Lots of beautiful pistols there. I like this one: (stock image)
What's your favorite 1911?
- Thread starter brutus51
- Start date
- Status
jag1954
Member
Multiple favorites of my 1911s.
Anchorite
Member
Good choices. I think, for the money, Dan Wesson and …. wait for it …. Colt …are still clear winners at the price point.
In recent years I think Colt quality has really turned around, and I still think Colt is a benchmark. Everything on a Colt lines up, consistent with the original design. Same can be said for SA, but I think DW has a smidge of an edge in final finishes on the final product. That’s not to say I’d walk away from a SA deal, it’s just that I’d have a hard time deciding between the two.
The import guns, no thanks. I just don’t think the metallurgy is there, and the ‘smiths I talk to refuse to work on them. Again, FWIW.
Buzznrose
Member
This is the only “11” I have at the moment…it’s a 2011. But a 1911 DW is on the horizon once I figure out which model I’ll get….and the budget supports it. I’ll also post a recent 12 yard 17 shot group I shot…slow fire offhand
Attachments
Last edited:
OP
OP
brutus51
Member
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2013
- Messages
- 1,367
Holy Mackeral how many bullets does that thing carry? Does it have a polymer frame and you seriously don't CCW that thing do ya?
Buzznrose
Member
It’s about the size of a Glock 17, but I didn’t buy it to carry. It comes with a couple 17 round flush and a 20 round extended magazine. Mine has an aluminum frame and upgraded trigger.Holy Mackeral how many bullets does that thing carry? Does it have a polymer frame and you seriously don't CCW that thing do ya?
I bought it to shoot matches and as a range toy…and to pass on to my grandkid.
Last edited:
Scoupe
Member
My favorite was stolen from me back in the1980s. It was a Colt Factory National Match made in 1938. Great shooter, and pretty, to boot.
AndyUSMC1107
Member
It’d have to be my 1942 British Lens-Lease 1911. Returned 1952.
AndyUSMC1107
Member
Fat Fingers! LEND, not Lens...Proofread Andy!
Kingcreek
Member
My favorite is the polished blued Springfield armory .45 that Rob Leatham built for me when he ran the custom shop in the 1980s.
A couple of Dan Wesson 10mms. Razorback first issue with my badge number as the serial number.
Custom CCO Razorback with my badge number dash 1. As far as I know, the only one in existence.
Now it sports Ivory grips.
They both have a lot of holster time.
HighRoadRover
Member
Lotsa nice 1911's.
My favorite is my Dan Wesson Valor 9mm Govt. Model.
My favorite is my Dan Wesson Valor 9mm Govt. Model.
Zerodefect
member
I have a 2010 and 2021 Dan Wesson Valor. My only 1911's left.
I'm working out how I'm going to customize the 2010. Getting hung up on what I really want to do. Stan Chen magwell 2, or not?
I'm working out how I'm going to customize the 2010. Getting hung up on what I really want to do. Stan Chen magwell 2, or not?
My favorite 1911 started life as your basic Springfield GI model. That meant I had to get new sights, because the GI sights were tiny. Fortunately, I have a buddy who is a gunsmith. When I said, "I need new sights," he said, "You need new sights, trigger, hammer, . . . . . " She was my first carry pistol.
doubleh
Member
I gave away the Colt Gold Cup I purchased back in the mid '70's recently so now I am using a lowly stainless Ruger in 45. In 9 mm it's a stainless Taurus, and 22 rimfire a heavily modified GSG. The only thing I really miss about the Colt is it's target sights. The Ruger and GSG wear red dots which are even better.
johnmcl
Member
My Tark-Checkered Les Baer UTC.
I've never had any of the high end versions. Several Colts that did not impress me. I guess that is part of the reason I've always felt the 1911 design was over rated. But most of those were from the 1980's when quality was down. I have also had Springfield Armory, Dan Wesson, Rock Island, Kimber, Norinco, and probably some I've forgotten.
While Kimber gets a bad rap on the internet mine was perfect reliable, much better than any Colt. And one of the more accurate. One thing I've noticed is that it was the higher end Kimber pistols that got most of the complaints. Mine was the basic Custom II and I don't recall nearly as many complaints about it. I ended up giving it to my son a few years ago.
But I've tried a couple of the early Smith&Wesson 1911's and have to say they have been my favorites. You don't hear a lot about them, and some dislike the external extractor. But they have proven the most reliable and accurate 1911's I've ever owned
While Kimber gets a bad rap on the internet mine was perfect reliable, much better than any Colt. And one of the more accurate. One thing I've noticed is that it was the higher end Kimber pistols that got most of the complaints. Mine was the basic Custom II and I don't recall nearly as many complaints about it. I ended up giving it to my son a few years ago.
But I've tried a couple of the early Smith&Wesson 1911's and have to say they have been my favorites. You don't hear a lot about them, and some dislike the external extractor. But they have proven the most reliable and accurate 1911's I've ever owned
JTQ
Member
Because the $750 Kimber and the $1,500+ Kimber use the same parts and are put together by the same people. The TLE II and the Custom II (now the Two Tone II/Stainless II) have always been the best value in their line-up. The higher end models don't add value, just "bling".
In this era of $500 polymer pistols, folks tend to think a $1,500 gun should be three times better than their $500 polymer pistol.
That may well be part of it. But it wasn't just value for the dollar, the high end Kimber pistols earned a reputation for being less reliable than the basic guns. IMO the real issue is that the early Kimber 1911's used an external extractor on their higher end pistols and the basic Custom II retained the traditional internal extractor.
There is nothing wrong with an external extractor, in fact virtually every modern pistol uses one. But for whatever reason I believe the Kimber external extractor was a flawed design. When they went to internal extractors on all of their 1911's reliability improved and the complaints became less common.
FWIW, the Smith 1911's that I like also have external extractors. But they have worked perfectly so far.
JTQ
Member
I'm pretty sure all Kimber's in that era, regardless of price, had the external extractor.
One of the problems with the Kimber external extractor, was probably that it was so short, it lacked leverage. It looked a whole lot like a Glock extractor, which it probably was a copy of.
The S&W and SIG 1911 external extractors are much longer levers.
duwayne potter
Member
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2019
- Messages
- 15
Colt government that had some work done
Paul R Zartman
Contributing Member
Sold my Ruger 1911, kept my RIA Officer...- Status
