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Rock River Arms 1911

PostPosted: Sun Jan 11, 2015 1:38 pm
by sawgrass
When the Larson brothers parted company with Les Baer they started Rock River Arms in Cleveland Illinois.
Later they moved to Colona Illinois. Once upon a time they built really nice hand fitted 1911's.

I've been looking for one of these for a long time and never really expected to find one.
I bought it from the original owner who had fired 50 rounds through it. He carry's its twin.
I hope some of you 1911 guys like seeing the pics. If you click on the pics they open.

PostPosted: Sun Jan 11, 2015 2:52 pm
by gun_fan111
Beautiful gun. When I saw the title a small part of me was hoping you are posting it for sale :)

Re: Rock River Arms Pro Carry Commander 1911

PostPosted: Sun Jan 11, 2015 3:36 pm
by sawgrass
Something will have to be terribly wrong for me to sell this one.
I've been looking for one for several years.

Re: Rock River Arms Pro Carry Commander 1911

PostPosted: Sun Jan 11, 2015 7:46 pm
by 45Badger
I had a couple Elite Commandos (swapped them before RRA got out of the 11911 game -argh!). Still have a Basic Limited Match. They made awesome guns. Tight as ticks, reliable, and laser accurate. Enjoy it!

Re: Rock River Arms Pro Carry Commander 1911

PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 7:15 am
by cobb
I have a Limited Match which I have shot very little, but am always impressed with every time I pull it out of the safe for the range. Also have a Commando which I have run several thousand rounds through and have used in some classes that I have taken. Like them both, but if I would ever have to make a choice of keeping one over the other, the Limited Match wins.

Re: Rock River Arms Pro Carry Commander 1911

PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 8:57 am
by sawgrass
Here's a link to a Limited Match from the same guy.
I held this gun when I picked up this one. It's very nice!
I just can't afford them both :( This auction end TODAY!
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =461983022

Re: Rock River Arms Pro Carry Commander 1911

PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 9:58 am
by sawgrass
Mark Zeigenbein who I think is Rock River's head pistolsmith gave me a tiny bit of info on this gun.
It's a transition gun. There were only a few made with the new prefix RA and marked Cleveland.
He said that makes it pretty rare. I guess most Cleveland guns were marked RR.
He's doing a history search and is going to get back to me.

He also said to expect some REAL GOOD news from SHOT :)

Re: Rock River Arms Pro Carry Commander 1911

PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 11:05 am
by cobb
So what does that really mean? My Commando has the RR prefex and my limited Match has RA.

Re: Rock River Arms Pro Carry Commander 1911

PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 4:22 pm
by ex-LT
cobb wrote:So what does that really mean? My Commando has the RR prefex and my limited Match has RA.

Is your Limited Match marked with Cleveland or Colona? If it's Cleveland, it sounds like it's fairly rare.

If you click on sawgrass's second pic to enlarge it, you'll see what she's talking about.

Re: Rock River Arms Pro Carry Commander 1911

PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 5:55 pm
by cobb
ex-LT wrote:
cobb wrote:So what does that really mean? My Commando has the RR prefex and my limited Match has RA.

Is your Limited Match marked with Cleveland or Colona? If it's Cleveland, it sounds like it's fairly rare.

If you click on sawgrass's second pic to enlarge it, you'll see what she's talking about.

Thanks.

So my Limited Match is made in Colona with the prefex of RA.

Limit Match.jpg




And my Commando is made in Cleveland with the prefex of RR.

Commando.jpg


So I guess neither are anything special number's wise, but the Limited Match is very sweet shooting. I have a few Baers and like them a lot, but the RRA Limit Match I will probably keep till the end. :D

Re: Rock River Arms Pro Carry Commander 1911

PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 8:54 pm
by sawgrass
That's it. I'm glad to see that Cobb for more confirmation.
Thanks for posting those pics. You lucky dog, you have one from each location!
Can you provide any additional info as to how they shipped?
Cardboard, black plastic or blue plastic? Other items?

Re: Rock River Arms Pro Carry Commander 1911

PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 9:00 pm
by Rodentman
deleted

Re: Rock River Arms Pro Carry Commander 1911

PostPosted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 9:22 pm
by cobb
sawgrass wrote:Can you provide any additional info as to how they shipped?
Cardboard, black plastic or blue plastic? Other items?

Off hand cannot give much info, Commando bought used many years ago and the Limit Match was also bought used from Cabelas in Owatonna. I do know the Limit Match was bought new from the over priced and unfriendly gun shop in Lakeville many years ago, found this out when I was researching it before I bought it.

Re: Rock River Arms 1911

PostPosted: Tue Jan 27, 2015 10:10 pm
by sawgrass
Rock River Arms announced and had examples at SHOT that they are getting back in the steel 1911 game.
Kate at Arnzen Arms met with them twice and ordered a few guns. She also seems to have a reliable contact to order
with modifications. The lower end guns are in the DW range. The higher end guns are some of the old prized models.

Kate's our girl for RR. http://arnzenarms.com/

http://www.rockriverarms.com/