Para USA Elite Stainless

by
posted on May 19, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
para_elite_usa_f.jpg

Since the mid-1980s, Para-Ordnance, now Para USA, has been enhancing a classic American firearm, the M1911 semi-automatic pistol. Recent changes have kept Para out of the spotlight for several years, but now, with a fresh catalog of feature-filled guns, the creators of the “double-stack” .45 are back and ready to turn up the heat in the M1911 consumer market.

The company's Elite Stainless M1911 model is engineered with the finest precision parts, and is designed to be one of the finer out-of-the-box 1911 builds on the market. A full-size gun with a 5-inch barrel and a single-stack design, the Stainless accepts eight-round magazines. It ships with a two-dot rear sight and a green fiber-optic front.

For more information, check out the video embedded below, hosted by Associate Editor Joe Kurtenbach, or go to Para-USA.com.

Technical Specifications:

Action Type: semi-automatic, recoil-operated center-fire pistol
Caliber: .45 ACP
Slide: stainless steel
Sights: two-dot rear, green fiber-optic front
Frame: stainless steel
Finish: matte stainless
Magazine: detachable box; eight-round capacity
Barrel Length: 5"
Overall Length: 85⁄8"
Width: 11⁄4"
Height: 57⁄8"
Weight: 39 ozs.
Accessories: lock, manual, hard case, extra eight-round-capacity magazine
MSRP: $999

Latest

Christensen Arms Evoke Review 1
Christensen Arms Evoke Review 1

Christensen Arms Evoke: A Budget-Friendly Hunting Rifle Built For The Field

For hunters seeking a well-built, no-frills hunting rifle, the Christensen Arms Evoke offers a host of desirable features, all at a price that leaves room for hunting tags and travel costs.

Wholesale Change in Glock Lineup & Other Industry Moves

Fall 2025 has proven to be a volatile time within the firearm industry, with companies like Glock announcing major changes to its product lineup, while other companies announce expansions and moves.

I Have This Old Gun: Model 1895 Lee Navy Rifle

In the 1890s, U.S. military small arms were evolving rapidly. The recent discovery of smokeless powder, along with the development of new operating systems and cartridge designs, led the U.S. Navy to adopt a radically new platform: the Model 1895 Lee Navy rifle.

Carry Comped: Smith & Wesson Performance Center’s Compensated Bodyguard 2.0 & Shield X

Smith & Wesson introduced compensated models of two popular concealed-carry handguns in its lineup, the Bodyguard 2.0 and Shield X, both designed to help handgunners improve recoil control.

An Appendix-Carry Primer

Although appendix inside-the-waistband carry of a defensive handgun has become increasingly popular, it remains controversial among some concealed carriers. Here, an AIWB practitioner outlines its pros and cons.

Favorite Firearms: A Hero’s War Trophy Returns

My father, Kenneth Cuddeback, graduated from high school in West Chester, Iowa, in 1942 and started at Iowa State University in the fall. When two of his high school friends were going to get drafted, he quit college to join the Army.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.