty cool because it marks a notable evolution in the history of firearms. During its development (late 1890s), revolvers were all the rage.
The idea of a “self-loading pistol” offered great advantages over wheel guns, so John Browning set about making it happen.
The concept of using cartridge energy to cycle the weapon was integral to the design, and .45 Colt was popular with military service at the time. Browning beautifully combined the two, creating the M1911.
During its runup to consideration for the military, the 1911 was given a huge test in November of 1910—6,000 rounds over the course of two days. It passed with zero malfunctions and was adopted by the US Army and given the designation, M1911.
The M1911 served admirably in World War I, though feedback led to some design modifications, resulting in the M1911A1. Fast-forward to current times and Tisas, a Turkish company with offices in America, has faithfully reproduced this model.
This is a super-condensed version to get us up to speed for the review. For a more detailed look at the 1911, check out A (Not So Brief) History of the Colt M1911.
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Who Is It For?
This pistol checks boxes for a few different types of shooters. First off, it is inexpensive as 1911s go, so people wanting to try a 1911 may want to start here.
It’s not mil-surp, but it’s definitely retro, which has been popular of late.
Besides these points, it is a well-functioning and accurate firearm and could be used for defensive purposes, though ammo should be carefully selected — more on this later.
Fit & Feel
Few handguns have the iconic feel of a 1911, and Tisas captured this with their 1911 A1 US Army.
Interestingly, the grips on the model we tested were the real wood commonly associated with the original M1911, though Tisas included a set of plastic ones more known for the A1.
I really enjoy the Cerakote grey finish on all the metal surfaces. It’s flat, seems sturdy, and gives off an old-school military vibe.
The grips feel great, and have a nice, diamond texture to them, which grips the hand. The narrow grip fits the hand well, though the tip of the beaver tail did dig into the web of my 2X hand after a few hundred rounds (that or hammer bite).
Looking down the sights, you can imagine the struggle so many people went through to establish a sight picture. The front blade is a rounded post, and the rear is a horizontal bar with a small notch.
Front sight, rear sight, and the slide are all the same color, so there is no contrast to aid sight picture. You simply rely on equal height and spacing, then press the trigger. In short, the sights aren’t great, but they are period-correct.
The trigger was classic 1911, pulling back to a wall before breaking at 3 pounds 12 ounces on a Lyman Digital gauge. Reset was immediate, lightly tactile, and audible.
Thankfully, the 1911 A1 comes with two magazines. These are also traditional, steel, 7-rounders, with window cuts in the side and a slight toe lip on the floor plate.
How Does It Shoot?
As I ran through box after box of .45 ammo, the feelings of nostalgia provoked by the Tisas pistol were pervasive. I really used to enjoy carrying and training with a 1911.
The gun was very accurate on the macro scale, as I was able to hit steel at 50 and 100 yards. However, I couldn’t put extremely tight groups together, and this was due to the sights. They’re just a little tough to see.
Going back to .45 is also different. Compared to the relatively tame recoil of a 9mm, I had to focus more on not flinching or completing the anticipatory jerk when breaking shots.
The recoil impulse is just more. This 1911 handles it well, but it’s still more to deal with, so proper grip becomes even more important.
Reloads went well, though I was incredibly rusty with feeding that thin magazine into the narrow magwell. Magazines inserted cleanly, locked into place, fed, and dropped cleanly when called upon to do so.
Regardless, the gun fed, fired, and ejected flawlessly with the 230-grain Sellier & Bellot FMJ and Federal 230-grain Tactical HST. It would not feed Speer Gold Dot 200-grain GDHP at all.
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What Sets it Apart?
A couple of points really stand out about the Tisas 1911 A1 US Army. One is the faithful reproduction that appears to match up nicely with the original.
I’m no 1911 historian, but from what I can tell, the main hallmarks of the A1 model are there. Plus, you can switch out grips to give the appearance or aesthetic you prefer.
The other notable item is the price coming in under $500. In a world where some 1911s cost tens of thousands of dollars, this one is pretty affordable.
Tisas 1911 A1 US Army By the Numbers By the Numbers
Accuracy
3/5
Reasoning: I liked being able to hit torso-sized steel at distances of 50 and 100 yards, but wish I would have been able to pull tighter groups when shooting at 7 yards. I blame this largely on the sights and my skill.
Reliability
4/5
Reasoning: This is a challenging rating because the Tisas ran flawlessly with most ammo during two outings with a total round count of around 600 rounds. However, it would not run at all with some defensive rounds.
Customization
4/5
Reasoning: This handgun has been around for so long, there are a lot of accessories out there for it. In the case of this particular model, I don’t know that you’d want to change it much since it is a retro-styled firearm.
Ergonomics
3/5
Reasoning: I love the grip angle of 1911s but controls such as the slide stop and magazine release cannot be reached without adjusting your grip.
Value
3.5/5
Reasoning: As noted above, this is pretty affordable when you consider the total 1911 market. Actual vintage 1911 A1s can start around $2,000 and go up from there but this model has an MSRP of $439, and I've seen them online for even less.
Overall
3.5/5
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Tisas 1911 A1 US Army Upgrades & Accessories
Wiley X Saber Advanced Shooting Glasses
Hoppe’s No. 9 Gun Cleaning Kit
Mechanix Wear Gloves
Final Verdict
The 1911 A1 US Army from Tisas is a cool throwback to a firearm that helped win two world wars. It’s a faithful reproduction of that pistol, as designed and improved upon by John Moses Browning.
The pistol is reliable with the right ammo, accurate enough, and won’t break the bank. Looking back, it makes me respect 1911 shooters who came before us a whole lot more.
What do you think of the Tisas? Let us know in the comments below. Looking for more 1911s? Check out our list of the Best 1911s for the Money.