SW1911 billboard questions (UPDATED again 6/17, with more pictures)

vigil617 · Apr 30, 2017

Thinking of dipping a toe in the SW1911 waters, and wondered if anybody can help with the following:

Will the 8-round mags from the 4566 (for instance) work in the SW1911s?

Aside from part of the first-run SW1911s from 2003 that were assembled with help from the Performance Center, are there any quality differences between the JRD and JRE prefix guns? How about later, when production shifted from Springfield to Houlton on the SW1911s?

What year did the prefix change from JRD to JRE, and is the "E" why some of these are called "E-series" guns?

Thanks for any help.

HOUSTON RICK · Apr 30, 2017

I cannot answer your questions, but the main reason that many of us do not have billboards is that we can no longer find them.

Sevens · May 1, 2017

The regular 3rd Gen .45cal mags will not work in any of the S&W 1911 pistols, but they do take "regular" 1911-style magazines from anyone you like.

I do not believe the JRE prefix guns are the E-series guns. E-series guns can be identified by the scalloped/fish scale cocking serrations and lack of a firing pin lock (not that you could see that without a field strip...)

Like so many things in modern manufacturing... the E-Series guns were the "evolution" of the 1911 pistol as S&W made them. When they debuted, S&W advertising and gun magazine press pushed them as new, improved and updated. Perhaps more truthfully... they were advancements in money saving for S&W. This does not make them bad pistols (I had one, decent for a low to mid production 1911) but they trail the SW1911 pistols the preceded them. (had one of those also)

BUFF · May 1, 2017

The initial batch of SW1911 pistols released in 2002-2003 were called Bill Boards obviously because of the huge brandmarks on the slides.

I bought 2 of them, identical except for a small gap in their serial numbers. The JRD in the serial numbers is the initials of the S&W engineer who did the program.

One gun shot phenomenally well for me. The second one is still unfired in the safe. I sold the fired one to a buddy when S&W introduced a similar gun with a Bomar-lookalike adjustable rear sight and some other bits. It's serial number has a JRE prefix. I'll probably get around to shooting it this year.

My department switched to semiautomatic duty pistols in 1991. The department didn't have money to buy 450-500 new handguns so they decided on a short list of personally owned pistols that had to be unmodified and pass the armorers' inspections. There was a heated debate about the 1911. We ended up only allowing the Colt Series 80 and the Double Eagles. Seeing as Colt 1911s are what I chose to carry, they were what I shot 95% of the time I shot handguns recreationally for the next 22 years. I think I may take the Billboard and Bomar SW1911's out this summer and see if they shoot as well as the first Billboard did.

03hemi · May 1, 2017

Go ahead and spend the money and get either a 1911PCSC or 1911SC "E" Series, you won't regret it.

Miles2014 · May 1, 2017

I have an SW1911 108282, but it has the small SW rollmark on the slide that I believe was incorporated in later versions...love it. I'm curious to know if there are any material differences between mine and the "billboard" versions...

Thoughts?
Thanks

Sevens · May 1, 2017

BUFF said:
My department switched to semiautomatic duty pistols in 1991. The department didn't have money to buy 450-500 new handguns so they decided on a short list of personally owned pistols that had to be unmodified and pass the armorers' inspections. There was a heated debate about the 1911. We ended up only allowing the Colt Series 80 and the Double Eagles.

Wow, I had to chuckle a bit at this part. While I could totally see this happening in 1991, given the thought process at the time, it is quite funny in reflection. The Double Eagle was a complete dog in sales and reports on the are not great. Does make me wonder how big your department was and if anyone actually owned and/or purchased a Double Eagle and used it at the time.

BUFF · May 1, 2017

Oldest and largest police department in the state. At the time, we had 600 armed between deputies and corrections folks. Not LAPD but not Mayberry, either.

The Colt Double Eagle and All American were tossed onto the list more by happenstance than anything else. The intention was to allow a fairly wide selection but all had to have a passive firing pin lock, which was written up, in the case of Colt, as "Series 80 and later." No first generation S&W's either, just "Second Generation and later." The policy thus written would allow future guns from the approved makers without having to re-write the arms policy each time an approved maker came out with new product.

Our initial policy was Colt Series 80 and later, S&W Second Gen and later, Beretta, Glock, Ruger and Sig Sauer with a magazine release button instead of the original heel release. 9mm, 10mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP. Over time, the list dropped Ruger (no interest) and added Springfield Armory's Croation guns. Dropped 10mm and added .357 Sig. I only knew mebbe 2 people who carried Double Eagles or one the Colt All American or whatever it was. I know they had already bought their pistols way before the policies were decided.

It was and still is a fairly wide open policy when one takes into account that the armorers had to be trained and certified by each maker and stocking that many calibers of handgun ammo, both duty and practice, wasn't simple or cheap.

A lot of other departments in our region were envious. We had wide discretion and weren't saddled with just one make, model or caliber that many departments require.

WisconsinKen · May 2, 2017

I have two Billboards. One a JRD (1st production year) and one JRE (second production year). Only the JRDs below 1000 are "semi confirmed" to have non S&W manufactured parts and be potentially assembled by the PC gunsmiths.

I have owned probably 15 S&W 1911s over the years. I have never noticed any quality differential between the 2 different manufacturing locations. However, other may have different experiences.

