Two-tone Semi-custom 1911

Onomea · #1 03-08-2009, 03:00 PM

A few years ago, mostly because I figured everybody needs a 1911, I bought a used Wilson, a ten year-old Compact Protector, I think it is called, Officer’s grip and near-Commander slide.

I enjoyed shooting the little gun -- what a trigger! -- and decided to get a full-size, or government model.

I considered a full custom gun, but realized that I didn’t really know enough about the platform to intelligently spec what I wanted. I began to focus on semicustom makers, Ed Brown, Les Baer, and Wilson Combat in particular. I thought the finish on an Ed Brown the most beautiful, but, being a 1911 novice, was put off by the need to Locktite in the rear sight on my own, and was also put off a bit by his shop’s reputation for being somewhat crotchety about after service. And I also liked the Les Baer guns a lot, but they have a rep for being extremely tight – I think one needs to “shoot them in,” as it were – and again, because I am a novice, I thought this probably not the route for me at this stage of my 1911 experience.

So in November of ’07, I decided to buy a Wilson Combat, specifically a Tactical Supergrade. My research indicated that Wilsons are “not too tight” out of the box, and they seem to have the best reputation for after service/customer service, which also seemed like a good idea for a beginner like me. I further decided that esthetically I liked the two-tone look, and that I wanted a stainless steel frame and a carbon steel slide.

So, that’s what I got. There was about a six months lead time.

I took these pictures last summer. Hope you enjoy ‘em:

Onomea · #2 03-08-2009, 03:00 PM

A few years ago, mostly because I figured everybody needs a 1911, I bought a used Wilson, a ten year-old Compact Protector, I think it is called, Officer’s grip and near-Commander slide.

I enjoyed shooting the little gun -- what a trigger! -- and decided to get a full-size, or government model.

I considered a full custom gun, but realized that I didn’t really know enough about the platform to intelligently spec what I wanted. I began to focus on semicustom makers, Ed Brown, Les Baer, and Wilson Combat in particular. I thought the finish on an Ed Brown the most beautiful, but, being a 1911 novice, was put off by the need to Locktite in the rear sight on my own, and was also put off a bit by his shop’s reputation for being somewhat crotchety about after service. And I also liked the Les Baer guns a lot, but they have a rep for being extremely tight – I think one needs to “shoot them in,” as it were – and again, because I am a novice, I thought this probably not the route for me at this stage of my 1911 experience.

So in November of ’07, I decided to buy a Wilson Combat, specifically a Tactical Supergrade. My research indicated that Wilsons are “not too tight” out of the box, and they seem to have the best reputation for after service/customer service, which also seemed like a good idea for a beginner like me. I further decided that esthetically I liked the two-tone look, and that I wanted a stainless steel frame and a carbon steel slide.

So, that’s what I got. There was about a six months lead time.

I took these pictures last summer. Hope you enjoy ‘em:

2Loud4You · #3 03-08-2009, 03:18 PM

Very nice! I'm one of those guys that still needs to get a 1911 and your post is not helping!

Joni_Lynn · #4 03-08-2009, 05:45 PM

That's a really nie looking 1911, congrats.
I'm sure it shoots as good as it looks.
For what it's worth, the Les Baer tightness isn't a problem, all of mine have run perfectly right out of the box.
It seems to be sort of a Les Baer trademark.
Wilson probably has the best customer service of all of them.

crofoot629 · #5 03-08-2009, 05:57 PM

That is a really nice gun!

I’ve got a couple of Wilson’s, but neither nearly as nice as your Super Grade, that’s a treasure. I had a bad experience with a custom built 1911 from a lesser known gunsmith, and it really brought home how important customer service is.

I don’t mean to steal your thread, but rather show my support for what I think is an excellent gun by posting this pic of my blue over hard chrome Wilson Combat Classic. (your gun is much nicer anyway)

Emory

Onomea · #6 03-08-2009, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joni_Lynn:
...For what it's worth, the Les Baer tightness isn't a problem, all of mine have run perfectly right out of the box.
It seems to be sort of a Les Baer trademark.

Joni, I spent a lot of time on the 1911 forum which you moderate, and I did note you personal preference for Baers. That, in particular, made me think long and hard about my choice. One of these days I'll get a Baer, too, I bet. Been tempted by a couple I've seen in the classifieds here.

