Wilson Combat phasing out high end models

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Rembrandt

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Seems Wilson Combat is re-evaluating their priorities for the market place. The decision won't affect the average buyer. Those who enjoy the craftsmanship and precision of a 1911 will be sad to see this happen.

https://mailchi.mp/wilsoncombat/discontinuing-handguns-248813?e=b8ca58660c

The surprise was the discontinued Classic Supergrade, for decades that has been the 1911 all others are compared to. Perhaps their business model is showing more interest in quality conceal carry models.
 
The surprise was the discontinued Classic Supergrade, for decades that has been the 1911 all others are compared to.
The speculation is the features of the gun can still be ordered ala carte, it just won't be a standard menu item anymore.

Which, when talking about a Supergrade, would probably be the way folks order them anyway.
 
Makes sense for me as they have their hands in so many cookie jars now-a-days.
 
It makes sense because the high end of the semi-custom market is soft right now. They are not selling NIB or in the used market. People paying that kind of money for a 1911 are going a more bespoke route from people like Yost, Burton, Williams, Derr, Harrison etc...
 
Believe it or not, I have heard a lot of bad about Wilson 1911s. I have never owned one but when I hear even a little bit of vehement negativity toward them it makes me not want one for that kind of money.

That said, I have never had a problem with a 1911. Even the so called problem ones like Paras. I tend to think folks may be nitpicking the Wilsons after spending bookoo bucks on one and having some misappropriated expectations.

The Berettas they are doing appeal to me a lot more than 1911s so it appears they are keeping those.
 
Diversifying into the hotter markets more these days, plastics and lower end options. Plus their shotguns and ARs, and apparently suppressors now.

Makes sense to change for the market and Bill Wilson has had an excellent eye for market changes in the past. I'm eying upgrading a few of my lesser 1911 options to Wilson these days, get an excellent gun and superb CS. I'm a fan of DW and they make excellent production guns, but my few interactions with their CS, while ultimately satisfying and effective, were lacking.

Wilson just wasn't my style. Or possibly just Wilson owners that let me shoot theirs, because I'm sure they'd make whatever, for me.

The Guncrafter No Name for example, and cleanish looking 1911's are my preference.

They definitely offer clean slides if desired.
 
People paying that kind of money for a 1911 are going a more bespoke route from people like Yost, Burton, Williams, Derr, Harrison etc.

I doubt you can get a full house gun from one of those guys at the price of even a Supergrade Wilson. But by the time you get to $5000, what does the jump to $7000 or even more matter?

The "semi-custom" market had been softening for a good while; lots of entertainment funds spent during Obama and Clinton panics. You could see this as the boutique shops diversified, Wilson the most with Berettas and even Glocks, mutated 1911s like X9 series, plus rifles and shotguns.

Pruning the catalog makes sense; not counting real variants in caliber (and no more .38 Supers, either, they weren't selling many anyhow) barrel and butt length; they spent a lot of energy on cosmetic variations. I remember the gun returned on warranty because they sent out a gun with the markings in the wrong font!

Pity poor Nighthawk, they were getting established with dresser Brownings, then FN cut them off. They are now reduced to prettying up Colts. Maybe they are selling some Korths.
 
I doubt you can get a full house gun from one of those guys at the price of even a Supergrade Wilson. But by the time you get to $5000, what does the jump to $7000 or even more matter?

The "semi-custom" market had been softening for a good while; lots of entertainment funds spent during Obama and Clinton panics. You could see this as the boutique shops diversified, Wilson the most with Berettas and even Glocks, mutated 1911s like X9 series, plus rifles and shotguns.

Pruning the catalog makes sense; not counting real variants in caliber (and no more .38 Supers, either, they weren't selling many anyhow) barrel and butt length; they spent a lot of energy on cosmetic variations. I remember the gun returned on warranty because they sent out a gun with the markings in the wrong font!

Pity poor Nighthawk, they were getting established with dresser Brownings, then FN cut them off. They are now reduced to prettying up Colts. Maybe they are selling some Korths.

https://www.1911addicts.com/threads/ted-yost-signature-grade-retro-conversion-45-govt-model.93839/ Sold for $5200

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Also I believe NH bought the BHPs knowning they were being discontinued. Rumor was they bought all of them that had not made their way into the distrubtion chain directly from FN. I don't know if the last part is true but they knew they were being discontinued.
 
