[10-Ring]

Is the new S&W 1911 considered more a ser 70 or ser 80 or something entirely diff't?

[VictorLouis]

However, it's not set-up like a Series-'80 Colt. It's more like what the Kimber Series II pistols are doing. Depressing the grip-safety operates the linkage to release the firing-pin to be able to move forward. Thus, the trigger-pull is not burdened with extra friction nor weight.

[10-Ring]

I'm suddenly interested in these guns & am curious what the final product will look like once they hit CA....hmmmm.:scrutiny:

[Diesle]

Ummmm, get the new issue of Shooting Times. Its on the cover.

Diesle

[Kahr carrier]

Time to go buy a magazine.:D

[M1911]

You can see pictures of the gun at S&W's web site: http://www.smith-wesson.com/products/firearms/sw1911.htm

[ruger357]

Friend saw one on the local dealer's shelf, selling for $795.

[10-Ring]

Friend saw one on the local dealer's shelf

aaah, yes, but dealer shelves are a far cry from available in CA:fire:

[Byron Quick]

People, I've been lusting after that gun...and look at the laser engraved block letter crap they've put on the slide: SW 1911.

Lord, help them, please.

[VictorLouis]

$597.

[10-Ring]

Talked to "Gun Shop Guy" re: SW 1911. He says that he's seen/handled one and they seem very nice. So nice in fact that he has already pre-ordered one for himself...now the question is when will they arrive in CA?
Oh, he also said that his best guess for price is $675 to $725

[Handgun]

My favorite shop got four of them in this morning. I just got back from fondling them. Two of the serial numbers were in the 13X range, another a 29X, and I did not catch the third.

They are priced at $699, which, in this shop, is the same as the Kimber Classic Stainless. The S&W comes with two 8 round Wilson mags where the Kimber comes with one Kimber mag. The S&W has an external extractor, not "traditional" 1911, but is an improvement over the internal extractor. The slides were a pretty good fit to the frame but, on average, the current Kimbers are a little tighter. I like the matte finish on the S&W. It is like their other stainless autos, a finish I have always liked. The trigger pulls on the S&Ws are pretty much the same as Kimber trigger pulls, crisp and about the same weight.

I have owned/own several Kimbers. The only things I would change on my Kimbers is the sights and the grip safety. The S&W has exactly what I would change the Kimber to be, but have been too cheap to do so. The S&W uses the Novak sights, my favorites, and has the smaller bump on the grip safety rather than the larger bump of the Kimber (which never felt quite right to me). Oh, and the S&W beavertail is a little more upswept than the Kimber – not a factor with me but I thought I’d let you know.

In all, it is well built and seems to be a quality piece of hardware. I liked it enough to have them hold one for me and I was not even in the market for another 1911 … but I may be in the market for a divorce lawyer soon if I keep up my current purchasing pace. :) I may, however, not end up purchasing this one because I wonder if, after production is in full swing, the slide to frame fit will be better on later guns, and I wonder if the price will be lower later. We shall see ... and in the meantime I have to figure out how I am going to pay for it. DOH!!!

[Handgun]

Oh, and there is no "child safety lock" type of safety on the guns I handled today ... at least we could not find one.

[10-Ring]

Hopefully these fine examples that others have seen/handled throughout the country will be comparable to the ones that get approved for CA :scrutiny:

[Lone_Gunman]

Just what the world needs...

another $700 1911.

Why would any company want to enter such a crowded market?

[10-Ring]

Why would any company want to enter such a crowded market?

To diversify their product line and grab those sales from Kimber, Colt, SA, etal ;)

[Beorn]

Entering the 1911 market is a rite of passage of sorts.

You can never be certain what they're going to do next.

Just when you thought that there were no ways to modify, tweak, adjust, tinker with, loosen, tighten, or "aesthetically alter" the 1911 style pistol, someone comes up with something new.

You just wait, they'll have coatings to match evening wear next. The O.D. green CQB will give way to the Armani 1911 in pearlescent cobalt blue.

Actually, that color would be kinda cool...:D

[10-Ring]

Blue? I have a tough enough time deciding between blue & stainless, now you wanna add another color? :scrutiny:

[Lone_Gunman]

My suggestion is, if you want one of these, you better get it soon.

I dont expect this will still be in the product line in 24 months.

[Handgun]

I don’t expect this will still be in the product line in 24 months.I disagree with this statement. I think the S&W 1911 will probably be pretty successful and be in the product line for some time to come. My guess is there are a lot folks out there who are partial to the S&W brand name who will purchase this pistol. Heck, it might actually introduce the 1911 to many people who might not otherwise have purchased one.

And, the warranty is tough to beat. Does anyone know of any other 1911 manufactures that offer a lifetime warranty?

[Boats]

The other factory 1911 maker with a lifetime warranty is Springfield Armory. Most of the semi-custom houses have an unofficial lifetime warranty.

[Handgun]

The other factory 1911 maker with a lifetime warranty is Springfield Armory. Most of the semi-custom houses have an unofficial lifetime warranty.Thanks for the info. I realize that the semi-custom houses are pretty good about this sort of thing but I did not recall that Springfield offered a lifetime warranty.

[George Hill]

I have to admit, that SW 1911 looks very good.

Tempting.:evil:

I think I'll wait for a Commander version.

[Beorn]

I was hoping to see a S&W 1911 in something other than stainless. I think it's a handsome gun and all, but I'd like to see what S&W could do with a Parkerized finish or a nice blued finish.

No one in my family ever even owned a stainless autoloader until my Dad bought his Para Ordinance P-14 about 1996 (I think).

Now stainless revolvers; that's another story.:D

I wouldn't mind seeing one of these in a long slide though.:evil:

[SC_shooter]

I'd like a commander size 10mm, please.

[VictorLouis]

I was surprised to read how quickly this gun hit the shelves in other areas of the country. Now, one's trickled out my way.:cool: Dealer just got it in and tagged it at $779. It's not 'tight' in the sense of a Performance Center gun, but that's probably a good thing in terms of reliability. I like everything about it except those nasty blued parts! Maybe they're stainless with black oxide, or something?

[mattk]

Well fellows,
I bought one SW1911 on Weds. I didnt mean to, it just kind of happened.
Why did I buy it?
1. The fit and finish is very good. Better than SA and COLT.
2. I saw a list of the parts suppliers. Good group of people including: McCorrmick, Wilson, Briley, Les Baer, Novaks.
3. I used to work at the shop that was selling it.
4. You can never have to many 1911s.

As soon as one of my consignment guns, I am going to have the slide coated in some kind of black finish. Two tone is cool.

More to come as find time to shoot more than 50 rounds through it.

[10-Ring]

mattk - I look forward to hearing your impressions on how she shoots;)

[mattk]

I put another 50 through it after work today. WHOA! Nice shooting gun. I havent shot in about a month so it took me two mags to get settled in but nothing out of the 9 ring.
Give me until tuesday and post a nice big long review of the gun.
I did change the recoil spring and mainspring.
The springs that come in the gun are ridiculously heavy.
Both springs were 20lbs. I put a 16lbs recoil and 17 lbs mainspring in. But thats just personaly preferace. To me 16lbs is the right way to go for a recoil spring in a 5 inch 1911 .45.