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I'm in the market for a 1911, and have been for quite some time. I've handled countless, but found myself underwhelmed with most of them. I'm looking for some specific things in a 1911 and was wondering if anyone here could think of a model that fits the bill. The gun would be primarily for rugged range use but could be used for concealed carry if the notion strikes me. It's also not out of the question that it could be used for some competition somewhere down the road. However, when thinking of features, competition is not an influencing factor. At all.
The things I'm looking for in a 1911 include most of the modern additions, but a few that aren't common and can make guns enter pricey waters.
-5inch Government sized
-45ACP
-Carbon steel OR treated stainless
-GI guide plug
-Beavertail Grip Safety
-Extended Thumb Safety
-Commander or Modern skeletonized hammer
-No front cocking serration
-Single side safety
-High cut front strap
-Checkered front strap, 25 or 30LPI preferable. But whatever works, my hands aren't delicate flowers.
-Serrated or checkered, flat mainspring housing
-Blued, or parkerized, or darkening treatment.
-No huge rollmark. This one isn’t make or break, but a clean or blank slide is an awesome plus.
I have seriously thought about everything in that list. I don't want a commander, because it will be mostly a range gun. Carbon or stainless steel, either one seems fine to me, but bare stainless can gall and I honestly don't think it looks good. The GI plug is the original, and I don't see any benefit to FLGRs. Plus a GI gives another way to rack the slide if needed. Beavertails are pretty standard, as are extended thumb safeties. I don't like spur hammers, and although it's internet rumor I think they have a tendency to break more often. Front cocking serrations are ugly and tear up holsters. I've handled ambi safeties and didn't care for them, If I shoot left handed I'll deal with it. High cut front strap gives a nicer grip on the gun. After handling a few with and without it, they are more comfortable and pointable for me. Checkering on the front strap is a must. I put 100 rounds through a Springfield range officer and kept wishing it had it. The mainspring checkering helps with grip, but serrations work too. I don't like shiny guns so I'd like blued or parkerized or something. I know they all wear off eventually, but its going to see a lot of use over the course of my life. So it could wind up refinished 20 years from now. Who knows. I like clean slides, but they aren’t a must.
So far I've found a few guns that fit the bill. Anyone with experience with any of them please let me know what you think. They aren’t in preference order.
Dan Wesson Valor, 01926 – 45ACP –
Pros: fit & finish, sights, clean slide, no wait, customer service
Cons: price tag,
This gun seems to meet everything from the get go. Plus it comes with sights I like. But the price tag is hefty and I haven't been able to find one to look at anywhere. I've held the commander size and was impressed with the fit, they have a nice lock up and crisp trigger. The duty coat is apparently finicky about cleaners. Otherwise, this seems to be all that and a bag of chips. I would have to keep saving to get to the $1800ish price tag. Another upside to it is the clean looking slide. It isn't a must but the two other guns are semi-custom and I would probably add clean slides to them.
Les Baer Premier II , Custom Carry, or Ultimate Tactical Carry, or etc – 45ACP –
Pros: fit, clean slide, made to order, reputation
Cons: price tag, wait time, customer service, no warranty
Les Baer meets almost everything immediately. They have a reputation for being rugged guns. They are pricey at around $1800-$1900. Frankly, it’s out of my price range unless I wait longer. I would ask the shop for no front slide serrations, clean slide, single side safety, fixed sights. Basically, it’s their carry commander/UTC minus FCS and clean slide. But you can get that setup with any name and it’s the same gun.
Springfield Armory Custom Carry, PC9102 – 45ACP –
Pros: fit, clean slide, made to order, customer service, warranty, reputation
Cons: wait time, price?
The base model of the famous professional, but spec’d to your liking. Pricing is a mystery without calling them or emailing them. I think it is cheaper than the Baer and possibly cheaper than the DW. I would have them do a clean slide with SACS logo at rear, high cut and front strap checkering. Maybe add different sights.
Are there other guns that fit the bill? Cheaper price range is welcomed, honestly if it is out there I just plain missed it. With any of these options I’m going to still be saving for awhile. I’m barely into the 4 digit range. But I don’t mind saving more if it means getting a gun with exactly what I want. I think that all of the above guns are within similar quality to one another, but that is based off reading. I’ve only handled one DW, no LB, and only lesser model SAs (which I don’t believe to be a fair comparison of quality).
