How to tell the new Kahr AO from the old ones

[frogendor]

I am considering the purchase of a 1911 and was considering the new 1911 from AO after Kahr took over but how does one tell the old from the new ... I had heard that the address on the slide is different and that is how to tell if so which address is the new one and which is the old ? I am going to be purchasing my first 1911 at a gun show in Orlando at the end of the month. Thanks for any help any of you can render me with this situation, as I am told it is best to avoid the AO's that were manufactured before Kahr took over due to quality control issues. The Frog

[stans]

The old Auto Ords have frames made in West Hurley, New York. Khar's are made in Worcester, Massachusetts.

[frogendor]

Thanks so much Stans that will be a big help for the gun show this month. I am considering the AO along with some of the other less expensive 1911's for my first 45. Any and all brands that you might recommend? I will post with pics after my purchase but the gun show is the last weekend this month in Orlando.

[stans]

Cheap and usually reliable, Rock Island seems to fit that bill. Also, look closely at the Springfield GI, it usually goes for around $400 and has a forged slide and frame. Rock Island and Auto Ord use cast frames, Auto Ord (supposedly they don't with current production) used cast slides as well. A well made cast frame is fine, but cast slides lack the long term durability of forged or bar stock slides.

[Ric4509]

Stans - do you think an AO will stand the rigorous job of being a rental gun in a shooting range? My friend's rental 1991A1 full size .45 SS slide has a 1/4" long crack just below where the rail starts in the left side of the frame. He's thinking of replacing it with an AO. I recommended a Springer GI or MilSpec.

[stans]

For the money and intended purpose, I'd go Springfield. I've heard of Auto Ords cracking at anywhere from 10,000 to 30,000 rounds, often it is the slide. These reports are by people who actually purchased and kept track of their rounds fired. Has your friend contacted Colt regarding the cracked frame?

[John]

.... but cast slides lack the long term durability of forged or bar stock slides.

Don't say that to Ted Szabo!

[stans]

Ted uses cast steel slides? Even Caspian, who swears by cast frames, won't make a cast slide.

[John]

If I remember correctly yes, PO's using cast slides as well as cast frames, but let me verify that.

[stans]

Yes, please verify the use of cast slides.

[John]

Indeed, it was verified to me that slides are cast as well.

[stans]

Dang, you learn something new every day. Wonder what Para does to give them long term durability? Of course, Para's castings and heat treatments might just be superior to Auto Ordnance and Essex.

[Hawkmoon]

Then again, it is possible that the quality of A-O offerings has improved under Kahr's ownership. If we continue to discourage people from buying the new A-Os on the basis of the old company's reputation, nobody will ever find out if they are any good.

[stans]

Then again, it is possible that the quality of A-O offerings has improved under Kahr's ownership. If we continue to discourage people from buying the new A-Os on the basis of the old company's reputation, nobody will ever find out if they are any good.
That is true and a couple of the new ones that I have seen did look good, and couple of new ones that I have seen looked like the same old junk. Could be the junky ones were made from left over parts. I would like to think that Auto Ord quality will or has come up and that they will represent a good value.