If I was going to design a 1911 for carry, I would have it built on a lightweight frame with a Commander-length slide. It would need to have clear trigger and good sights. A beavertail grip safety, extended thumb safety, and extended thumb safety would be great. It should look very similar to the Tisas Bantam Carry 1911. The Tisas Bantam Carry 1911 I wrote an article a while back about rebuilding a Colt Lightweight Commander. It is now one of my favorite carry guns. You can be sure that if I run into you out in the desert of southeastern Arizona you will see me with my Colt in a Yaqui Slide on my belt. I came across a 1911 that met all my requirements while attending Gunsite’s event. The gun is called “The Bantam Carry” and is made by Tisas in Turkey. SDS Imports has been importer of Tisas’ products since a few years and has a loyal following for their 1911 pistols. The guns are packed with value, made in Turkey from forgings. They represent one of the most valuable 1911 products on the market. The first time I saw them was in 2019. It was at the 2019 SHOT Show. I commented to a colleague that if imported guns looked as good, they would be able to take a large chunk of the 1911 market. This was not a bait-and-switch. The imported guns I received as samples were just as good as the SHOT display guns. (Photo by Alex Landeen). Last year, I wrote an article about the GI version and a more modern gun, the B45R. It features a railed dust covering, extended safetyties, combat sights, and a beavertail. Both guns were extremely reliable and accurate. Their low price was what attracted my attention, but the guns’ quality and accuracy as well as their reliability was what kept me interested. Dave Biggers is a friend who has been in the firearms industry as long as I have. We had the opportunity to chat while he was at the Gunsite event. He showed me the Bantam Carry, a Turkish import. The gun is made from lightweight aluminum and features a Commander-size slide, 4.25-inch barrel, as well as a bobbed mainspring housing. “We have secured a large part of the economy-priced 1911 market and we wanted to make something more elaborate to show our capabilities. Biggers stated that the Bantam Carry was our first attempt at competing at the higher end market. Dressed up The Bantam Carry has a unique look thanks to the vertical flutes on the back and front straps and the longitudinal flutes cut into its slide. The flutes are large enough to allow the shooter to push into the mainspring housing and frontstrap to ensure a secure firing grip. Flutes can also be used to make fore- and aft cocking sounds. (Photo by Alex Landeen). Tisas give the gun’s slide a tritop configuration, leaving a small, serrated strip between the sights. The Bantam Carry has the same stylized good looks as more expensive guns. The pistol’s styling is not only stylish but also functional. The triggerguard is located at the junction of the front and rear straps. This allows the user to hold the gun higher. The muzzle flip can be reduced by placing the hand closer to its axis. The high sweep beavertail grip security aids in the high hold grip. The memory bump at the base of this part ensures that it disengages even if you have a thumb high (on top) as I do. The Bantam Carry also has ambidextrous, extended thumb safetyties that disengage and engage very quickly. (Photo by Alex Landeen). I am a traditionalist, so I was initially not a fan of the bobbed mainspring housing. After handling the gun and shooting it, however, I started to like it. A round butt revolver’s rounded grip frame is similar to one. It is easier to conceal and layers of clothing are less likely to get caught on it. This modification is especially useful for 1911s with barrels smaller than 5 inches. The Bantam Carry is extremely balanced and point-able. Hands-On Bantam Carry 1911 SDS will import the Bantam Carry 9mm and.45 ACP. Biggers allowed me to use the.45 version while I was doing draw and fire exercises at Gunsite. I brought along a Bravo Concealment KYDex holster as well as a magazine carrier. Biggers had also brought full-power, 230gr ball ammunition. The gun shot beautifully and, despite being built on an alloy frame, I didn’t feel the recoil overwhelming. I was able produce some very nice, controlled pairs. Even hammers were able to place their shots as closely and accurately as I would with a full-size steel weapon. I really enjoyed the Bantam Carry by the end of my Gunsite visit and made arrangements for another test gun to be sent to me for a more thorough inspection. The fit and finish of the Bantam Carry was what impressed me immediately upon receiving it. The frame-toslide fit was better than any production gun I have ever seen. The thumb safeties were snatched on and off quickly, and even the slide stop was fitted with precision. Tisas countersinks slide stop pinholes on the right side. This is something I’ve only seen on custom guns that are much more expensive. After disassembling the Bantam Carry I was shocked to find that there were no tooling or machine marks in the dust cover of the frame. Machine marks were absent even from the slide’s interior. I was eager to get out with the Bantam Carry and shoot some groups! Shots fired I woke up at 4 AM and drove for an hour to get to BLM land. My paper target was set at 15 yards. I used a Shoot N-C 2-inch sticker as my aiming point. Hornady’s Critical Duty 220-grain Flexlock +P rounds were my best five-shot group. It measured in at 1.25 inches. This is a remarkable accuracy for a Commander-size.45. The +P round was also uncomfortable to shoot. It does produce a staggering 400 fpe. My handload was the most comfortable load I shot through the Bantam Carry. It used a 200-grain round-nose laser-cast projectile with enough Winchester WW231 powder for a velocity of 833 feet per second from the 4.25 inch barrel. This is a great practice round and is easy on the gun as well as the shooter. It can be fired from a 5-inch barrel and will make USPSA major. The combined group size of the four loads I tried was 1.40 inches. The sights and trigger were a great help in group shooting. The rear sight is a sturdy, one-piece piece with a generous “U-notch” while the front sight has a green fiber-optic tube that glows brilliantly when there is just a little ambient lighting. My test trigger broke at 4 pounds, with very little overtravel and a firm reset. This made it easy to shoot the gun quickly. (Photo by Alex Landeen). Fast Follow-Up I set my MGM BC C-Zone Steel target at 12 yards. It is similar to a USPSA target, but with the “D” zone removed. When I loaded the Bantam Carry with handloads, it was easy to doubletap the target with a split (or time between shots) consistently under 20/100th seconds. This impressed me! Bravo Concealment Kydex was also a favorite of mine. It gave me a stable platform to show the Bantam Carry. It holds the gun close against the body and makes a satisfying “pop”, when the gun locks into it. It uses friction to lock your gun at the trigger guard’s front, as with most holsters. It is also as fast as any holster I have ever used. (Photo by Alex Landeen). The Bantam Carry did not once fail to perform during my 400-round evaluation. There were no issues whatsoever. I did not find any issues that I felt needed to be addressed to meet my “ideal for carrying” criteria. This gun was clearly designed by someone who is familiar with the 1911 and its use. The new Tisas Bantam Carry pistol is a lightweight, reliable, and accurate gun. It was imported by SDS Imports. This pistol offers shooters the look and performance of a 1911 custom at a lower price. Although the suggested retail price for this gun is $1,200 it is likely that you will find it for much less at your local gun shop. The Bantam Carry is the best choice for 1911 enthusiasts looking for a reliable, lightweight, and accurate carry gun. SDSImports.com has more information. Tisas Bantam Carry 1911 Specifics Caliber:.45ACP
Barrel: 4.25 in
Overall Length: 7.95 Inches
Weight: 39 ounces (empty).
Grips: G10
Sights: One-piece rear, front with green fiber-optic.
Action: SA
Finish: Black Cerakote
Capacity: 8+1
MSRP: $1200 This article was originally published by Combat Handguns in the September/October 2022 issue. Subscription is available in print and digital editions at OutdoorGroupStore.com. Or call 1-800-284-5668, or email [email protected]. Continue Reading Search The post Tisas bantam carry 1911: A Feature-Rich Pistol With Custom Performance appeared first at Personal Defense World.
