Design
While a lot of clone handguns are manufactured in Turkey, Charles Daly is based in Italy. The country has a deep, rich history in firearms manufacturing dating to the inception of the gun.
The Charles Daly 1911 is a faithful reproduction of the same American military 1911, with a Parkerized finish and those signature brown grips. Serrations appear on the back of the slide, and the single-action design features a simple hammer with some texture for your thumb. The sights are low, simple, and hard to pick up – typical for iron sights of the 20th century.
The 1911 is known for two things: a natural grip angle and an excellent trigger. The Charles Daly is no exception to either rule.
Along with the grip angle, the aggressive grip texture from the panels allows for a good purchase on the firearm while going through shooting sequences. With that big .45 ACP chambering, this 1911 feeds from single-stack, eight-round magazines. This is an upgrade from the seven-round magazines typically found with M1911s.
On the Range
Something about shooting a .45 makes you feel in touch with your freedom and God-given rights. Anytime I pick up a 1911, I have to yell, “Back-to-back world war champs!”
My first carry handgun was a 1911 like this, and every time I take a 1911 to the range, I get nostalgic. The Charles Daly is familiar and comfortable to shoot. The handgun has a slight thump, as to be expected with .45, yet it remains controllable and enjoyable.
While the sights are hard to see, that is the tradeoff with a reproduction handgun. I do not knock it, because it is true to the classic design. For a reproduction, this is an excellent handgun.
Summary
