Armscor/Rock Island Armory’s M1911-A1 Rock FS semi-automatics are full-size versions of the M1911 Rock family that includes three classes: the compact 3.6” long barreled CS, medium-size 4.25” long barrel MS and full-size 5.0” long barrel FS. Here we’ll high-level reconnoiter the four Rock FS models.

These Rock FS guns are full-featured, beautifully built and an excellent value. There are three 45 ACP 8+1 capacity configurations and one 10+1 capacity 9 mm model. All have adjustable triggers and light weight skeletonized loop hammers. They have grip safeties and ambidextrous thumb safeties, which is a nice surprise in this price class. All are single-stack magazine models.

All four models have a six-groove barrel that is 5.0” long with a 1 to 16” twist. They share the same key measures, meaning length is 8.375” and height is 5.5” and unloaded weight is 2.5 pounds.

The 45 ACPs span three color choices. The first is classic: all matte black. Next is an attractive matte nickel frame and slide with black for everything else including the grips. Last is the two tone. This fetching choice has a matte nickel frame and matte black everything else. The 9 mm is available only in matte black. In all cases, parts that are matte-black are Parkerized, which is Armscor/Rock Island Armory’s go to finish for good reason: it’s tough, durable and looks great. The parts that are matte nickel have been blasted that way.

The Rock series’ barrel vaulted slide has no front serrations and tightly packed vertical serrations in back. It also has a lowered and beveled ejection port. The Rocks have an all-black dovetail front sight. In back is a non-adjustable all-black dovetail snag-free rear sight that is fronted by a long ramp.

These guns also feature a triple ported combat trigger with a 4 to 6 pound trigger pull. It looks great and the triple ports lighten it some. Moving back, the gun has an elegantly upturned beavertail, a simple loop hammer, an extended ambidextrous thumb safety and a beavertail grip safety.

The slide stop and circular magazine release are both on the left. Everything is textured for intuitive feel. Thus the hammer, thumb safety, slide stop, magazine release, etc., all have tactile surfaces.

These guns have double-diamond arrowhead checkered grips with the Rock Island Armory logo. But instead of being wood like in the classic M1911, they are matte black rubber. All in all, these are intriguing and affordable semi-automatics.