$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

 

[novalty]

Suprised no mention of the other Wesson--Dan.

 

[Rob62]

How about a Springfield Range Officer. They can be found stickered new in the $700 range. (At least they could this past week end at a gun show in Atlanta).

While I have not yet shot mine, it apears to be an excellent made gun and has most of the bells and whistles you could want. If it shoots half as good as it looks I'll be happy. Fit and finish were excellent. Trigger break was right at 4.5 lbs with no pre or overtravel - it breaks clean.

Rob

 

[VAPA]

Kimbers are nice but a $1,000 gun with a plastic mainspring housing just does not seem right. I just bought a SW1911 and love it.

 

[GaryO732]

What? No Para Ordnance guns? Heard thier customer service was problematic...

 

[toocool]

I have one 1911, an Ed Brown Special Forces that I paid around $1800 for with six magazines. Most 1911's I find these days have features I don't want, notably the forward cocking serrations and full-length guide rods. My SF had almost exactly what I was looking for when i got it: Commander-style hammer, beaver tail grip safety, lowered/flared ejection port, night sights, standard G.I. guide rod and no forward cocking serrations. All I changed was I replaced the long trigger with an EB short trigger, as I prefer the shorter trigger on the 1911. The first time I shot it, I couldn't believe the accuracy...it shoots better than I can. I mostly got it because it had the features I wanted in a 1911, and, I've been told, everybody has to have at least one 1911

A few days ago I was in a local gun shop and found an S&W 1911 that had basically the same features (except the short trigger) for $890. I didn't handle the S&W because at the time I was there picking up my Kahr CW45 and didn't have the scratch for another gun, and I'm afraid I might have been very tempted. Without handling and shooting the S&W, I think I might have done quite well with a sub-$1000 Smith and been better served spending the rest on .45 ammo. All in all, though, I am quite happy with my Ed Brown...

 

[bmcgilvray]

I like the old U.S. military 1911s and 1911A1s best so that's what I have, along with a Colt Gold Cup. The military models are dead reliable and surprisingly accurate. I've had them and used them for many years.

I particularly don't want a high dollar 1911 with "all the bells and whistles."

They amount to a senseless "gilding of the lily" in my view.

 

[fgn40]

Suprised no mention of the other Wesson--Dan.

I'll mention Dan Wesson...
I had not been into 1911's,
but I recently decided it might be
a good idea to add one to the herd.

After doing some research, and having a spot
of luck, I ran across a very lightly used
DW PM7 45 at my local gun pusher.

After checking out a Kimber custom II and a
S&W 1911 I asked to see the DW, and when
I held it hand I was instantly swayed.

I didn't buy it then, but did more research on the
DW 1911's and the general feeling
I got is they are made in low numbers
and the build quality is excellent!
I could see that in the one I looked at and
eventually purchased.

The price I paid was way under $1000 and if you
check out the CZ-DW* website you will see
the PM7 is discontinued, but there is a still a list
of what comes standard on them.
The pricing is around $1200-1600 list
on their current offerings.

They also have a reputation for accuracy,
probably better than I can shoot!
Haven't had a chance to take it to
the range, but I plan on doing that soon.

 

[GyMac]

I know you're asking about 1911's, but I believe Massad Ayoob, put it best when he wrote (words to the effect), "To him, a $2500 .45 was a used VW with a Glock 21 in the glove box."

 

[kewpie]

Hi-priced 45's


I know you're asking about 1911's, but I believe Massad Ayoob, put it best when he wrote (words to the effect), "To him, a $2500 .45 was a used VW with a Glock 21 in the glove box."


I have owned some pretty fine 45 pistols - Colt National match pre-Gold cup, 3 digit blue steel Commander, various others. (The unfired Day conversion unit I owned would probably buy a pretty decent 45 today )

Unfortunately, many years ago, certain conditions required that I sell them.

For past few months, I have been looking and researching with the idea of finding a decent all steel Commander sized 45 acp. BION, my mind is set on finding such in a Norinco.

YMMV, but after a long time of reading, searching and thinking, I feel that the Norinco most closely suits what I remember as a pistol 'I would never sell.' The minor comforts, i.e. beaver tail safety, feed ramp polishing is easily accomplished and all I would require regardless of price.

(Of course - a low profile adjustable MMC rear sight would be nice )

Personally, the bling one can put on a 45 reminds me of these 2-3 thousand $$$ wheels some people often put on their cars while paying little attention to how often they change their oil.

As soon as winter is over, I plan on haunting the pawn shops.

 

[tocohillsguy]

I'm giving strong consideration to entering the high-end (Brown, Baer, Wilson, Nighthawk) market, but I'm under no illusion that one must pay that kind of cash to have a fully functioning 1911. To me it's somewhat like the luxury car market. The Honda works fine, but the Acura is nicer. Both will do the job, but one does it with more style and comfort. Is it worth it? Only if you care for more style and comfort. Some of the high-end 1911's are works of art as much as weapons. I'm sure some will point to increased reliability and accuracy. For example, Les Baer offers pistols that are guaranteed to shoot 1.5" at 50 yards. Certainly, the increased accuracy is nice, but it strikes me as being akin to driving a Ferrari on our highways. Lots of speed I can't use. Still, who doesn't want a Ferrari? On the other hand reliability is very important. The forums are full of threads with different posters touting the enhanced reliability of their favorite brand of 1911. Certainly one would hope that a high end 1911 is reliable, but I haven't the personal experience to say one way or the other. I just know I would like to have one, and see for myself what all the hype is about.