I don't run with the Supergrade crowd, the USPSA shooters I see at matches are willing to spend on their guns, but they aren't 1911s. I am shooting a STI 2011, but they have since gotten out of the race gun market, apparently riding on the cachet of their movie prop gun. There are several 2011 shops turning out competition pistols, though. Locally there are CZs and P320s as well as Glocks. There are still some of us 1911 dinosaurs at IDPA but fewer every season, plastic has taken over there.

That looks cheap for a Yost, but it is a couple of steps down the resale ladder, too. And not his fanciest work.
 
$5K or more for a 1911? Get real! It is all a status thing.
Sit around at the Rod and Gun club in your smoking jacket, with 29 year old Scotch and show off your shotgun and 1911.:p

Thank goodness Ed Brown and Les Baer are still around to take our money!
 
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I don't run with the Supergrade crowd, the USPSA shooters I see at matches are willing to spend on their guns, but they aren't 1911s.

And the high-level competitors who do shoot in Single Stack division in USPSA want their 1911's with magwells and other modern gamer-isms, not "classic" looking 1911's.
 
I don't run with the Supergrade crowd, the USPSA shooters I see at matches are willing to spend on their guns, but they aren't 1911s. I am shooting a STI 2011, but they have since gotten out of the race gun market, apparently riding on the cachet of their movie prop gun. There are several 2011 shops turning out competition pistols, though. Locally there are CZs and P320s as well as Glocks. There are still some of us 1911 dinosaurs at IDPA but fewer every season, plastic has taken over there.

That looks cheap for a Yost, but it is a couple of steps down the resale ladder, too. And not his fanciest work.

Monument Build by Yost starts at $6000 on your base gun.
 
And the high-level competitors who do shoot in Single Stack division in USPSA want their 1911's with magwells and other modern gamer-isms, not "classic" looking 1911's.

1911s with magwells can still have a classic look. This thing is bespoke and cost me a lot less than a Wilson Signature grade. It was built by Don Williams. Has everything I wanted nothing I didn't. When you are moving above $2500 IMHO it is worth going full custom.

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$5000 for what? A GI repro?

Odd that nobody makes a 99% WW1 replica for a reasonable price. (yes, lame sights and all, everything WW1 except no Colt or Rem Rand branding) Add the ''fatigued'' finish that DW and NH tried, throw it down the driveway a few times........Viola.

I missed out on the CZ olde school 1911.
 
$5000 for what? A GI repro?

Odd that nobody makes a 99% WW1 replica for a reasonable price. (yes, lame sights and all, everything WW1 except no Colt or Rem Rand branding) Add the ''fatigued'' finish that DW and NH tried, throw it down the driveway a few times........Viola.

I missed out on the CZ olde school 1911.

I guess it depends on your price range, but Colt makes a pretty close WWI repro

https://www.colt.com/detail-page/1911-black-army
 
Beautiful gun. Magwell still looks a bit smaller than what gamers want (fast reloads are huge part of Single Stack), but that's a sweet gun.

It is a Stand Chen Gen 2 Magwell. The funnel is huge but the design does not add any width or length to the gun. If you can't hit it on a reload then it is the Indian not the arrow. This is the difference between an off the shelf custom and a true custom gun.

MSH+single.jpg

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http://www.chencustom.com/magwells-1
 
More about the Master Craftsman.

Exactly. If you look the the build sheet and the refinements on that pistol it is stunning. IMHO

I doubt much... While I do own all of the above.. People like what they like.

2011s and CZs are a different breed. For people who love the 1911 platform they are not substitutes. They are part of a well rounded collection. :thumbup:
 
I love 1911's, but I've only got one left, to finish. As soon as I find a decent re finisher that can bead blast, then melonite or ION bond DLC, then I'm done with the platform. Moving on to 2011's and CZ's, because there a hole in my collection there.

I'll bet that some of it, is simply a saturation of the market. 1911 guys already have theirs. We don't need three dozen of the same thing. I'm sure innovation from the 1911 builders could keep things rolling. But the same old frame........nah, I've already got that.

A 1911 frame that seamlessly matched the A1 mainspring housing, thicker grips, and an integrated magwell, could be interesting. But that's likely way too hard for ''custom'' 1911 builders.
 
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