PMCI - February 2017

pmcimagazine.com
FIREARMS: STI
STI INTERNATIONAL
Whilst in Las Vegas for SHOT 2017 Bill the Ed had a chance to get some range time courtesy of STI International
and came away very impressed with their extensive range of “1911” style handguns.
I’ve always been a huge fan of the venerable “1911”
and what a history that pistol has; getting the
opportunity to get “hands on and live” with various
models manufactured by STI International was a rare
treat which gave me a far deeper appreciation of what
they offer.
STI International, Inc. is a Texas-based company that
manufactures complete M1911 pistols and parts for
competition, duty and self-defence. They are best
known for their “2011” modular frame guns, so-called because
the lower grip and trigger guard, which is made of a fibre
reinforced plastic, is a separate component from the metal
upper portion of the frame that comprises the dust cover and
frame rails. STI and Strayer Voigt Inc. share the patent on the
modular frame.
In 1990, Virgil Tripp, a gunsmith and machinist, started
building custom 1911s for competition use, especially USPSA/
IPSC. After some time, Virgil began designing parts for 1911s,
including electrical discharge machining (EDM) hammers and
sears. Virgil’s company was called Tripp Research, Inc. and
most of his parts were sold and marketed by Chip McCormick,
a champion pistol shooter, under his company’s name, Chip
McCormick Corporation (known as CMC)
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