Forum Member’s 1911 Inventory for 2019

[DrHenley]

OK, no more plastic magic 1911. It has been replaced by a Rock Island "Baby Rock" (Model 1911A1 380). I really had wanted the Baby Rock but could not find one anywhere and "settled" for the Browning. The Browning was a joy to shoot, but just a smidge too long for deep concealment. The Baby Rock is just the right size. It has a 3.75" barrel instead of a 4.25" and that half inch makes a huge difference.

This gun is much truer to the full sized 1911. No more composite frame (it's Parkerized steel) No more Series 80 type firing ping safety. No more disconnect safety. No more plastic guide rod. Purists, however, may be dismayed by the external extractor...but I personally don't mind them.

What is missing is the recoil lugs and barrel link. The Browning was a locked action, but did not use a link, instead using linkless tilting block linkage. But the Baby Rock is straight blowback.

It has a round butt, which I like. The magazine is flush, which I like. The Browning rear bottom corner was very uncomfortable for IWB wear. The Baby Rock is slightly smaller all around, and although it is steel instead of plastic, I really don't think it feels any heavier.

Here is the Baby Rock:


Here it is torn down. Except for the aforementioned lack of recoil lugs and barrel link, the external extractor, and the slide height, everything seems to be an exact scale model of a full sized 1911 - right down to the stainless steel Metalform magazine. Externally, the Browning looks EXACTLY like a full size 1911, and the Baby Rock has some profile differences. The slide is trimmer height-wise than a scaled down 1911 because of the fact that it's a blowback, and doesn't need room for the barrel to pivot down. And I don't believe the Baby Rock has a true 1911 grip angle, while the Browning does.




Dirty gun pictures TBA