IAI "SKIPPER"

[2sheriffs]

Has anybody had any experiance with a IAI "Skipper" in 40 S&W. Are any parts availabe for them-Magazines or parts if they need repair. I have a chance to buy one for $300 as is. I think it was made by Irwindale Arms and possibly had something to do with AMT. It only comes with one magazine. Any information would be appreciated.
Ron

[mcquade]

Never heard of the skipper but I have an IAI Javelina 7" 10mm. Common 1911 parts interchange most of the time. I haven't had to do much to it , yet.

[Deleted]

Allegedly, the Skipper is just a compact AMT 1911 "Hardballer". I knew guys in the 80s who had Hardballers, and to a man they each complained about the quality of the internal parts, and for the most part replaced the innards with Colt parts. Now that we have so many aftermarket parts makers for 1911s, it's not necessary to buy Colt, the the concept is still sound. One guy shot his for a while, then claimed that he held it over the garbage can, and pulled the action pins, and let everything fall into the trash. I never did hear any serious complaints about the slide or frame. It seems that heat treating of small parts at AMT/IAI/Galena Arms. I did find an AMT site that claims IAI & Galena www.amtguns.net/

[2sheriffs]

From what I have found on the internet, a lot of them had feeding issues unless you had a good gunsmith work them over and work on the magazines. Numerich shows magazines for them. Thanks for the information 358156hp.
Ron

[Otony]

Any .40 caliber 1911 magazine will work. No need to buy original Skipper mags.

[skipper49]

I bought a brand new, AMT "SKIPPER", sometime in the 80's. It was the commander sized "Hardballer". It was the only truly bad gun I've ever bought. Never, ever functioned reliably, and broke small parts with regularity. Twas a sweet day indeed when it departed my home. Oh yeah, also remember galling between slide and frame being a problem.

[2sheriffs]

Thanks for the information skipper49. I think I will pass on it.
Ron