$2500 1911's?

[GaryO732]

I am returning to the 1911 market after some years away. Last time I was buying was when Colts rulled and you then sent it to Bill Wilson for some tweeks to get them to run reliably, improve the sights and get a good trigger. Now that I am blessed to be able to buy any gun I want I find the market populated with many high dollar guns. Whats up with that? Do you need to pay that much for a solid 5 inch enhanced 1911? What say you? Thanks...

 

[dickttx]

I was/am in the same position.
After much research, pricing, etc, I have just purchased a NIB Colt SS Rail Gun. Should have in another week or so.
Look in the Colt forum. I posed several questions there and got some very good answers.

 

[Joni_Lynn]

It depends on what you want to do with the 1911 or what it must be able to do.
I want my 1911 to function 100% reliably. I usually want really good accuracy as well. That often excludes some guns right away.
So far most everything I've heard about the S&W indicates they should be a good gun.

 

[GKC]

I currently have four 1911s...one Colt Government XSE and three S&W 1911s (a 5", a 4.25", and a 3".) I have owned other 1911s from Kimber, Taurus, Springfield, SIG, and Magnum Research/Desert Eagle, but I sold/traded all of them. IMO, S&W makes a quality and reliable production 1911. That's why I have three of them...and one Colt, really for tradition.

I like the looks of the Ed Brown products, but I just don't feel the need to spend that much on one pistol, when I can get a good pistol from S&W for a lot less money. I also drive a Ford Expedition, and it gets me everywhere I need to go.

 

[5 Shot]

I own two 1911"s, both are Kimbers. A 5 in. Custom Heritage (bought in 2003) and recently a Ultra Carry II. Both are excellent guns. Smith makes a quality product and I'm sure you would not be disapointed in one of there 1911 models either.

 

[Wee Hooker]

I own two bone stock S&W 1911's and a HEAVILY customized/accurized Colt Gold Cup National Match. ( Read: Near $3K invested) Can't say I can find a world of difference in the custom gun. Sure it's a little tighter, has a slightly better trigger but reliability and accuracy are a wash.

One of the reasons I bought the S&W 1911 is that they pretty much did all that "gotta have" improvements out of the box. lowered ports bevertail safeties, checkerign, upgraded trigger, hammer, mags, etc. They build the gun from scratch utilizing parts from McCormick, Wilson Combat, NovaK and other industry standards,....
i.e Most of what you'd send it out for , without sending it out or spending a fortune.

IMHO, times have changed.

 

[Adam Baker]

No you can save your money unless you feel the need to carry a Mercedes.
I had a Les Baer years ago and sold it took a big hit.
I felt it really had nothing on my Kimbers.
Spend $500-600 on a nice 4" Kimber and be done with it.
The $ you save you can buy a nice shark skin holster & mag pouch.
The guy who bought my Les Baer said about a month after he bought it it went back to Baer cause the rear site fell off

 

[beemerphile]

There is indeed a difference. Nothing wrong with a Colt but it isn't a Brown or a Wilson.

 

[giguchan]

Kimbers for $500-600? Where would you find such a price? I have never seen them that Low... not even used(preowned)

 

[Bartman3562]

945-1

May not be a true 1911, but my 945-1 is better than most customs, groups amazingly, and I got mine used for $1100. Best pistol I own, and highly recommend to anyone wanting a great 45 pistol

 

[Fuego]

It seems to me that reliable out of the box 1911A1s are pretty common. I bought a uses Springfield Armory that shoots just fine. A friend of mine has a Rock Island 1911A1, made in the Philippines that shoots just as good as my Springfield Armory, for half the price.

 

[Bat Guano]

I started with a DCM 1911 50 years ago, have been shooting them to a greater or lesser extent ever since. I have had 1911s ranging from a stock 1913 gun to Gold Cups. If it has a decent trigger, visible sights, and is reliable I'm good to go.

The one I use most these days is a SA Mil-Spec slightly tweaked. I and everyone else that picks it up finds it easy to hit with. It's just a good shooting gun like some horses are good. I seriously doubt that $2000 more would result in noticeably better performance. We're just launching bullets, not intercepting missiles.

 

[billdeserthills]

Kimbers for $500-600? Where would you find such a price? I have never seen them that Low... not even used(preowned)

Kimber has their cheaper lines of guns too,
Mine is an Ultra Ten II has a 3" barrel & a ten round magazine & I carry it in my front pocket. It 's main downfall is an aluminum ramp means if I feed it hollowpoints the ramp gets eaten away. I use specialty ammo like Cor-Bon Powerball. I paid $550 for it.

