As much as I'm a diehard Smith guy my favorite semi is the 1911, the gun I learned to shoot with in 1968 at age 12. In all those years since I've owned a number of different makes from basic Colts through full custom builds by Novak and Wilson. My favorite production 1911 has always been those by Les Baer.

Recently I stumbled across an extremely clean 1995 Premier II (October to be precise) local to me. I sent the serial number to Baer and returned with the information when it was built, configured with fixed sights (the seller replaced the rear with a 10-8 and an new front from Novak), Black T finish (DuPont like), single side safety and 1.5"/50 yard guarantee. This thing is in spectacular condition and shoots like a dream. Smoother and softer than any other 1911 I've ever owned.

So did the original owner get a second slide for the 10-8 rear sight or did he weld up the slide and remachine it? Something’s confusing about that, to me? My Premier II from the same era is cut for the adjustable Bomar-type rear sight in such a way that the 10-8 sight couldn’t be installed on it without welding/machining. Or maybe it was special ordered from Baer that way?

Well, anyway, that’s a nice looking .45. I hope you get many years of enjoyment from it. I certainly have from mine.

OP said that it originally came with fixed sights…

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213th FBINA

1995 would be really early for a Les Baer from Les Baer! While he's been building fantastic guns probably since the mid-to-late 1970's, he was running the Springfield Custom Shop in the early 1990's before actually producing full guns with his own name on them.

I would be extremely happy to have a Baer from 1995! I do have a Springfield Custom from 1991 when Les was running that shop.

Let me clarify: The pistol came from Baer in October 1995 with a fixed Novak rear sight instead of the typical adjustable that the Premier II has. The configuration of fixed sights, single side safety, 1.5"/50 yard guarantee and Black T finish were spelled out in the email I received from Brenda at Les Baer. The seller I got it from was the second owner-he had a new Novak night front sight and the 10-8 rear sight installed. He only put roughly 150 rounds through it, said the original owner didn't shoot it much. I put 170 rounds through it last weekend and it was amazing.

I've been buying Les Baer 1911s since 2005, bought my older son a Thunder Ranch Commanche (what Les calls his 4.25" pistol) as a welcome home present from his first deployment '06-'08. I've talked with both Brenda and Les on the phone a number of times and they've always given me great information on any of the used pistols I bought.

My son's:

Very nice pistola!

"Older Baer from 1995".... 1995!
Lordy I feels positively ancient! LOL!
Now... if it was 1925, then I'm good with it being "older".
But yes, nice pistol, regaurdless of age.

John

Well I’m a 1956 model lol. Les Baer left Springfield Armory’s custom shop in 1991 to open his own shop so maybe I should call it an “older” Baer . For various reasons the Hillsdale pistols have a magical hold on us Baeraholics hahaha.

RdrBill, you can call or email LBC and you should be able to get some info about it.

Thanks for the clarification. I re-read your initial post and guessed that it was a special order gun. My 1.5” Premier II doesn’t get a lot of use since it is a bit of a pain compared to my other .45s. It has an extremely tight chamber and requires Remington cases and bullets no larger than 0.451” in my handloads.

The gun functions perfectly with Federal factory ball ammunition. I need to get it out and shoot it some more.

I carry one every day. By far the best 1911 I have ever owned.
So accurate it will make you think you are a good shot !

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Markham

I know for many years Baer recommended the Federal ammo for the .45s, I still try to use it whenever I can get some.

I had a Les Baer P2 about twenty years ago. I considered that and my Smith 952-1 to be the finest of the many handguns that I owned at the time.

Now that's a sweet pistol.

I'll never understand the folks who are willing to spend thousands of dollars on a beat up old G.I. 1911 that's "shooter grade" at best when they can have something like a Les Baer. I mean, I get the historical significance, not to mention the patriotic side of it, but the prices are downright absurd.
If I was going to spend thousands on a 1911, then it would be a Les Baer, especially if I could find one with that sexy plum blued finish.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

I really got interested when I found out he was “doing” Mustang race cars too. (Mid 1990’s.)

All the Colt .45’s that I had back then, (still have,) and improved on we’re good enough for me. I actually first heard of Les Baer through the Mustang side. I had a ‘69, ‘87 GT and a ‘96 “Cobra.” With what he was doing with the Mustang’s I realized he was for real in the pistol endeavor also.

Anyone that was perfecting Mustang racing HAD to make perfect 1911 type pistols. No, I never “pony'd” up for Les Bear with some regrets.

Jim

Baer guns from that era and into the early 2000's are the only pistol I'm ok with the "needs a break in" period to run 100%. Those guns, when new, were so tight that you almost needed a hammer to break them free to hand cycle. It normally took 3-500 rounds and then they were at their 100% from there on point.

Any other gun that says "needs break in" from new and doesn't run 100%, is just not a 100% gun ever.

That one pictured is most excellent! Brings me back to some good memories of early work years.