Stopped by a LGS after work today, not one I frequent as it's a bit out of the way but was looking to kill some time. Really was just looking to see if they had any 1911 Rail/Light holsters for my TA, and to see if they had any Noveske Lowers, but ran across this little gem in the used case...

An 1st gen (is that what we would call these?) original SW1911 Billboard series - 108282, JRE0xxx s/n, Jan 2004 on the still sealed fired case envelope - in imo very clean condition with little if any real wear. Also with correct Blue box and two Wilson Combat magazines (at least I think - maybe they are just Wilson bumpers?) Don't know if they are original to the gun or added later. Anyway not to worried about the mags, I have plenty of CM Power Mags already. Trigger pull is 4.1 lbs, and feels wonderful. Novak brand sights as well.

I almost didn't buy it. I was going to think about it overnight, but realized even though it's an earlier/older model, with 80 series which I am no fan of - it does have JRE serial which if I understand correctly stands a good chance of being assembled by the Perf Center - there's a thread on it around here somewhere. That and the condition, being the original S&W 1911 line, and the price, well I smarted up real quick and had to bring it home .




EDiT - looking at the S&W site, the "2nd gen" 108282 is shown with the same Wilson Combat mags, so I'll assume mine are original to the gun...




And after a little detail cleaning... was mostly clean from the shop, just stripped it down and went over some of the more obscure spots...

Nice find!!

Nice! I just bought one today too, mine is black, JRE prefix on the serial number, and the big ol billboard. It is the twin to my 1911pd, other than the markings. It came with two eight round "ACT-MAG" made in Italy. I don't think mine are original. Doesn't matter much to me, I only use seven rounders.

I heard the same thing about them being hand built at that time. I'll let you know how it shoots, and post a picture this weekend. Ed

I've heard the first produced were hand fitted I don't know the serial no. cutoff though & were equipped with Wilson mags.

Mine is sku number 108283, s/n jre79xx. Mine came with act-mags, but could have been swapped. When I googled the sku it turns up as the 1911pd model, so they must have used the same number.

I have the same early 1911. I purchased it new and it came with the Wilson mags. Mine is less than 100 numbers off of the 1911 serial number pictured in the manual.

Here is the picture I promised. I have grips, mainspring housing and short guide rod/spring/plug ordered for it.

Here is my PD for comparison.

I have a large collection of Performance Center guns, including all the 1911 models, but didn't have a 'Billboard' model (until recently) because I wasn't aware that the early serial numbers were put together by PC gunsmiths. I was lucky enough to find this one for a reasonable price at one of Rock Island Auction's big online events a couple of months ago. Its in fantastic condition, essentially as new, with the original box, all paperwork and the fired casing. The serial number is JRD32XX, and the box label and fired case envelope show it shipping in early June of 2003. Interestingly enough, you can see that in addition to the owner's manual and warranty card, there is a Performance Center glossy flyer, also dated 2003. It came with a single Wilson Combat 8 round mag with the plastic slam pad (in the gun in the picture) and two 7 round mags with plain metal bases, marked .45 AUTO on the bottom, but no other identifying markings.

I haven't had a chance to take it to the range yet, however it has a stiff but smooth slide action and a relatively firm trigger pull of approximately 5 lbs (compared to 3.5 in my PC 1911s).

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I think on another forum they talked about the JRD and JRE pistols as having their assembly supervised by PC gunsmiths as they were training the regular workers. I bought mine new in 2005 for $850 and the fired case is dated 9/23/2004. The S/N is JRE6xxx. It came with two ACT mags with bumpers made in Italy but there was a special coupon for two extra mags. Sent it in and when I got them in the mail they were Wilson mags with bumpers. In the picture below I did put some Carbon fiber grips from Carbon Creations on it. The nice double diamond wood grips are in the box. The fit and finish on mine was very nice.



The firing pin safety based off the grip safety is not a Series 80 and not exactly like the Swartz derived firing pin safety Kimber uses on their Series II pistols which is also based off the grip safety. The Colt Series 80 firing pin safety is based off the trigger. As pictures are better than words.......

Below are the bottom of four slides. On the left a pre 80 Series Colt. Then a Series 80 Colt, Then a Kimber II and on the right a S&W.



And then below the top of the frames with the pistols in the same order.

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Still trying to wrap my head around this tidbit. I knew there was something special about this gun! Although there are two ways to look at it. Was it built by the pc guys? Or by trainees?
I was going to put a wilson combat round butt mainspring housing on it, like on my pd, but think I will hold off for now. I am going to swap out the FLGR.