My favorite 1911 type gun is my STI EDGE 2011 in .45acp. I have 15 round mags for it & it is more accurate than I will ever be, about $2,000

 

[jdh]

Entry level Kimber Custom II cost $750 here. Kimber is so far behind on production the quality has suffered some of late.

The various 1911 models made in the Philippines or Turkey are a good value.

I have dusted off the Colt for the anniversary but the SW1911 is my most reliable and accurate 1911 45.

 

[Adam Baker]

To GiGuchan:
Tanners Sports Center, Jamison PA
Used Kimbers Pro carry etc.... $550-600 in the used case.
Just doesn't pay to pay more if you don't have to.
Every Kimber I've owned went bang w/o a hiccup.
Colts are a pretty face only unless they seee a gun doctor
for a reliability check up More $ spent!!!!!
Just can't jepordize my families safety is this crazy world w/ a semi that may fail to feed etc.... when it really matters.
I purchased a 28-2 recently and just shot an email off to Rob at Simply Rugged Leather for some carry ideas concealed. It goes bang every time 6x....
Adam

 

[oldman45]

Last week I owned 9 1911 handguns. This week I own seven due to selling off two I no longer wanted.

Two of the seven are S&W and I would not hesitate to put either of them up against any custom gun. I own one custom and one semi custom and the S&W meets or exceeds both.

Either of the S&W can be had for less than $2,000.

 

[Photog]

I have a Colt Series 70 that has improved fixed sights, feeding work and a long trigger installed. That is it. I have owned the gun since 1978 and have shot thousands of rounds through it. It will feed anything. I can shoot eight rounds, pick up the brass, load it in a magazine and it will feed the empties just as reliably as loaded rounds. Second favorite 1911 is a Springfield Armory GI....as close to an issue WWII 1911A1 as you can get. I carry this in my car and when I am out in the boonies.
As for accuracy, that is not as important to me. If a 1911 can shoot inside 2" at 50 yards, well that is impressive, but I CAN'T shoot that good, so it really doesn't matter. I would really like to meet someone who can shoot that well, that is not using a machine rest, or even sandbags off a nice steady bench.
Get only the bells and whistles that are really usable, or practical, and then put the rest of the money saved into reloading supplies and practice more.

 

[GKC]

Get only the bells and whistles that are really usable, or practical, and then put the rest of the money saved into reloading supplies and practice more.

That's good advice.

The three features that are important to me are:

1) rounded hammer
2) beavertail grip safety
3) lowered and flared ejection port

I don't want to get hammer bite, and I think the modified ejection port enhances performance. My 1911s all have these features and more...and they came that way out of the box.

 

[thedane]

I have owned many 1911s. The vast majority have been Colt. I have never had a problem with Colt 1911s. They always feed quite well and are quite accurate. I might add that I use 230 gr. hardball/hard cast or Golden Saber reloads as my standard with 6.5 grs. Unique. I think the problem comes in with a lot of handloads that may be underpowered to cycle the pistol or the bullet design benefits from a polished feed ramp.

I "have" noticed that without the flared ejection port that a lot of the brass comes out somewhat dinged up.

BTW, you can polish the feed ramp yourself with a piece of crocus cloth. This requires little skill and time.

I think $2500 is bit of an overkill. Most people can get everything they need or can use for half of that.

 

[keithherrington]

Louder Than Words

Those of you engaged in this discussion should visit the Louder Than Words forum at Louderthanwords • Index page. It was set up and is currently managed by a group of gunsmiths, and for the most part focuses on the very best (and most expensive) 1911s money can buy. Here are a few links just to get your curiosity up. Pay close attention to the price tags, like the fourth one from the top. At the very least you guys should enjoy the spectacular photography:

Louderthanwords • View topic - FS - Heirloom Precision Combat Commander

Louderthanwords • View topic - FS - Heirloom Precision Retro Lightweight Commander

Louderthanwords • View topic - FS: Heirloom Precision 2008 Shot Show Colt

Louderthanwords • View topic - FS: Unfired Just received CT Brian Chopper

Louderthanwords • View topic - WTS- Mark Morris Carry-Comp on a Colt -PRICE REDUCTION-

Louderthanwords • View topic - LTW REV Gun 2010