Super Expensive 1911s

I completely understand now about high end 1911s.
When I held this one ,I couldn't say no.
I've since come to find it was built by Ed Brown for the original owner.
The cost then was $2600.

In my eyes it is the perfect 1911 ,and would be the last I'll ever
let go of.




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Take care , Allen
 
Allen,

Jules and I used to live in Wolcott...and I know the other town where the parts were made, used to live there too...:D

I'm making a trip this Summer back to Mecca....


Steve
 
I have both S&W Performance Center 1911s and Wilson 1911s. Both are wonderful products ... I'm keeping all of mine. You get your money's worth on both. With S&W, it is a "best buy" on a high quality firearm that will perform for a lifetime with good care. With Wilson, especially their Supergrade line, you're getting an extraordinarily well-made and hand-crafted set of parts (e.g., small components fabricated from bar-stock) and assembly. The price is justified, but this is not the same as saying it makes sense for everyone. No experience with Nighthawk, which has a history connected to ex-Wilson employees. I would prefer an original, as represented by S&W or Wilson. S&W is the place to go for revolvers ... which makes revolver purchasing decisions really easy.
 
One of my biggest disappointments was a Night Hawk bobtail commander.....about2500. O' it shot great, loved the trigger, just one of those things you knew you liked right at first. Problem the sharp checkering on the front strap of the grip had not been finished correctly so the last row of checkering was exposed like a very sharp file. I noticed this as I was shooting from holster draw and saw the blood running down my arm. shooting wise I had only admiration. I sent it back and they were very gracious and said it would be fixed. I waited and waited and waited, and then it came back problem solved. Except there very tough finish was missing on the back strop about 1/8 of a inch by 1 inch. Not acceptable on a returned gun. I contacted them and sent it back again and the same wait but longer. I again talked to them they said they were running behind due to the shot show. Well 2500 was a lot to me and to be put on the back burner was about it. I took it to the dealer and eventually got my money back. with an apology. I was so enthused at first then I got disappointed with them and more disappointed with my self. I felt stupid for buying in the first place. I have had Novak and Actions by(T) do work for me without a hitch, and for a lot less as they knew it was a duty gun. No exuses and if they ran into a hold up you were told right away. I have know both of them for years and never had anything but good honest work done. They are sort of like family. Moral of this story....Go where you know the people and the work and stop shopping around for every new thing out there. New companies no matter how good they can be and how talented the workmanship have other new business problems. Leave with the gal you took to the dance as the old saying goes. I learned a valuable lesson by suffering a big disappointment. I'm sure Night Hawk will get it right as the designs and basic workmanship was good, but quality control and dedication to past buyers was still in doubt. to bad I'm sure a nice product. But 2500 was a lot of money to me and I had to admit it was my impulse that really was the culprit..Shame on them for in-attention but better yet shame on me for shopping around when I was happy with those I came with.....You are never to old to learn...I hope...
 
diamond_c said:
Not one of the "super expensive" 1911's but I like it. Alex Hamilton (Ten-Ring Precision) fixed up my Kimber Pro Carry II with an Ed Brown grip safety, Ed Brown bobtail MSH with fish scales, fish scaling of the front strap and refinished the lower with flat light gray TR Gun Kote.
Larry Davidson Horned Lizards that are "N-between" thin and standard thickness, and leather by D.M. Bullard.

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Love those grip...Info please....Very nice hoslter and belt!.George
 
Are they really that good?

Yes, especially if they are a Baer!

I have a custom Baer 10mm and a DW 10mm that was one fo the original 150 RZ's. The difference is night and day. What my Baer will do a 50 yrds, my DW does at 50 ft.

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Here is the factory 50 yrds and 50 ft targets respectively.

The quality in a Baer custom gun is right up there with my SIG 210's. It really is nice.

I am very glad I blew the money when I did as I know have something one of a kind and unique.
 
Kanewpadle said:
Save yourself a lot of money and buy a Dan Wesson.

I'm serious.
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This^^^^^


but to answer your question....they are heads and shoulders above what you mentioned. you have to see them in person to understand....


or you can go the route of buying a solid base and building it into a super expensive 1911....;) my Dan Wesson customized by Chuck Rogers in AZ

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IMO , the post-1957/pre-Series '70 Colt Gold Cups are the high water mark for 1911s. The standard by which all others are judged. They were extremely accurate , and fed everything from stubby target SWCs to any hollow-point.