Thanks for reading my novel, look forward to your thoughts.
-Cory
PS. This forum is home, but I'm gonna post it on 1911forum, and some other places. Since school is over hopefully I can be active here again.
The things I'm looking for in a 1911 include most of the modern additions, but a few that aren't common and can make guns enter pricey waters.
-5inch Government sized
-45ACP
-Carbon steel OR treated stainless
-GI guide plug
-Beavertail Grip Safety
-Extended Thumb Safety
-Commander or Modern skeletonized hammer
-No front cocking serration
-Single side safety
-High cut front strap
-Checkered front strap, 25 or 30LPI preferable. But whatever works, my hands aren't delicate flowers.
-Serrated or checkered, flat mainspring housing
-Blued, or parkerized, or darkening treatment.
-No huge rollmark. This one isn’t make or break, but a clean or blank slide is an awesome plus.
I have seriously thought about everything in that list. I don't want a commander, because it will be mostly a range gun. Carbon or stainless steel, either one seems fine to me, but bare stainless can gall and I honestly don't think it looks good. The GI plug is the original, and I don't see any benefit to FLGRs. Plus a GI gives another way to rack the slide if needed. Beavertails are pretty standard, as are extended thumb safeties. I don't like spur hammers, and although it's internet rumor I think they have a tendency to break more often. Front cocking serrations are ugly and tear up holsters. I've handled ambi safeties and didn't care for them, If I shoot left handed I'll deal with it. High cut front strap gives a nicer grip on the gun. After handling a few with and without it, they are more comfortable and pointable for me. Checkering on the front strap is a must. I put 100 rounds through a Springfield range officer and kept wishing it had it. The mainspring checkering helps with grip, but serrations work too. I don't like shiny guns so I'd like blued or parkerized or something. I know they all wear off eventually, but its going to see a lot of use over the course of my life. So it could wind up refinished 20 years from now. Who knows. I like clean slides, but they aren’t a must.
So far I've found a few guns that fit the bill. Anyone with experience with any of them please let me know what you think. They aren’t in preference order.
Dan Wesson Valor, 01926 – 45ACP –
Pros: fit & finish, sights, clean slide, no wait, customer service
Cons: price tag,
This gun seems to meet everything from the get go. Plus it comes with sights I like. But the price tag is hefty and I haven't been able to find one to look at anywhere. I've held the commander size and was impressed with the fit, they have a nice lock up and crisp trigger. The duty coat is apparently finicky about cleaners. Otherwise, this seems to be all that and a bag of chips. I would have to keep saving to get to the $1800ish price tag. Another upside to it is the clean looking slide. It isn't a must but the two other guns are semi-custom and I would probably add clean slides to them.
Les Baer Premier II , Custom Carry, or Ultimate Tactical Carry, or etc – 45ACP –
Pros: fit, clean slide, made to order, reputation
Cons: price tag, wait time, customer service, no warranty
Les Baer meets almost everything immediately. They have a reputation for being rugged guns. They are pricey at around $1800-$1900. Frankly, it’s out of my price range unless I wait longer. I would ask the shop for no front slide serrations, clean slide, single side safety, fixed sights. Basically, it’s their carry commander/UTC minus FCS and clean slide. But you can get that setup with any name and it’s the same gun.
Springfield Armory Custom Carry, PC9102 – 45ACP –
Pros: fit, clean slide, made to order, customer service, warranty, reputation
Cons: wait time, price?
The base model of the famous professional, but spec’d to your liking. Pricing is a mystery without calling them or emailing them. I think it is cheaper than the Baer and possibly cheaper than the DW. I would have them do a clean slide with SACS logo at rear, high cut and front strap checkering. Maybe add different sights.
Are there other guns that fit the bill? Cheaper price range is welcomed, honestly if it is out there I just plain missed it. With any of these options I’m going to still be saving for awhile. I’m barely into the 4 digit range. But I don’t mind saving more if it means getting a gun with exactly what I want. I think that all of the above guns are within similar quality to one another, but that is based off reading. I’ve only handled one DW, no LB, and only lesser model SAs (which I don’t believe to be a fair comparison of quality).
Thanks for reading my novel, look forward to your thoughts.
-Cory
PS. This forum is home, but I'm gonna post it on 1911forum, and some other places. Since school is over hopefully I can be active here again.
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