New 1911 - Interesting Serial Number

[Twoboxer]

A while back I asked the folks on another forum what were some good 1911s if someone wanted to "step up" in craftsmanship and function. They collectively suggested several manufacturers and I checked them all out. Many were probably fine pistols but looked ordinary to me. It's clearly a personal thing, but only one struck me as particularly attractive, ie, the S&W 1911E.

Recently the S&W web site was not listing "E" models at all, so I thought maybe I should wait and see why. But last night I read yet another post about 1911s and that started me looking through all the web sites again. Lo and behold, the S&W web site was showing 1911Es again. Decided - once again - I wanted the 1911TA. Next I went to Gunbroker and found 2 at auction.

Since I won't be home for a couple of weeks, I didn't really have time to buy one and have it shipped. But I did click on one, and saw the auctioner was actually a nearby LGS! Looked further down and saw that it also had an interesting serial number. Clicked "Buy Now" and picked this one up yesterday:

The LGS said these are normally reserved for key people at distributors. If they do not want them, they pass them down to their key stores. Whatever lol . . . now it's mine The test fire date is 4/12/12, so this serial number does not appear to correlate to final assembly and test.

SS Finish, 5" barrel, Tritium sights, adjustable trigger and rear (windage) sight. Went directly to the range (yeah, I know), fired 50 rounds through it and was incredibly pleased. The 1911 - and this one in particular - is a joy to shoot, that's for sure!

 

[TAROMAN]

Wow, nice catch. Only better number maybe UCT1911..

Now get out there and shoot the heck out of it and send in a range report.

 

[kennyb]

way nice..congrats!

 

[WGSNewnan19]

mind me asking which mags yours came with?

 

[novalty]

Congrats on the new S&W 1911 and cool serial#. I liked the serial# on my older billboard S&W 1911. Mine ends with 1945, which I thought was appropriate combination between 1911 & 45, as most traditionalist don't consider S&W 1911's due to the external extractor.

 

[Twoboxer]

mind me asking which mags yours came with?

Not at all . . . except I'm embarrassed to say I can't tell you anything other than 8 rounds and shiny metal lol. Pistol is packed away now for transport. If you wanted other info, it'll take a day or two.

 

[ma deuce]

Not at all . . . except I'm embarrassed to say I can't tell you anything other than 8 rounds and shiny metal lol. Pistol is packed away now for transport. If you wanted other info, it'll take a day or two.

I've got one like yours, except its the base model w/o the rail. I love it so far. I posted here a few days ago asking if anyone knew who made the mags, but got no response. So far I've had no feeding or ejection issues, and I'd like to get a few more.

 

[Gasman1972]

I've got one like yours, except its the base model w/o the rail. I love it so far. I posted here a few days ago asking if anyone knew who made the mags, but got no response. So far I've had no feeding or ejection issues, and I'd like to get a few more.

Looks like they may be made by Act or Wilson

 

[WGSNewnan19]

Not at all . . . except I'm embarrassed to say I can't tell you anything other than 8 rounds and shiny metal lol. Pistol is packed away now for transport. If you wanted other info, it'll take a day or two.

i ask only because i bought one used without its mags and was wondering what it actually came with. i ordered what i thought was stainless wilson made s&w mags from impact but received the blued act mags instead. my other stainless s&w 1911 came with the checkmate stainless mags.

 

[Twoboxer]

i ask only because i bought one used without its mags and was wondering what it actually came with. i ordered what i thought was stainless wilson made s&w mags from impact but received the blued act mags instead. my other stainless s&w 1911 came with the checkmate stainless mags.

Mine came with two stainless steel mags. I did not disassemble one, but there are no visible manufacturer marks on the fully-assembled exterior . . . just 45 ACP on the steel and a patent number on the follower.

 

[Twoboxer]

I finally managed to get to the range again with the S&W 1911 in the OP. The wife and I fired 100 rounds through it for a grand total of a meager 150 rounds (Hey, gotta spread the love to the other three pistols in the family!).

I used the second mag on this trip, and experienced the same issue on it that I had with the first mag, ie, it was hard to get it to seat for the first use. After the first mag was fired, the "issue" completely disappeared.

There were no other failures or malfunctions of any kind. It still feels a bit stiff, but it feels like a well-tuned machine.

Compared to my M&P9 FS, the night sights, longer barrel, etc made for a modest improvement in my ability to pick up the front sight and feel I had the sights centered on target. This is always a concern for me with my old eyes.

The trigger is significantly different than my other pistols (duh!), and I like it a lot (double duh!). After 1000+ rounds, the M&P9 trigger is nice and certainly no barrier to shooting the pistol well. But the 1911's trigger is sweet from Round #1.

Recoil is, of course, more powerful than my 9. But it is not at all unpleasant. Its just a somewhat bigger push, not at all sharp, snappy, or scary. My wife can fire it and enjoy doing it. And, as she says, if she can do it anyone who is physically healthy certainly can lol.

All in all, I'd say that at 7 yds I can shoot this 1911 as well as I can shoot my M&P9 even though I have lots less experience on the 1911. And I'm already better at 12 yds with the 1911 than the M&P9, probably due to a better personal afinity for the sights/radius.

But I also have to say - as much as I *love* the 1911 - it made me appreciate even more what S&W accomplished with the M&P9. If I had to choose only one at the range, atm it would be the 1911. But then again I may just be attracted to new shiny things

I've been shooting pistols for only 3 months now . . . and I'm old lol. With that caveat, here's a view of 16 rounds at 7 yards. The target on the squirrel is 2.75" in diameter, and I might have done better if I could have seen the damn circle at 7 yards

 

[T_West]

I had alway wanted a 1911 and never bought one but when I saw the E series in the case at the dealer it just had to come home with me . just a few comments
. The trigger is done well right out of the box WOW nice job Smith.
. The sights are great easy to pick up in low light
. I have shot 6" groups at ten yards with slow controlled fire I believe the
trigger helps alot on this.
All in I could not be happier. I am looking to put a veridian green laser on it and am looking for a IWB holster for the whole rig gun + laser for left hand. I know not asking for much am i