Why no love? S&W 1911

[Tom Fury]

Saw ranking in above post: S&W didn't even get into above Taurus and Ruger; Why? Whats' wrong with them? Have 1911 PD Commander I am quite happy with but can find no one saying good things about GM sized S&Ws'. E series anyone? Keep in mind I love my 4506's, and think the 4566 was unfortunately a clunker (owned one and a 4567; presently own two CQB LW 4563's). Only fault I can see is everybody hoped they would somehow be...better...; Could we have afforded them if they were?
Cheers, TF

 

[dmurdach]

I have the TA-E and like it

I have a S&W TA-E and like it. It took a little breking in but now functions great. I put Crimson trace grips on it and sometimes carry OWB with it, otherwise it is in a safe on my nightstand with a light mounted on the rail.

 

[JTQ]

A lot of guys have not warmed up to the external extractor. Then there was the grip safety activated firing pin safety that some other's didn't care for. Neither of those two really bugged me much. However, the new E-Series has some odd looks to them (to my eye at least), and the new square front strap on the E-Series really looks bad to me. It makes practically all grips look like they are too small.

 

[bullzeye8]

I have the s&w e series 5 inch and really like it. Bought it used and have not had a single problem with it. Accuracy is good. I have only shot a ruger commander to compare it with and triggers were about the same, s&w was a bit tighter frame fit and had better finish. I didn't do any real tests to compare accuracy between the two but I probably shot the s&w better whether it is more accurate or just the longer sight radius.

I too am surprised how little they seem to be mentioned here. They are great guns.

 

[JDR]

A lot of guys have not warmed up to the external extractor.

I have had two fullsize SW1911 pistols and I still have the 2nd one. I had one of the best gunsmith's in the area tune it for me, and it shoots great.

 

[JDGray]

I had a S&W 1911, and it put a deep step in my brass on the case head. They never bothered to finish machining the breech face

 

[Owen]

I have a Scandium Commander with maybe 4000 rounds on it. It shoots great, and its the pistol I carry most often these days.

 

[MADDOG]

I like my PD Gunsite also. No problems at all.

 

[browningguy]

I like my 1911 SC just fine.

 

[TMann]

A lot of guys have not warmed up to the external extractor. Then there was the grip safety activated firing pin safety that some other's didn't care for.

I think that these two "features" are a major sticking point for the 1911 traditionalists. I have a Gunsite 1911PD and it's my favorite carry gun.

 

[WRGADog]

I owned a S&W E Series, round butt, two tone 1911. Finish on the frame flaked off after one use, and the gun would not feed JHP or FMJ reliably. Back to the factory, but same feeding problems upon return. Tried many brands of ammo all with same resuLts. I traded the gun for an H&K P2000 and have zero regrets.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I remember a gun writer stating something about the S&W 1911s having an external extractor and comparing them to the early Kimber problematics. He went on to say that there is no comparison though really. Kimber tried what was essentially an experiment at the time and S&W has been putting external extractors on auto pistols since the beginning so they probably know what they are doing.

Still won't quell the traditionalists.

 

[JTQ]

The Kimber external extractor was a very short one, it looked almost like a Glock extractor, but as you can see by the above pictures the S&W (and SIG 1911 extractor for that matter) extractor is quite long. The E-Series guns also have an upgraded extractor over the older model S&W 1911's.

 

[Mrgunsgnear]

I had a pin come loose on my SC but it was fixed quickly.

 

[Mrgunsgnear]

Even when the pin wasn't staked it worked just fine.


Continued to run well after the fix:

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Only speaking for me...

Because, regardless of quality, cost... whatever - it'd be like buying a Ford Camaro or Chevrolet Mustang.

