1911 Purchase decision

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Frederick

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Ok with all the crap going on with Springfield Armory I sold my TRP Operator. Now comes the hard part. I'm torn with what to replace it with. I want the Colt Special Combat in hard chrome but I'm not a Colt stocking dealer so that presents problems. Also would not mind the Colt rail gun same issue. Looking at the Dan Wesson Silver back or Pointman 45's. I would love a Nighthawk or Les Baer but my budget is about 1800.00 max at wholesale. Anyone have any other suggestions not Springfield and not non forged frames.

Colts are really great. Kimbers are good, too.

What's wrong with springfield?
 

Pokem807

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I'm looking for a 1911 commander. After lots of hemming and hawing I've almost convinced myself that the Dan Wesson is worth the $1500-1800. Just watched an old Hickok45 video and he couldn't say enough good things. The V-bob is calling my name.


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D. Hargrove

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Posted this on another thread last night.....

The 1911 to me is a timeless classic that constantly evolves IOT continue to provide the masses with the most. The most beauty, the most 1st gun stories, the most aftermarket accessories, the most conversations, the most personalization possibilities, the most X's on a target, etc... The 1911 holds a place in many a young man's heart, as the Ar15/M4/M16 does today in the same manner. My reflections on a few brands are annotated below. These are just my thoughts and should not be construed as the gospel.

Kimber - a bit expensive, but worth every penny.
Colt - a bit expensive, but worth every penny. (commercial and US/foreign gov't contract from 1911 to present day)
Dan Wesson - a bit expensive, but worth every penny.
AMT - FTE/FTF cheaper in their day, but still collectable
Armscor - Cheaper but most are shooters
ATI - Cheaper but most are shooters
Auto Ordnance - Cheaper but most are shooters
Cabot - If you got $4500.00 go for it.
Caspian (slides and frames only) - Your smith will love you for this. Create your own custom 1911
Charles Daly - They shoot and shoot well
Cimarron - Cheaper but most are shooters
Citadel - Cheaper but most are shooters
Cylinder & Slide - $2500 might get ya started, but you will not be sorry
CZ USA - makes DW now in Texas
Dan Wesson - pretty sttep price, but well made
Ed Brown - masterpiece 1911s. If you can afford it, do it
High Standard - Cheaper but most are shooters
Ithaca (old NY-based company, made pistols under US gov't contract 1943-1945) there out there and are classics
Iver Johnson - $800-900 guns that are well thought of
Kongsberg (M/1914 pistol manufactured in Norway under Colt license) Big bucks, totally for collectors.
Les Baer - masterpiece 1911s. If you can afford it, do it
Llama - Cheaper but most are shooters
Nighthawk - some of the finest current 1911s made. Very expensive
Norinco - Cheaper but most are shooters
Nowlin - some of the finest custom 1911s made. Very expensive
Palmetto State Armory
Para Ordnance/Para USA - double stack 1911s with a wide grip
Olympic Arms - yes
Randall - good gun if you can find it
Remington Arms - great entry level 1911, easily customized
Rock Island Armory - Cheaper but most are shooters
Rock River Arms - Competition guns for Bullseye shooters
Ruger - great entry 1911, easily customized
Sig Sauer - You pay for the name and the performance
Singer (US gov't contract, 500 pistols produced in 1941) If ya find one, keep it.
Sistema (aka D.G.F.M.-F.M.A.P.) (M1927 pistol manufactured in Argentina under Colt license) commonly about 400-500 bucks
Smith & Wesson - the name says it all.
Springfield Armory - the RO is a great entry gun, unless politics bother ya.
STI - Race guns mostly and very high end.
Taurus - Lifetime warranty and shoots forever
 

JD8

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I'm looking for a 1911 commander. After lots of hemming and hawing I've almost convinced myself that the Dan Wesson is worth the $1500-1800. Just watched an old Hickok45 video and he couldn't say enough good things. The V-bob is calling my name.


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DW is one of the better "deals" out there when it comes to higher end 1911s. Sold my ECO and wished I hadn't.
 

MrShooter

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Most of the 1911s you mentioned run cast parts, Colt, SA, etc. Last I checked DW used Forged frames now and no MIM.

But yeah, if you have pre conceived, weird, notions of what is and what isn't a good 1911, then just buy a Colt and be done with it.

For the money, Dan Wesson can't be beat, and I've owned just about every brand out there at one point. However, $1800 can almost get you in a Les Baer.

I'm pretty sure Springfield and Colt use forged frames and carbon steel slides. (Taurus also uses forged frame). Springfield uses MIM internals. Colts use only MIM sear, disconnect, strut. And Dan Wesson does have MIM parts on select models such as Heritage and Specialist. The sprue mark not as obvious but it is MIM indeed. Not that there is a problem with MIM since if it's pretty much stress free and strong if it's done right. Wilson Combats use to have many MIM parts.
 

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