Is it a gun made just for them? I need to look it up. Sounds tempting to me as well.

 

It is not made especially for Big R, I saw one at Palmetto State Armory.

 

Buds carry them, but out of stock.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/32590/springfield+armory+mil+spec+1911+gi+45od

 

Take a pass.

Those were the WW serial numbered GI guns that probably sold for 400 so so new.
They haven't been made since 2011 or so and carry no premium. They were made by Imbel in Brazil. They were good guns and I have one myself.

Look into this one instead.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/springfield-1911-defender-mil-spec-45acp-7rd-5-package-pbd9108l-pkg.html

It's the US made Milspec with the higher profile sights. Plus this gun would have the warranty.

 

Looks like the return of the SA GI

Same gun

 

Yeah, same gun. They could have been had in OD, parked, or stainless. I bought one cheap back in 2010 and it's a fine basic no frills gun, but they stopped making them a year later. There isn't a lot of point in buying one of them today for much more than what they were new. I mean 400 bucks is a buy, 650 is a hard pass. SA still markets the Milspec today, and they would be a better buy for someone wanting a basic gun but still getting the warranty.

 

They are try to compete with the Turkish 1911s in the USGI style. The Defender and Mil Spec are close but they are almost like late 80s Colts rather than WWII built pistols.

They basically give the USGI look like buyer a fig leaf for the "Made in America" crowd. After all US production of steel is a shadow of its former self. Likely every firearm made in the US has steel from China, Japan, or Vietnam. I wouldn't be surprised if the raw forging of nearly every 1911 was made overseas and shipped here. It's not cheap to do and it's not something you can do in a small shop.

 

Springfield has been doing the Milspec since the mid 80s and was like your basic as you note, mid 80s Colts. The GI came about as a WWII era type with the tiny GI sights and other basic 1911A1 style trim. It was similar to a USGI gun in that it made a lot of people happy, but far enough that diehards hated it. The only real modern features it had was a slightly lowered ejection port, polished feed ramp, and throated barrel. Mine has zero problem with hollow points.

A good basic gun to be sure, but the Milspec is the better of Springfields budget guns. The GI mighty have been a cheaper gun to compete with the Philippineo made guns. I don't know how long Turkish made 1911s have been a thing, but I'm sure the GI predated them.

 

It is legitimate and a new production April 2024 limited to 5500. They are a Mid-States Exclusive and I have seen them online at Murdochs for $799.99 and Cal Ranch in person for $699.99.

 

This is at Theisens.

 

If that's the gun the OP saw, that's the Milspec. It's the cheapest Springfield that they make and probably the best bang for the buck quasi US made gun. I dig the OD green, but I'm a sucker for OD anyway.

The one the OP linked to from Buds is the old GI model that they discontinued a long time ago.

 

For $649.99 would be the best price I have seen.