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They got a bum rap for breaking because too many people shot full power loads with the 15lb target load recoil spring.

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Nice looking Colt's.
They have lightened slides which I've never had a problem with nor seen one that has failed. I run a 16 pound spring in mine and it runs great. (same spring works good in the GCNM 38MR as well)
 
Well heck, as long as we're posting pictures of run-of the-mill 1911's, check out the spiffy new Spegel cocobolo grips I just bought from Novak's site:

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Edited to add - would I like an expensive 1911 if I had the money? Shoot yeah, I want one of everything gun related.
 
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I have a couple of Timex watches. They keep perfect time, well, perfect enough I never have to reset them before the battery runs out, a couple of years.

My partner wears a Rolex. It keeps perfect time, too.

Both watches keep perfect time, one costs very little, one costs a lot. Is my Timex as good as his Rolex?

I think not.
 
I've owned and do own a couple of higher priced pieces.

The fact is, yes, they are (or should be by all means) much better in the fit, finish and curb appeal department than their standard production counterparts.

The problem is- if you buy it and later bemoan using it in fear of getting a scratch on it- get something else. If you are going to use and treasure it as a workhorse, why certainly go after it. If you're buying it for an investment- that's fine too.

The disadvantage to a higher end contemporary piece is the fact that if you grow tired of it quickly, prepare for a big hit in the wallet when you go to trade it. Finding someone else interested in premium pieces is much easier today than in years past, but you can't get in a hurry or you'll lose a lot of money if you ever decide to get rid of it. Also, many people that pay big $$$$ for these guns rarely shoot them and make them safe queens- that's fine, but if your gun has been shot and carried a lot, it will not compare favorably with the other premium condition pieces available.

Just know that any "custom" 1911 can possibly something that you will have to keep for years- it's not for the serial trader. Of course, if you can get one cheap off of a serial trader....that's a different story! :D

It's been quite some year since I've traded....really any firearm. I just can't see losing a penny on a trade.
 
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Joni_Lynn said:
Nice looking Colt's.
They have lightened slides which I've never had a problem with nor seen one that has failed. I run a 16 pound spring in mine and it runs great. (same spring works good in the GCNM 38MR as well)
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Yep , all the internet experts claim to have seen barrels of cracked GCNM slides , yet can't say where they cracked. Nobody know how or why they were 'lightened' or by how much. Early slides were also supposedly thinner. Those I've measured and weighed show no diff. And the cuts inside the slide were to offset the added weight of the rib and adjustable sights.

And a Commander slide is MUCH lighter than a Gold Cup or Gov't Model slide.

As for springs , I always mark the rear 1'' end of my springs with spray paint. Lt.blue for target wadcutter springs 15-16lb , red 18.5 , orange 20+.
 
Just because you own a Ferrari, doesn't mean you can drive it like a pro. How many owners of these super 1911s can actually shoot them to their full potential?
I love the 1911 and own about a dozen of them. I've had the opportunity to handle and shoot some of the very expensive high end models. They are nice guns, but in my hands at least they don't shoot all that much better than my box stock guns. Hey, I'm gettin' old. What can I say?
If you have the money and the skill, why not ? There is something to be said for pride of ownership.
However, I think the majority of us will be equally well served by a good quality stock pistol.

I do own one custom 1911. A 1963 vintage Clark Long Slide. Its both the most wonderful and most frustrating 1911 I own. Its an absolute joy to shoot. Smooth as butter. Yet, it drives me crazy because I know it'll shoot so much better than I can. The gun just makes me realize that I'm well past my prime.
But I am proud to own it! ;)

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Joni_Lynn said:
I'm serious when I say they are addicting.
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Joni, that is a wonderful collection of handguns you have. I use a LB for club plate shooting and have old eyes. How do you like red dot. I have Aimpoints on my Model 40 and 15-22. Thought about it for the LB, but felt the bracket would detract from the lines on the gun. What are your thoughts?
 
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Given how hard it is to rack some of the LB guns, I had too much trouble being able to pull the slide back so I sold it.
That gun came from LB with the mount, I only added the sight.
It functioned great and was just crazy accurate with that sight on it. Someone else is enjoying it now.
There are mounts that replace the BoMar style rear sight allowing the mounting of one of the small red dot sights. I think that's probably worth looking into.
 
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