Simply chafes me. Not unlike buying a 1911 from either of the two nations now making them that we used our own 1911s to defeat.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Saw ranking in above post: S&W didn't even get into above Taurus and Ruger; Why? Whats' wrong with them? Have 1911 PD Commander I am quite happy with but can find no one saying good things about GM sized S&Ws'. E series anyone? Keep in mind I love my 4506's, and think the 4566 was unfortunately a clunker (owned one and a 4567; presently own two CQB LW 4563's). Only fault I can see is everybody hoped they would somehow be...better...; Could we have afforded them if they were?
Cheers, TF

I'm not sure what post you're talking about, but one thing to consider is the size and demographics of the responding people. Just because any given pistol didn't make a certain "ranking" doesn't mean it's a bad pistol, especially in a statistically small sampling of people in a limited forum.

More likely, you simply have a group of respondents who simply don't own or haven't shot a S&W 1911. Doesn't mean there is anything wrong with them...especially if you don't any, or very few, negative comments regarding them.

 

[jmr40]

I've owned Colt, Kimber, SA, as well as several of the budget 1911's. The S&W's have out performed everything in that price range. Some of the high end $2000+ guns might be better, but it is hard to beat the 100% reliability I've gotten with mine.

I ended up with 2, both bought used and they are the only 1911's I've ever owned that have been both reliable and accurate enough that I'd actually trust to work if my life depended on it.

I do think the extractor turns off a lot of traditionalists, but for someone looking for a reliable working gun in a 1911 pattern it is probably part of the appeal.

Also, most folks just don't think of S&W and 1911 together.

 

[Walkalong]

The S&W 1911s are nice guns. I have one in 9MM. The external extractor works just fine. S&W knows how to do them. It's that other 1911 maker that flunked external extractor.

 

[JDGray]

The EE never bothered me, it ran 100%! My Sig 1911 does too with its EE design, seems Kimber just couldn't figure that part out...

 

[skoro]

I love my Colt 1911s and I like S&W above all other handgun makes, in general. The only reason I don't have a S&W 1911 is that they're more expensive than my Colts. They make a fine looking and reliable 1911, no doubt. Maybe someday I'll have one.

 

[Mike J]

I noticed that one posters rankings in the other thread. Personally I don't have any idea whether the S&W 1911's are good or bad as I have no experience with them. I own a SR 1911 & it is the only 1911 I have shot. The 2 reasons I would be reluctant to buy one are they are more expensive (or were when I bought it, I don't know about now) than the Ruger I got & I don't like the idea of the external extractor. That is not to say it doesn't work or there is anything wrong with it. I just like the idea that if I ever need an extractor for mine I can purchase one from any number of sources other than the manufacturer where with the external extractor you have to go back to the manufacturer. As far as that persons opinion it is just that an opinion. If you like your gun & it works well for you don't worry about it.

 

[BlindJustice]

Pedantic Purists poo poo the
* External Safety
* Firing Pin Safety tied to Grip Safety
* Forward Slide Serrations

'1911' is a generic term for the JMB design

Why don't Browning High Power purists decry the
external extractor the BHPchanged to around 1960

and/or CZ 75B the FPS was added in the early '90s
and it's always had an external extractor

External extractors are spring loaded and are a loaded
chamber indicator to boot

Heres a description and my experiice with a SW1911


SW1911 SKU 108282 base model full size 5"
Matte finish stainless
Novak low mount 3-Dot sights
beavertail grip safety
skelton hammer / trigger
vertical serrations on front of grip / frame
beveled edges on mag well opening

The occaisional FTF in the first 300-400 rds,
it's never had a failure to eject
Trigger is rattley but a little take up and a crisp 4 lb break

Mods:
* Les Baer matte stainless Flat MSH with vertical serrationss
* Titanium MSH cap, & Ti Hammer Strut
* Ed Brown Tactical Extended LH blued Thumb Safety

I also have a Colt Combat Commander with the same
Ed Brown Thumb Safety

 

[duanebuck.schultz]

I would definitely try one and with Smith & Wesson's reputation, I wouldn't worry about quality.
I have no experience with them. It could be the higher price tag or that when most people the S&W, they still think revolver.
When most people think Remington, the think rifle and shotgun, but my EDC is the Remington R1 and I love it.

 

[drband]

Read somewhere that of the external extractor 1911s, S&W has the best implementation. I would not pass one up because of an EE. The only person I know who owns one loves that pistol.