Advice on S&W 1911's?

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labnoti

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I've read previous threads, mostly ten years old, where the prevailing opinion was that they're among the best production 1911's. Still true?

I noticed some are marked Springfield and others are marked Houlton, ME. It looks like only the SW1911 Pro Series in 9mm with the adjustable rear sight is marked Maine. Just curious to know more.

I wouldn't describe myself as a 1911-guy, but it's one of those firearms that "everyone should own at least one," right? I'm probably more attracted to a Colt Series 70 or maybe one second-hand from the CMP, but I'd like to know more about what S&W is producing.
 
where the prevailing opinion was that they're among the best production 1911's. Still true?
Don't know about that, but they certainly make a good one. I love mine in 9MM, but internally I could nit pic it.
 

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If what you're looking for is a "best production 1911," have a look at some Dan Wesson models. I mean no disparagement toward S&W by saying this.
 
labnoti

A friend of mine has a SW 1911 E Series and while it's been a reliable and accurate shooter for her, I don't think I would go so far and say it's the best production 1911 out there. It's a well made gun and a good buy for the money but to me something like Dan Wesson comes to mind as making some of the best production 1911s these days.
 
TomJ

Saw that one the other day. Would love to have either the Vigil CCO or the Commander version.
 
TomJ

Saw that one the other day. Would love to have either the Vigil CCO or the Commander version.

I have the Guardian, which is similar but is bobtailed. It’s been great. You can find the Vigils for just over $1000, making them IMO one of the best bargains in 1911’s.
 
TomJ

Tried the Guardian with the bobtail frame but it just didn't feel right in my hand. Greatly prefer a regular 1911 frame with a flat mainspring housing.

You're right; at around $1100 the Vigil is a great buy in a first rate 1911!
 
I've got two older S&W 1911 pistols. One a scandium framed Commander size and the other a Government size with adjustable sights.

They are both solid pistols. However, with the prices on the current guns I'd look really hard at a Dan Wesson, I also own two Dan Wesson 1911 pistols. Both in 10mm, a CBOB and a PM7.

The truth of the matter is that Ruger, S&W, DW, Sig, and Remington all make solid 1911 pistols. Just find the one with the features you want/need and buy it.
 
I have shot a Sig 1911 in 10MM and it was a nice gun. We were popping some 12" steel at 100 yards. No, not every shot.
 
I'm not sure that S&W ever produced the "best production" 1911. I've always thought that tittle belonged to the Springfield Armory (SA) Professional.

Having said that, S&W did produce some very nice 1911s. Their Top of the Line Performance Center 1911s were every bit as nice as the SA Pro. The E-series 1911s were their regular 1911s with some trickle down technology from the PC guns...a bit nicer than the SA TRP. Their production 1911s were quite a bit better than the Colt 1911s of the time and about on par with the SA Loaded.

I owned a S&W Scandium Commander sized 1911 and even carried it for a while before a friend begged me to sell it to them. It was replaced by first a SA EMP and than a custom full sized 1911.

If you're looking for a mid priced 1911, I think the Dan Wessons already mentioned are a great value. I just looked and didn't realized that they offered than many models. My favorite has always been the V-BOB (back when it was the CBOB) and the Valor series
 
I've got an E Series 1911. It's a nice entry level gun, but far from the nicest I've ever handled. It has had some reliability issues with lower power ammo. Always functioned well with warm stuff. I may need to fiddle a bit with it. I've handled a few Dan Wessons, and if I was going to buy a production 1911 again, I'd probably get one of those.

I haven't shot mine in quite awhile. I'll need to remedy that.
 
Just saw a very nice all stainless S&W 1911 full-size at the gun store for sale used. Came with 4 mags. $600. Guy there couldn't believe it hadn't sold in over 3 weeks.
 
Here is a bad old picture of my S&W "Gunsite" edition Commander Scandium with thin Amboyna Burl grips by Esmeralda. I used it for a second gun at advanced ITTS pistol classes. It lost it's Novak Gold bead front sight during SWAT qualifacation stage :( Went back to S&W anf they put on a Tritium front sight free of charge and recrowned the barrel , which wasn't done right at the factory. Still have the gun , it is indeed a slick unit !
P1010497_zps0abf84e4.jpg
 
Here is another shot of it. I carried the Scandium S&W Commander on the left side and the 70 series Combat Commander on the strong right side. I practiced my off side use of pistols for 5 years pretty hard in early 2000s under Louis Awerbuck. ITTS instructors weren't too impressed tho. Thought it looked "aggressive" notice Scott Reitz never told me that ! Any ways the Scandium Commander lightened the load for a back up gun . It is exceedingly accurate after they recrowned the barrel. The Gunsite Version was very well set up and was a Custom Shop edition for a year or so when the 1911 format came out. Notice old school support items :)
011-9_zps39388366.jpg
 
I am not a fan of the external extractor that was pioneered on the S&W M1911s. I really have no good reason and I have at least one M1911 with one, a custom ordered Caspian slide. Mine with the external extractor has worked fine and been reliable. But, I am happy with the internal extractor.

Other than that, the S&W M1911s have a good reputation.

I guess it fits mostly in the “Ford vs Chevy” debate.
 
I am not a fan of the external extractor that was pioneered on the S&W M1911s. I really have no good reason and I have at least one M1911 with one, a custom ordered Caspian slide. Mine with the external extractor has worked fine and been reliable. But, I am happy with the internal extractor.

Other than that, the S&W M1911s have a good reputation.

I guess it fits mostly in the “Ford vs Chevy” debate.

The external extractor 1911 wasn't pioneered by S&W. Some of the 1911 prototypes that Browning built had external extractors. Both of the 1903 models, the 1905, the 1908, the 1910, all had external extractors. Browning was clearly a convert to the external extractor. Kimber did it before S&W and bungled it up. Sig also beat S&W to it. The original Sig 1911 pistols were hand built on Caspian frames and slides. I have #125. The extractor geometry was just a bit off. I got mine really cheap, used, because of the extraction problems. A quick trip to Sig, an extractor .02" wider and it's been a solid shooter every since.
 
The external extractor 1911 wasn't pioneered by S&W. ...
Sig also beat S&W to it.
My memory tells me S&W 1911's predate SIG's 1911's, though I'm not willing to bet money on that. As best I can remember, both have only used external extractors throughout their production runs.

Wikipedia (for what that's worth) shows S&W 1911's were introduced a year before SIG's 1911's hit the market (2003 vs 2004).

SIG 1911 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIG_Sauer_1911

S&W 1911 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_&_Wesson_SW1911
 
My memory tells me S&W 1911's predate SIG's 1911's, though I'm not willing to bet money on that. As best I can remember, both have only used external extractors throughout their production runs.

Wikipedia (for what that's worth) shows S&W 1911's were introduced a year before SIG's 1911's hit the market (2003 vs 2004).

SIG 1911 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIG_Sauer_1911

S&W 1911 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_&_Wesson_SW1911

I must have gotten the dates mixed up. What I do know is my GSR shoots like a laser.
 
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