OP
Thank you to everyone for their feedback!
S&W 1911 questions - looking for info
- Thread starter blackdeuce
- Start date
The extractor debate truly does go both ways, both have good points and bad points. One thing is for certain -- if you wish to own a Smith & Wesson 1911 pistol, you will have a more modern external extractor. Both extractor designs have proven to work. S&W has also proven that they can make a fantastic 1911 pistol and I have owned two myself and both were terrific pistols. At their price point, Smith & Wesson makes an extremely competitive handgun.
If the conversation gets steered toward the extractor, both sides should be prepared to lose as much as they win, simply put.
If the conversation gets steered toward the extractor, both sides should be prepared to lose as much as they win, simply put.
S&W 1911 questions - looking for info
Nice find!
My 108282 is an early Houlton gun and is my go to .45 for field use. If I work at it, it is as accurate as any 1911 I've owned or shot. My NM Colt is heavier and has a more target ready trigger, but it won't see the field use my SW 1911 does.
That said, many of the early Houlton guns and some of the Billboard guns suffered from poor QA in the machining process which left rough spots and burrs that made the guns finicky about ammo for the first several boxes of ammo...
If yours is not feeding perfect out of the box, you can go for the extended break in period, send it to CS, or look for the rough spots on the slide or breach face yourself.
If it is all smooth, shouldn't need a break in period for reliability, but they do keep shooting nicer over time
Nice find!
My 108282 is an early Houlton gun and is my go to .45 for field use. If I work at it, it is as accurate as any 1911 I've owned or shot. My NM Colt is heavier and has a more target ready trigger, but it won't see the field use my SW 1911 does.
That said, many of the early Houlton guns and some of the Billboard guns suffered from poor QA in the machining process which left rough spots and burrs that made the guns finicky about ammo for the first several boxes of ammo...
If yours is not feeding perfect out of the box, you can go for the extended break in period, send it to CS, or look for the rough spots on the slide or breach face yourself.
If it is all smooth, shouldn't need a break in period for reliability, but they do keep shooting nicer over time
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I absolutely cannot find a fault with my S&W Pro Series 1911 in 9MM. The fit and finish is superb. Accuracy and reliability are excellent, especially with 124-135 grain ammo. The external extractor is a very worthwhile upgrade, though it does take away slightly from the classic 1911 profile. If I could find a used Pro-Series in .45 ACP locally, I'd dump my Springfield Range Officer for it!
Kimber had problems with the external extractor. So did S&W, but they fixed their problem in the 1950's. S&W knows how to do EE's. Kimber fixed their problem also, but by the time they did, the damage was done. I have both a Kimber with the last generation EE that runs flawlessly. I have a couple of Smith 1911's with EE that also run like a top. Some of my other 1911's have internal extractors, and they require tuning and ocassionally replacement. Both work, the EE just works better.
I have and love a Colt Gov't Model, and I have a S&W 1911PD on the way. It seems like there's plenty to love about both. As for keeping value, I think there are some many other well established names in the 1911 game now that it's not just the Colts that make good investments.
I know the internal/external extractor is basically beating a dead horse at this point, but remember that most of JMB's other pistol designs had external extractors, and the other design with an internal extractor was later redesigned to have an external one. You don't hear anyone complaining about external extractors on High Powers!
The 1911 is an anomaly in the pistol world with its internal extractor. I like it either way, as long as it works! I guess that's the test: do I like it? does it work?
You're right about yours being more or less equivalent to a Series 80 Colt - they both have firing pin block safeties. They function differently, as has been well explained in other threads in this forum who know them better than I do.
I know the internal/external extractor is basically beating a dead horse at this point, but remember that most of JMB's other pistol designs had external extractors, and the other design with an internal extractor was later redesigned to have an external one. You don't hear anyone complaining about external extractors on High Powers!
The 1911 is an anomaly in the pistol world with its internal extractor. I like it either way, as long as it works! I guess that's the test: do I like it? does it work?
You're right about yours being more or less equivalent to a Series 80 Colt - they both have firing pin block safeties. They function differently, as has been well explained in other threads in this forum who know them better than I do.
Mike_Fontenot
Member
Colt Series 80 have a firing-pin safety controlled by the initial pull of the trigger. Kimber and the older SW1911's have firing-pin safeties controlled by the initial compression of the grip lever. Kimber and S&W use different mechanisms to achieve that, but the operation is the same.
Mike_Fontenot
Member
Be aware that the 9mm vs .45acp SW1911-Pros are completely different guns ... they are not just different chamberings. The 9mm is a Series-E (no firing-pin safety), and the .45acp is not a Series-E ... it has a grip-lever-controlled firing-pin safety.
Stupid of S&W to use the same model number for two very different guns.
OP
It showed up yesterday and it looks real nice. I confirmed that it's a Houlton, Maine gun. Trigger pull is nice. I haven't had a chance to shoot it.
The magazines are stamped "S&W". I ordered a couple of Wilson Combat magazines today. Brownells has them on sale for $25.99. If you spend over $99, you get $10 off and free shipping. I added a magazine for my son's Delta Elite and a magazine loader. Got me over $99.
The magazines are stamped "S&W". I ordered a couple of Wilson Combat magazines today. Brownells has them on sale for $25.99. If you spend over $99, you get $10 off and free shipping. I added a magazine for my son's Delta Elite and a magazine loader. Got me over $99.
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Mosin Nagant
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BUFF
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
S&W, like Colt and most other large makers of 1911's, get their magazines from several different makers. It is probably the most commonly sub-contracted parts on a 1911, except for maybe the grips.
Mike_Fontenot
Member
My SW1911-Pro .45 (made two years ago) came with two mags with followers that look like Checkmates to me. And with plastic baseplate.
OP
Mine say ACT - MAG / PSI MADE IN ITALY
I have also found that Novak marked and logo'd 1911 magazines are also ACT Mags and will show the "made in Italy" lettering on them.
My buddy is a big 1911 guy and he likes the Tripp Cobra magazines for his pistols.
My buddy is a big 1911 guy and he likes the Tripp Cobra magazines for his pistols.
bananaman
Member
I really like my S&W 1911. It looks and functions well for me. It was shipped 2009. I bought it used in box w/papers in Dec. of 2015 from a private owner for $625. It is as clean as they get without being brand new. I have other 1911's also. (including Sig) Just like the Smith. I don't know what actual model is. Bob
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gmchenry
Member
I picked up several ARMSCOR mags that were nearly identical to the S&W OEM ACT Mags, made in Italy, and they were very inexpensive at the time, IIRC they were around $8. Never had a problem with those mags and was disappointed I didn't buy more. There's probably a really old thread around here somewhere with pictures.
Seeing as this was around 2004, a pic.
...then it seemed that Novak grabbed the import rights and jacked the prices up.
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OP
Here's a better photo. Hoping to shoot it next weekend. The CT grips are pretty slick.
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