That's a real nice Wilson you got there, Emory. One of the things I learned in my research is that, per Wilson, the Supergrades are not any more reliable than the lower-end (?? if one can say that about a Wilson) Wilsons, and the main difference is just the amount of finishing and fitting of the internals. Very pretty gun, your Combat Classic!

crofoot629 · #7 03-08-2009, 06:39 PM

I work for a small sheriff’s office and two of our guys own Baer guns, and a third IPSC/IDPA buddy does too. They’re very nice guns and I’d like to add a Baer to my stable. I certainly couldn’t argue that one was better then the other.

I will argue that all of us that have owned, or do own an upper end 1911 have lived a little bit better life for it though.

Emory

Joni_Lynn · #8 03-08-2009, 06:39 PM

I don't see many people that buy Wilson guns have any problems with them.
The only other one like that is LB.
Occasionally everyone has a bad one get out the door but great customer service can make a difference then.

Beaver · #9 03-08-2009, 07:08 PM

Well done, it's beautiful. You deserve it. beaver.

Mickey D · #10 03-08-2009, 09:32 PM

I'm a Colt guy, but that Wilson looks very nice!

Airedale · #11 03-09-2009, 06:09 AM

Ononmea that compact would look great with a set of ivory grips.

I happen to have a set on my desk. I think I'll send them to you-today!

Dave

Mustang51 · #12 03-09-2009, 07:20 AM

That's a beautiful pistol Arlo. I'll second the opinion of Wilson's customer service: Always friendly and knowledgeable people answering their phones.

Onomea · #13 03-09-2009, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Airedale:
Onomea that compact would look great with a set of ivory grips.

I happen to have a set on my desk. I think I'll send them to you-today!

Dave

Hey Dave, now that is one helluva coincidence, huh?! Sounds great!

Thanks for the kind words, folks.

H Richard · #14 03-09-2009, 04:33 PM

For a two tone, this is a Springfield that I did myself. I did everything except the frame plating, and the milling of the slide for mounting the Bomar's. It has a 3.5lb trigger pull, and I can routinely break 6"balloons at 100 yards with it.

Wheelgunner840 · #15 03-09-2009, 04:53 PM

Ononmea,
Fantastic Wilson 1911. I never thought I would fancy a two toned gun, but that one is a show stopper! I need to add another 1911 to the stable, and was thinking on a high end one. The only two names I was considering was Les Baer and Wilson. I won't ask you what it cost you, but could you tell me if the price was comparable to the LB?

Again, great looking 1911. Best of luck with it.

WG840

Joni_Lynn · #16 03-09-2009, 05:06 PM

On average a Wilson will cost more than a LB.

Wheelgunner840 · #17 03-09-2009, 05:10 PM

Thanks Joni_Lynn.

WG840

Onomea · #18 03-09-2009, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wheelgunner840:
... I won't ask you what it cost you, but could you tell me if the price was comparable to the LB?...

I think the Supergrade lists at about $4300, on the Wilson Combat site, but I lucked into a dealer who was trying to keep his "Wilson master dealer status," which was about to expire, and he gave it to me at his cost, which was a good deal less.

From my reserach, Joni is correct that the Les Baers tend to cost a tad less. Could be 'cause Wilson factors in the cost up front of their great after sales service, I dunno. (That is what I would do, were I they tho.) But do keep in mind that Joni -- who knows her 1911s a whole lot better than I ever will -- prefers the Baers. I wanted that after sales service for back up as I am just learning the 1911, but that is probably not as important to someone already well versed in the platform.

I also think Joni has some true custom 1911s... Maybe we could talk her in to showin' 'em to us...

Wheelgunner840 · #19 03-09-2009, 07:52 PM

Appreciate the info. Thanks,
WG840

JD 500 · #20 03-09-2009, 07:56 PM

Onomea - That is a gorgeous 1911.

Thanks for the pic !

mm6mm6 · #21 03-10-2009, 05:08 AM

Onomea, those are both wonderful Wilsons! Wow! I can tell you're proud of that pistol and you sure have a right to be! I love the holster too...gorgeous!

I agree that everyone should have a 1911. I've had several. My dad built a "parts" gun for me but it had some issues. He found a great deal on a Colt Combat Elite and gave it to me instead of the parts gun.

I've had this Colt for a very long time now and I keep modifiying it. It does have the Wilson Combat sights like your Protector. I really like the big, snag free black classic sights. My most recent modification was to have the Ed Brown Bobtail mainspring housing installed. I liked the "feel" of my Dan Wesson Commander Classic Bobtail so much that I had to modify my Colt!

-Steve

M29since14 · #22 03-10-2009, 06:25 AM

Great looking Wilsons, gentlemen! Very nice.

