Iver Johnson A1 .38 Super 1911 Pistol - 5.0" - 1x 9rd Mag

The Iver Johnson Arms 1911 A1 in .38 Super is a Series 70 government-size 1911 built to GI specifications with modern steel quality — a 1045 steel frame and 4140 steel slide in matte blued finish, double diamond fine-line checkered walnut grips, GI-style fixed sights, flat serrated steel mainspring housing, beveled magwell, finger relief cut at the trigger guard, and a hand-fitted slide-to-frame fit that the Series 70 design delivers without the complexity of a firing pin block, with one 9-round Mec-Gar magazine included.

The Iver Johnson Arms 1911 A1 (1911A1938) is a single-action semi-automatic .38 Super pistol with a 5-inch barrel, 1045 steel frame and 4140 steel slide both in matte blued finish, GI-style fixed post front sight, fixed rear dovetail sight, rear vertical slide serrations, flat serrated steel mainspring housing, beveled magwell, finger relief cut at the trigger guard, and double diamond fine-line checkered walnut grips with Iver Johnson medallion. Series 70 — no firing pin block. OAL: 8.5 inches. Weight: 42 oz. Capacity: 9+1. Includes one 9-round Mec-Gar magazine. Gun lock, manual, and hard plastic lockable case included.

The .38 Super chambering is the primary differentiator that defines this 1911's role — the cartridge was developed in the late 1920s as a higher-pressure, higher-velocity variant of the .38 ACP, producing muzzle velocities that substantially exceed 9mm and approach .357 Magnum levels in many commercial loads, from a cartridge that fits the standard 1911 frame geometry. In practical terms, the .38 Super provides more velocity and energy than .45 ACP while using a longer, narrower case that allows higher magazine capacity than .45 in a government-frame 1911 — this pistol's 9-round capacity is one round more than the standard 8-round .45 ACP government magazine. The cartridge also has a reputation for competition use, particularly in IPSC and USPSA where the .38 Super's velocity and brass characteristics are valued by handloaders. Iver Johnson's Series 70 specification is a meaningful distinction — the absence of a firing pin block eliminates the Series 80's spring-loaded plunger and associated trigger-pull variables, producing a cleaner, more predictable trigger break that Series 70 advocates specifically prefer. The forged slide and cast frame are CNC machined and individually hand-fitted, with each slide mated to its specific frame, providing a tighter out-of-box fit than mass-production paired components. The double diamond fine-line checkered walnut grips provide a traditional appearance appropriate for a government-frame 1911 and a practical, secure purchase without the aggressive edge of modern G10 panels.

Caliber: .38 Super. Barrel: 5-inch. Frame: 1045 steel, matte blued. Slide: 4140 steel, matte blued, rear vertical serrations. Action: single-action, Series 70. Sights: GI fixed post front, fixed rear dovetail. Mainspring housing: flat serrated steel. Magwell: slightly beveled. Grips: double diamond fine-line checkered walnut with IJ medallion. OAL: 8.5 inches. Weight: 42 oz. Capacity: 9+1. Magazine: one 9-round Mec-Gar included. Includes: gun lock, manual, lockable hard case.

Series 70 design — no firing pin block eliminates Series 80 trigger-pull variables for a cleaner, more predictable break preferred by 1911 purists. Hand-fitted slide-to-frame pairing provides tighter out-of-box fit than standard mass-production. .38 Super delivers more velocity than .45 ACP with 9-round capacity in a government frame. 1045 steel frame and 4140 steel slide in matte blued for traditional all-steel construction.

The right government-frame 1911 for .38 Super shooters, IPSC competitors, and 1911 enthusiasts who want a Series 70 design with hand-fitted tolerances, traditional matte blued finish, and double diamond walnut grips at an accessible price point.