I am new to the semi auto side of the house and now have an interest in the 1911, 5 inch, basically the original series manufactured in 2003/2004, I believe with the SN starting with JRD. I am open to other Model 1911's made buy S&W. Pictures would really be appreciated and all your advice is welcome. Thanks for helping.

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Baby Chief Admirer
SWCA 2870

My only Smith 1911 is a stainless 5" E Series, and its a fantastic firearm. I experienced no break-in malfunctions, and it seems to shoot tighter groups every time I take it to the range. It has about 500 rounds through it, and has yet to have a fail-to-feed or fail-to extract/eject. This is one of the few guns in my collection that has a permanent home in my safe, I'll never sell it. And, by the way, it certainly helps that its a very handsome firearm as well...

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Matthew 5:9

I'm an old retired M 1911 mechanic. I have given some TLC to one S&W 1911 and liked very much what I found. I really like the redesign of the extractor from internal to external. Much easier to fine tune and more importantly KEEP tuned. JMB's internal extractor design was great for its time, but it is a sore spot to keep exactly in tune over thousands of rounds down range. ......... Like most 1911s the S&W version might need some TLC depending on your selection of ammo and your grip. The OEM springs are set for a strong firm grip and upper body strength. With your LEO training in the past most likely no changes in the recoil spring will be necessary. Buy it, run it dry (no Lube) for a couple hundred rounds of hardball and then decide what if anything you want to change. If tuning is required find a good pistolsmith that knows how 1911 work internally and go with him/her. ..............

BTW, 1911s are like Harley-Davidsons. Almost every aspect of the ergonomics can be changed to your preference. But, make up your mind before you start as to what the main use of the handgun is; self defense or target only. .............

I have three S&W 1911s - a 5" Performance Center .45ACP (with the slotted slide), a 5" Performance Center Doug Koenig edition in .38 Super and a 4-1/4" E-Series two-tone in .45ACP. All three look and function great; so much so that I have replaced all my Kimbers with S&Ws. They're just better guns.

I only use the two PC guns for punching paper with cast semi-wadcutter bullets and bought the E-Series gun in the event I ever want to carry one. I have had a concealed carry permit for 40 years but have only actually carried a handgun concealed a handful of times.

I'm sure you will not regret your purchase.

Ed

You mentioned a 5" barrel but don't discount the 4-1/4" barrelled 1911s. The Sc-E is light weight, has the round butt frame, Tritium night sights, & available in two-tone, but still is a 1911 at heart.

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845 Limited & 1911sc-E
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Waiting for the break of day

Not sure why in particular you are looking for a JRD gun, I could venture a guess....

I like the older SW1911's, I think they did some great work then and those guns helped them break into a crowded market. They are also under-valued as they aren't as aesthetically 'cool' as the old colts.

Now... you should look up some of the old threads in the SW section of the 1911 forum. As with anything new, there are some bugs to work out, and a handful rolled off the line with flash and burrs where they shouldn't. If you find one lnib, strip it and go over it with a fine tooth comb before you lay down cash for it. I couldn't find any of the old stickies, but back before the Houlton guns came out, there was one on what to look for, you can probably dig it up with some searching.

If I were looking for a shooter, I'd go with the newer e-series. If I were looking for a project that would shoot well with some TLC, there are some great buys on the older guns out there.. But I'd be wary of anything that looks like it had a box of ammo through it then locked away. One that shoots well is too fun to set down.

Found this beauty at the LGS for $550 cash. It was a fixer special as the safety lever was broken for some reason. Long story short my buddy who is a 1911 guy owe'd me a favor so he gave me an extra tactical Wilson Combat safety he had in his spare parts bin and showed me how to install it. This experience was really fun as it helped me better understand the 1911 safeties.

It came with original box, 2 Wilson mags, padded rear grip spring, tasteful and in my opinion unique color CT grips, and of course the tacky billboard. I love it, 600 rounds of all sorts of ammo and it's ran flawlessly. I like shooting the federal aluminum stuff from Wally World. Easily more accurate than the Kimber Grand Raptor I use to own but foolishly sold. I do consider myself a grassroots firearm collector now so I don't see this 1911 leaving my possession anytime in the near future. You will most likely have to be patient to find one local but when you do, don't miss out on it. I'm sure the new ones are just as nice if not nicer, but those you see everyday.

Good luck on your search for the billboard.

-SVT28

Pic

One of the early 2003 "Billboard " models with a JRE series serial number.Great 1911,well worth looking for.

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JR

Thanks guys; I want a S&W 1911 that mirrors the old Colt army type 45 caliber. I probably should have said that in the OP. I appreciate the comments and the photo's. This is a great forum.

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Baby Chief Admirer
SWCA 2870

I really love mine. Has the wood grips, standard guide rod, blued finish and low mount Novak sights. This was likely the most basic S&W1911, but I don't think they make this model anymore. Very accurate and utterly reliable.

Got a deal on this one. Been sitting new in the LGS for who knows how long.
Threw away the ambi safety and changed the grips.
Looked nice, but just not very accurate. So it just sat in the safe.

A few months back, I dug it out and discovered that there was considerable up/down barrel movement in battery.
Called S&W, who quickly sent a return label. Came back in a couple weeks with a new barrel and bushing.
As it now shot well, I decided to spiff it up a bit.
Fitted a magwell and EGW bushing then shipped it off for a hard chrome finish. No more laser writing!

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I'd get a Colt or Springfield for a basic 1911, but you may find the sights are barely adequate and lacks features.

If you want to stay with S&W, then get a model with some enhancements. The E-Series is a nice gun for the money and very nice shooter.

HI,
I'M NEW AND WOULD LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION
I have a stainless S&W ambi saftey (south paw) adjustable rear sight, JRE model i bought in the last of 03 or first of 04, trigger looks to be aluminum but the three holes in my trigger tri-angle. i shoot it at 50 yards and as always it shoot very well and acurite. i've looked around but cant seem to see another one just like it, i do live in the ozarks 150 milees to a city in N.E. ARKANSAS. way back when i bought it i didnt pay any attetion to the manuel and have long last misplaced foresaid manuel, any information greatly appresseated richard

S&W may be able to track a manual down for you. Gun broker is where I got half of my smiths from and books may show up there at random as well.

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Mostly Gen 3s

My S&W Model 1911 is about 10 years old and it came out after the run known as the billboard series or models. As I recall, the gun has never suffered a stoppage, even with semi-wadcutters.
I don't carry the gun concealed because, frankly, it's too heavy.
My Browning Hi-Power is much easier to carry when I'm in a single action mood.