High End 1911s

[RedneckRampage]

I think I'm going to start saving for a high end 1911. I know of Wilson, Baer, Brown, and Night Hawk. Out of those, and what ever others you might like, which is the best money spent? Say, $3500 tops. I love the look of the Wilson logo on the slide of their pistols. I want something "elegant" and functional. Nothing "tactical". I like blued finish, or maybe stainless. I've had a few Kimbers and Springfields, and one Colt, I've liked them all.

What I have in mind -
Full size
Front checkering
Front slide serrations
Novak style sights
.45ACP
Wood grips
Blued or maybe stainless (or shiny black coating)

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[TapRackNGo]

Dan Wesson Valor is a nice looking pistol.

Take an hour or so and read this thread and watch the videos from Severns Custom.

http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=321236

 

[solv3nt]

The Dan Wesson Valor is a very nice mid-level 1911, but nowhere near the fit/finish of a Wilson, Baer, Brown 1911. If you're looking in the $3500 range with a blued gun, the Wilson cqb is right in that range. The rumor is George at Gunslingers is the best place to source a high end gun.

Oh ya, there's also nighthawk custom, but they're an offshoot from Wilson. A couple of smiths started the company, and supposedly they're no longer there. There's actually been a bit of transferring between the two companies in berryville Arkansas.

 

[Classic]

I have shot them all. Of the 4 1911's I own he most expensive I own is a Les Baer but the most accurate I have ever got my hands on was a Wilson. The Nighthawks are nice "while they work" but their customer service SUCKS! West Coast Armory (Bellevue) used to have one in their rental case and had nothing but problems with it! They had difficulty getting Nighthawk to fix it when they were located in Burien (less than 15 miles away!) Personally me preference is my Colt Gold Cup that has a C&S trigger reduction (CS0003) and a C&S Tactical II setup in it. I prefer it to my Les Baer but that might be because I want to keep the round count down....
I have a friend who has an incredible collection of 1911's and the pick of the litter is the Wilson!
BUBBLEGUM it's an incredible piece!!!!!!!

 

[Barachiah]

I've had two Wilson's, some colts, SIG's, Springfields's, Kimber's and a Smith and Wesson 1911. Kimber's suck, Colts are alright, same as Springfields. Sig and Smith make nice mid range offerings. Both wilsons shot better than I do, and are exceptionally well made. I've shot les's and STI's, both fantastic shooters, but not as nice as my Wilsons. That's my take anyway.

 

[BlindedByScience]

There are a lot of fine smiths out there making amazing pistols. But, at the end of the day, after having shot a bunch of them, Bill Wilson is the guy that's going to get a pile of my money, sooner than later.

 

[RedneckRampage]

Thanks for the link. I've seen, and shot, Dan Wesson's, and they are definitely nice, but not on par with what I have in mind.

It looks like I'll be saving for a Wilson, so far!

 

[TapRackNGo]

If I'm buying a pistol, it's to carry and shoot. I have no use for a pistol that I would be afraid of holster wear or getting scratched. There is a threshold where cost vs quality just doesn't add up. A Valor, for me, is that threshold.

I love 1911's, but I own Glocks.

 

[BlindedByScience]

...I've always thought a nicely holster worn Wilson made quite a statement....

 

[Classic]

Thanks for the link. I've seen, and shot, Dan Wesson's, and they are definitely nice, but not on par with what I have in mind.

It looks like I'll be saving for a Wilson, so far!

Got a spare 3-4K? I make a joke but after shooting a Wilson they are fantastic!
In all honesty I have a CZ 75BSA that has been smithed by Fred at C.a.R. that the accuracy is every bit as good as the Wilson for 1/5th the total cost.

 

[RedneckRampage]

TapRackNGo - I love my Glocks as well, have a G23 that is on my side right now. I don't care how much a gun costs, I will use it, and wear does not bother me, it it comes from being used. I'm not planning on carrying whatever I get, every day, I'll still have my Glock, but it will be carried on occasion.

 

[orygun]

I have a Dan Wesson that I love and carry. It's a great gun that I use the heck out of. I know it's not in the price range of the ones talked about above, so it's probably not a "high end" gun.