I have owned the following brands of 1911s and the S&W hold their own and are an excellent value: Le Baer, Ed Brown, Roberts Defense, Kimber, Para, Remington, Tisa, S&W.

One of my main DC 1911s is my 1911SC roundbutt S&W. It is a workhorse and will outshoot me any day of the week.

If you have a line on a Billboard, I would grab it. They are getting pretty hard to find and the prices are going up. However, if you are looking for just a shooter, I would be just as happy with an E series or one of the other S&W 1911s made in the 2000s.

vigil617 · May 28, 2017

I took the plunge and bought this safe-queen early-production (JRE prefix) Billboard from a Forum member. It just arrived this weekend and is headed to the range ASAP! It's a beauty...

M29since14 · May 28, 2017

I think you'll like it. I've had both early models and E-series. I dislike the goofy "fish scale" theme of some of the E-series guns, but other than that, they are every bit the equal of the early guns, IMO. I'm thinking mainly of my black, E-series 1911"TA" model, which has just been excellent. Has a ratty looking barrel and nothing on it "measures tight," but it shoots great and I don't recall a malfunction of any kind in the three or four years I've owned it. I don't care for firing pin safeties on 1911s, so I actually prefer the E-series guns. But, that said, they are all good and I'm sure you'll enjoy yours. Let us know what you think.

vigil617 · May 28, 2017

I'm just back from the range, and here's what I think after putting 72 rounds downrange:

I think I like it!

Nary a hiccup, unless you count the couple of times I didn't rack the slide aggressively enough. A bit of lube on the rails should solve that little issue. Otherwise, bang every time, and once I had run about three mags through it to get used to the single-action trigger (3-4 pounds, I'm guessing, and with a beautiful break), I kept my shots mostly in the black at 10 yards, and in a nice grouping that's better than I usually am.

I think the thing I noticed most was how nice the slightly thinner (than the 3rd Gen semi-autos) 1911 felt in my hand, even with the factory rubber stock panels. I alternated some with my 457 (my truck gun) that has a Hogue grip sleeve on it, which is also very comfortable. The SW1911, though, felt like a lean racehorse compared to a sturdy workhorse as I switched back and forth.

All in all, a fine first experience shooting my own 1911, not one of Uncle Sam's. I am very happy with my purchase!

vigil617 · Jun 17, 2017

I am still trying to figure out how, in two weeks' time, this happened:

I found the stone mint JRE prefix in the 01xx range and thought I was all set. Went ahead and shot it without a moment's hesitation. Great pistol. A keeper!

Then, out of nowhere, a JRD prefix, also in its 01xx range, shows up for sale. Fired, but in great shape. That's the one I wanted all along, so BOOM: it's now mine too.

Had to take a family portrait of these two. I don't expect I'll be keeping the JRE after all, as I really don't need more than one of these pistols, but I did want to memorialize the time when I owned not one, but two, early Billboard SW1911s.

WisconsinKen · Jun 17, 2017

Nice find on the early JRD!!!!
I also don't really NEED two Billboards but they are nice to have. Also, when I consider what other 1911 I could have for what I have tied into them, I'd end up with a much inferior gun at that price point.

vigil617 · Jun 17, 2017

It's an even earlier JRD than the one I originally missed out on in one of Handejector's auctions that started me down this road in the first place!

Gun karma was working well for me.

WisconsinKen · Jun 18, 2017

Since you have 2 examples, it'd be interesting to field strip them and see what high end parts made it into the JRD versus the standard production JRE gun.

vigil617 · Jun 18, 2017

I've field stripped both -- which, by the way, was a real adventure since these are my first 1911s. My only knock on them is that they're more trouble than my Third Gens to take apart and put back together again. I'm sure I'll get used to it soon enough, though.

I don't remember being able to tell any difference in the parts that came out of them, but next time I strip them I'll pay more attention. This time around, I was just trying to make sure I got 'em clean and that I didn't wind up with any extra parts when they were back together.

One thing I learned with these is that you can't be touching the grip safety when you're reassembling, or the slide won't go fully back onto the frame. The JRE gave me no trouble, but the JRD gave me a fit. Only after a lot of cussin' and fussin' did I realize what was causing the problem. Probably was operator error, but the grip safety on the JRD was very easy to engage while reassembling, but once I figured how how to keep it "off" I was able to finish reassembling with ease.

Harkrader · Jun 18, 2017

"Will the 8-round mags from the 4566 (for instance) work in the SW1911s?"
No. But most, not all, but most 1911 mags will.
Good guns, in my opinion. I have three.

M29since14 · Jun 18, 2017

Keep them both... or you may regret it. It's always nice to have a "spare."

In my own case, I'd not mind having another 1911TA to back up my present one, but I think maybe I am at least local chapter president of 1911aholics, and have been for about forty years now.

WisconsinKen · Jun 19, 2017

Field stripping a 1911 is an act of dedicated love (my polite phrase for a pain in the keester). Sure is not like stripping down a modern striker fired, that is for sure.

SW1911 billboard questions (UPDATED again 6/17, with more pictures)

US Veteran

Member

Member

SWCA Member, Absent Comrade

Member

Member

Member

SWCA Member, Absent Comrade

Member

Attachments

US Veteran

SWCA Member

US Veteran

US Veteran

Member

US Veteran

Member

US Veteran

Member

SWCA Member

Member

Similar threads