I became interested in Para Ordnance when Les Baer built the FBI HRT/SRP with a Les Baer slide and a Para Ordnance frame. Back then when it was offered, the SRP cost about $2700. That was a lot then and its still a lot today.
I certainly couldn’t afford it then but several years later, I bought a Para Ordnance and took it to a pistolsmithing course at Cylinder & Slide for modification (which cost even more!). This would be my personal HRT gun or at least the closest I could come.
The Para Ordnance P14-45 is a 5 in. barrel Government sized 1911 with a wide bodied frame that takes double stack magazines. Capacity with the standard magazine was 14 rounds plus one. The P14-45 was similar in most respects to a standard 1911 with parts interchangeable except for the magazine, trigger, magazine release, thumb safety, and an integral ramped barrel. Did I miss anything?
I never shot the Para in stock configuration but in its customized form, it was 100% reliable with over 500 rounds through it. The Para was customized with a Bar-Sto match barrel, beavertail grip, CS ignition system, Wilson rear sight, Videcki trigger and a few more designer parts that I can’t remember. The frame rails were peened for a tight slide to rail fit. The trigger was a crisp 4 lbs and super delightful. The accuracy was very good with groups about 1-1/2 in. at 25 yards if I did my part. With a Ransom Rest, groups would have been tighter.
Miscellaneous: I’m not sure if the finish was baked on but it certainly was tough. Draw filing on the slide took some effort to cut through the finish to get the the metal.
The Para was the first 1911 that I had customized with lots of help of course. Since developing those skills, I tried my hand at a few more 1911s. I realized that I didn’t have the talent to file straight which I think is the most important foundational skill to be a good smith. I did find I had a talent for checkering.
The Para was another gun I had sold off at a significant loss, considering all the time and money put into going to the pistolsmithing course. Alas, more regret.