If I was in that market, I'd look here, but don't forget your checkbook!

http://cabotgun.com/better-than-custom-1911-pistols/
These are sweet pistols.

 

[Classic]

I have a Dan Wesson that I love and carry. It's a great gun that I use the heck out of. I know it's not in the price range of the ones talked about above, so it's probably not a "high end" gun.

If I was in that market, I'd look here, but don't forget your checkbook!

http://cabotgun.com/better-than-custom-1911-pistols/
These are sweet pistols.

They are gorgeous! But I think I'd save a couple grand and go with a Wilson

 

[BAMCIS]

Full size
Front checkering
Front slide serrations
Novak style sights
.45ACP
Wood grips
Blued or maybe stainless (or shiny black coating)

I have two Browns. One a gov't sized Kobra, stainless and a commander sized Kobra Carry, in you guess it, stainless. Love them both.

For many of the same reasons you outlined, I'm looking hard at the EB Executive Elite (Gov't size). If I were to "pull the trigger" (pun intended) and order it would be in stainless, flushed crown, recessed slide stop and probably bobtailed. I can take or leave the front serrations (personal preference). Point is they are available. I'm kind of partial to the carry cuts too.

 

[twowheels]

I've got 2 dan wessons and they are fantastic. But if I were looking to spend up to $3500 on a nice 1911 I'd give a hard look to Wilson and Ed Brown and they wouldn't be stainless.

 

[solv3nt]

Go Wilson! Errrr.... Wilsonized Colt.... Or just Wilson....

 

[asiparks]

...I've always thought a nicely holster worn Wilson made quite a statement....

my edc:



here's a pile of 1911's, the Wilson , a Brown Exec Elite, Springfield Pro, Heinie Nighthawk, Guncrafter No Name and a slightly customised DW Valor.



The Wilson is my third after a CQB and a bobtailed Professional. I was underwhelmed by both honestly, nothing bad about them, just not the 1911 manna from heaven I'd expected. The Ultralight Carry I do like, mostly down to the weight and some nicely thought through carry features
like the shorter grip safety and rounded butt.
Had a Brown Kobra, traded it for a Nighthawk, ( have 2 both have been flawless: I hear NH customer service is much better these days), kept the EE, but rarely shoot it. I'm pressed to find any area where it's better than either of my DW Valors.
Love my Baer, the bluing has fallen off, but it's one that always makes it to the range, the Guncrafter is another fave, it's my 1911 suppressor host.



Thats the Brown with my other Valor, finished in polished IonBond; looks like bluing but way harder wearing and scratch resistant



If you have the cash and the itch, I'd buy a gently used high end 1911 off the classifieds at 1911addict.com or migunslingers.com, save some cash and if you want to shift it later, you won't take a big loss on it.

People say that Springfields, Kimbers and DWs are like Acuras and Wilson, Browns and NH's are like Mercedes. Thing is, the differences are so small, the accuracy and reliablity so similar, the speed and size of the bullet roughly the same, so it's more like they're all Mercedes, some just have a nicer nav system or slightly bigger rims....

 

[coop44]

granted, they all are nicely fitted and finished pistols. A sizeable chunk of the price pays for the makers ego and marketing. Rather buy a nice frame and put a local gunsmith (or myself) to work.


all of the guns mentioned are OK, but still assembly line mass produced guns, as far as being "high end", I guess it all depends on your perspective.

try this: http://cabotgun.com/

or this: http://www.gunbroker.com/All/BI.aspx?Keywords=cabot

Personally seen and shot a "Jones" model, beyond compare!

 

[asiparks]

Isn't Cabot's whole deal that they are "clones", machine produced and not hand fitted ? I got to handle a couple of their early guns at Shot 12 and they didn't feel any better or worse than Browns, Wilsons etc.
How was shooting it "beyond compare" ?
For that money I'd much sooner pay Yost, Burton, Christiansen or such to make a true custom

 

[BAMCIS]

You got me in trouble sir. I'm reading over this thread and more specifically looking at this picture, when the wife says "Let me see it! I wanna see what you're looking at." I guess she could see me starting to drool.

I turned the laptop around and she shakes her head and says "It sure would be cheaper if you looked at the same kind of porn as everyone else."