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The Iver Johnson 1911A138CHRWP is a Government-size 1911 chambered in .38 Super Auto, and it makes an impression before you even touch the trigger. The bright polished chrome finish on the stainless steel slide catches the light from across the room, and the pearl grip panels give it a classic, show-quality look that holds up under scrutiny. This isn't a rack queen, though. It's a fully functional, 8+1 capacity pistol built around a platform that has been winning arguments for well over a century.
Under the hood, this is a Series 70 design, which means no firing pin block and a cleaner trigger pull than the Series 80 guns many folks have gotten used to. The slide is forged and the frame is CNC-machined, and Iver Johnson hand-fits each slide to its individual frame for a tight, quality fit right out of the box. The finger relief cut near the trigger guard is a nice touch for all-day comfort, and the flat serrated steel mainspring housing keeps the grip secure. Sights are GI-style fixed, front and rear, which keeps things simple and snag-free.
The chrome plating on these pistols is done entirely in the United States, worked by hand rather than mass-produced. Iver Johnson takes care to maintain tight tolerances through every step of the process, which means the finish doesn't come at the expense of the pistol's function or fit. The top of the slide and the underside of the frame use a satin chrome to cut down on glare at the sights and improve grip feel where it counts.
As for .38 Super itself, it's a cartridge with a genuine following among practical shooting competitors, IPSC and USPSA enthusiasts in particular. It delivers high velocity and flat trajectory in a package that fits the classic 1911 form factor, and it's been a staple of the Open Division competition world for decades. Factory loads push 124-grain bullets well past 1,300 fps, and the cartridge offers more case volume for hand-loaders who want to tune performance. If you've been curious about the caliber, a polished-up Government-size 1911 is the traditional and natural way to shoot it.
Series 70 refers to the internal design, which omits the firing pin block found in Series 80 pistols. The result is a simpler, shorter trigger pull with less mechanical interference in the reset. For range shooting or competition where trigger feel matters, many 1911 purists strongly prefer it.
.38 Super has a long history in practical shooting sports, particularly in IPSC and USPSA Open Division, where it's been a dominant caliber since the early 1980s. It can meet the Major power factor threshold with the right loads, and it pairs well with compensators due to the volume of gas it produces. Factory loads are readily available, and the cartridge also rewards hand-loaders who want to dial in their loads.
Iver Johnson does their chrome plating entirely in the United States, and the process is done by hand rather than using mass-production techniques. The top of the slide and underside of the frame use a satin chrome to minimize glare at the sights and improve grip traction, while the rest of the pistol carries the full bright polish.
Based on consistent retailer and manufacturer information, this pistol ships with one magazine. It's worth picking up a spare or two, especially if you plan on using it for range sessions or competition where quick reloads are part of the game.
.38 Super isn't as universally stocked as 9mm or .45 ACP, but it's a well-established cartridge with solid factory ammunition support from major manufacturers. Sporting goods stores and online retailers typically carry it, and for hand-loaders it uses standard .355" diameter bullets, the same as 9mm. If you shoot it regularly, buying in bulk or reloading makes the most sense.
This is a full Government-size 1911 with a 5" barrel, so it fits any holster designed for a standard Government-frame 1911. Most major holster makers make options for this size, and the 1911 platform is one of the most holster-compatible pistols ever made.
| UPC | 796167791911 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 1911A138CHRWP |
| Barrel Length | 5" |
| Caliber/Gauge | .38 Super Auto |
| Capacity | 8 + 1 |
| Slide Description | Serrated |
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