I agree with Joni, the Les Baer guns I have seen seem to work just fine when taken right out of the box, the inevitable rogue notwithstanding.

I have only a Premier II, which is a great gun, just as it came. The ONLY criticism I have of it is the rather poorly applied markings. The ".45 ACP" on the LH side of the slide is uneven, and calls attention to a minor cosmetic problem on an otherwise very nice pistol. The gun is obviously tightly fitted though. Being new to rather tight guns, and being an almost exclusive lead bullet shooter, when I got it, I did not realize it would shift its POA/POI slightly, as it got really dirty. Of course this is not a gun problem at all, and certainly easy enough to cure.

The only rack-grade 1911 I have ever seen that seemed to put my PII to shame was a pin-gun made by Jim Clark's (Sr.) shop some years before the PII. That gun ran like it was on a rail - just as smooth as glass, or smoother - and was insanely easy to shoot well. In fact, after shooting my friend's gun one time, I decided never to shoot it again. It would absolutely ruin you, in terms of your expectations for other guns...

(Sorry if I digressed a little here. Again, NICE Wilsons!

)

Nframe · #23 03-10-2009, 07:26 AM

Arlo,
neat Wilson. I tell myself I need to try one but always end up with Baers.
I know Joni has seen the pics of the ones I've posted over on the 1911 forum Baer section.

Chris (C.Helm)

Onomea · #24 03-10-2009, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by H Richard:
For a two tone, this is a Springfield that I did myself.

That's a nice looking Springer ya got there. There must be a whole lotta satisfication in being able to do all that work yourself. Wish I knew how to do that. Nice!

Quote:

Originally posted by mm6mm6:
..I've had this Colt for a very long time now and I keep modifiying it. -Steve

Like with H Richard, I think it must be a whole lotta fun, and very satisfying to take a 1911, and just tweak it up, little by little, over the years, until it is a uniquely personal gun. That's a swell photo, too!

Quote:

Originally posted by Nframe:
.. I need to try one but always end up with Baers. I know Joni has seen the pics of the ones I've posted over on the 1911 forum Baer section.

Well, heck, Chris. Let's see some of those Baer beauties right here! Maybe those pix will hold us until we can convince Joni to post some of her full customs.

As I recall, there are two "Rogers," who are great 1911 smiths, and one of them is a true artist with steel. (I think the other Roger uses him for finishing, beaver tail shaping, serrations, or something like that. And I think Joni has one or more of his, their (?), guns. Pix, Joni!!

Joni_Lynn · #25 03-10-2009, 03:27 PM

I do believe you are thinking of Chuck Rogers
http://www.rogersprecision.com/index.html
He does the machine work for some other people and it's top notch, and better.
The pistolsmith that built my series 70 Colt Gov't is Bob Rodgers.
http://www.rodgerspistolsmithing.com/
I think he had some of the machining done by Chuck but I'm not certain.
My gun is on his photo gallery page 2
http://rodgerspistolsmithing.com/photogallery2.html
It looks a lot like this,

His work is perfection and the guns that come out of his shop are reliable.
I have run mine over 400 rounds non stop and it just keeps on going bang.
Here's a few LB's to tide you over.

BlindJustice · #26 03-10-2009, 03:50 PM

I 'talked' via email to Chuck Rogers aobut
6 months ago- at the time ( he pops in on The High Road forum from time to time. ) He said
he's got a backlog of 2+ years and isn't
taking any current work AFAIK.

insert frowning face...

Randall

Joni_Lynn · #27 03-10-2009, 04:13 PM

He occasionally takes on the small jobs but that's about it.
Bob Rodgers has also closed his list down due to all the work he has pending.

BlindJustice · #28 03-10-2009, 04:37 PM

DOes anyone have experience with the work Robar does - Arizona outfit with the MP3 hard chrome w/small percentage of teflon - Robar also does checkering on the frame strap as well as stippling the slide if y'all like that sort of thing.

I'd like to get my CZ 75B MP3'ed but
leave the front strap as is.

Randall

Nframe · #29 03-10-2009, 04:54 PM

Arlo,

well, you asked for it...

trover · #30 03-10-2009, 09:09 PM

Gorgeous!

SmithEC · #31 03-11-2009, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BlindJustice:
DOes anyone have experience with the work Robar does - Arizona outfit with the MP3 hard chrome w/small percentage of teflon

NP3. I had a 460 XVR done, if you can believe that. I have neither it nor pictures of it anymore. It does look really good. Had it done because I hate S&W stainless. Something like your CZ 75B would be sweet with that coating.

.