DoubleStar, known for their AR-15 products, has announced a new handgun: the DoubleStar 1911.
The DoubleStar 1911 uses a forged steel frame, and has a beveled magazine well, Novak sights and a National Match stainless steel 5″ barrel. The finish is parkerized. Customizations are available, including a variety of grips, and a choice in trigger guards.
MSRP is listed as “less than $1,200.”
Specifications
- Manufacturer: DoubleStar
- Model: 1911
- Caliber: .45 ACP
- Finish: Parkerized
- Weight (unloaded): 38 oz.
- Length: 8″
- Barrel Length: 5″
- Trigger: Greider
- Sights: Novak white Dot
- Capacity: 8 + 1 rounds
- Grips: Buyer’s choice (Ergo, Stryder, walnut, other woods)
Update 2013
Fast forward to 2013… DoubleStar is still making 1911 pistols, and the company has expanded the line of pistols. The frames and slides are both made of forged 4140 steel, while the barrel is a Storm Lake stainless steel. There is a Picatinny rail under the gun for the easy addition of lights, lasers and other doo-dads.
The sights are Novak white dot, with the rear being a LoMount design. Magazines are Novak eight round mags. The magwell is funneled for east and swift magazine changes.
The exterior of the gun is black nitride coated and the front of the magwell has 25 LPI checkering.
Option for the new gun include night sights and an ambidextrous thumb safeties. Additionally, the guns can be had as nickel plated. MSRP is up to $1499 for the black nitride guns, and up to $1649 for the nickel guns. The night sights and thumb safety options drive the price up farther.
The Original DoubleStar 1911 Announcement
DOUBLESTAR UNVEILS NEW 1911
AR Manufacturer Enters Handgun MarketAccuracy, reliability and American pride. They are qualities DoubleStar builds into each of its many AR-15 offerings. Now, the Kentucky-based manufacturer is bringing those same attributes down to size by building them into its first-ever handgun.
DoubleStar’s 1911 has been a four-year labor of love for Jack Starnes, president of J&T Distributing, a DoubleStar affiliate company. Starnes is a former 1911 competitive shooter with a longtime fascination with all things Colt. He started J&T Distributing more than 30 years ago with Colt products and reloaded ammo as a means of supporting his own shooting hobby.
“What we set out to do was produce a high-quality 1911 that delivers match gun performance at a production price,” Starnes said. “We accomplished that and more.”
The handgun uses only American-made components and retails for less than $1,200.
DoubleStar started with a forged — not cast — steel frame to ensure maximum strength and accuracy. Forging produces a stronger frame by aligning the grain structure of the steel, whereas the annealing and heat-treating of casting may strengthen steel, but it still leaves hard and soft spots in the metal.
DoubleStar’s 1911 offers a parkerized, mil-spec finish and 1913 rail for laser, light and scope attachments. At 8 inches in length and 38 ounces unloaded, the handgun features a stainless steel barrel and a Novak white dot sight.
The 1911 is standard with National Match stainless barrel, Greider trigger and Ed Brown’s Memory Grip Safety. Grips are available in Ergo, Stryder, standard, fancy walnut and even exotic woods.
“We think it’s important to give buyers options that allow them to create a semi-custom handgun, yet the price doesn’t reflect that customization,” Starnes said.
The magazine capacity is 8 plus 1, and the magwell is beveled for an easier, quicker load. DoubleStar’s 1911 is also available with a round or square trigger guard.