Need Top End 1911

Save yourself a lot of money and get a Dan Wesson. You could buy 2 Dan Wessons and have money leftover for what you would pay for a Ed Brown.

I don't think they're worth the money. You can dump $ into a 1911 all day long and it won't be as reliable as an H&K usp. For me, that's just the reality. No matter how pretty the 1911 might look at the gun shop.

While Brown certainly turns out a fine piece, his are not top of the line. He and his competitors, Wilson, Nighthawk, Baer, are considered semi-custom. "Top of the line" is, IMO a subjective term. There are any number of custom makers who build exceptional 1911s (Volkman, Yam, Phillips, etc.), but I don't think you could truly crown one "The Best."

A Brown will serve you well.

Just my nickel.

Ed, do you need both RIA's?

I will be in the market soon, and could help you out with the cost of that new Ed Brown

I don't think they're worth the money. You can dump $ into a 1911 all day long and it won't be as reliable as an H&K usp. For me, that's just the reality. No matter how pretty the 1911 might look at the gun shop.

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Care for any durr with your hurr, fine sir?


The reliability of a machine is dependant on how it is made, and how it is maintained.

I just picked up a Dan Wesson 10mm pointman. I like it, don't know that it is the top of the line but it's the nicest 1911 I've ever had. Very nice fit and finish zero problems with it so far. It was very tight when I first got it.... but I was hoping for that. (look it's new!) And accurate to boot!

Fruity rhymes aside, you could put $2,500 into a 1911 and it wouldn't be as reliable as a hk usp. Of course, a nightstand isn't a muddy, gritty, place but the 1911 just can't hang when it comes to functioning perfectly every time like a usp in adverse conditions.

Fruity rhymes aside, you could put $2,500 into a 1911 and it wouldn't be as reliable as a hk usp. Of course, a nightstand isn't a muddy, gritty, place but the 1911 just can't hang when it comes to functioning perfectly every time like a usp in adverse conditions.

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Define

as reliable

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.


I think a high end 1911 is going to be as reliable as the OP wants it to be.


If you find that a pistol from H&K is as reliable as you need it to be, that's great, but I don't know where you live that you're constantly covered in mud and grit.

I smell a corporate shill. The thread is about which 1911 to get, not which pistol to get. The OP is already set on a 1911 so to suggest polymer pistols is just silly.

It would be nice to work for hk, but I don't. I just think hk does better with less parts, and the 1911 does worse with more parts. And it's more $$$ to boot. Nevermind I'll exit the thread.

H&K?

No thank you.

They think we suck...and they hate us.

Night Hawk.............the one our military awards to their #1 Sniper Team. Great built gun.

What is your Colt?
If it is a clean straight surplus gun or an older commercial, then leave it alone for the collectors to swoon over. But if it is a fairly recent model, consider sending it to a top-flight gunsmith and having it set up like YOU want it, not what a boutique maker catalogs.

One of the nicest guns I have seen was a Colt that was customized by Wilson before they got so heavy into their own manufacture. It was as reliable and accurate as any and a good deal better looking; they did not paint pistols in those days.

My question is are they really worth the money ?

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That depends on how much money you have and what you expect or want.
If you have to put it on a credit card and it’s going to take you months to pay it off and you just wanted something to shoot tin cans with, I’d say it’s a bad idea.

If you have the expendable cash and want a fine firearm, you won’t be disappointed. FWIW I have shot a lot of semi custom pistols from folks like Wilson, Brown, Bear and the like, SVI’s have always felt better to me.

Good plan to exit... I have an HK USP 45 that I like very much but I LOVE LOVE LOVE my 1911s and will get another.

I have a Springfield TRP that is awesome to shoot but I want to find an old Colt from say 1915-1930 in decent shape that won't cost me 2k


But that's just me

I am subscribing to this thread because I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Good luck, and congrats on being able to spend that kind of cash in an econmy like this!

I envy and admire you all at the same time.

I think you will find Baer, Brown, Wilson, and Nighthawk are all fine 1911's. Take a look at what each manufacturer offers and see if it is what you are looking for.

I'm not sure any of them are what I'd call a bargain, but to the person looking for that kind of a 1911 experience, they are all good values.

Ed Browns are nice but if you could get Wilson same pricepoint with Ed Brown then go with Wilson. Maybe materials Browns and wilson are same but Wilson can fit them better.
If you want the best money can buy then you have to go to the Custom route.

But if you can get Ed browns cheaper then you can't go wrong with it. For me best value 1911's right now are the colt 70 series reproductions and Dan Wesson 1911's.

silent flatulence said:

It would be nice to work for hk, but I don't. I just think hk does better with less parts, and the 1911 does worse with more parts. And it's more $$$ to boot. Nevermind I'll exit the thread.

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Glocks are as reliable than HK's. Same thing with all loose polymer pistols in that case. Maybe we could go back now in the all steel 1911 discussion again.

Fruity rhymes aside, you could put $2,500 into a 1911 and it wouldn't be as reliable as a hk usp.

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And Allah is the only true God, blah, blah, blah.

Production 1911s like Colt, Kimber, and Springfield do the same things that the customs and semi-customs do. Thing is, they do those things just a little bit better. They tend to be more accurate, have better fit and finish, and are nicer overall. Are they worth it? Go to and gun store and check them out. Try and shoot them if you can. If you have a smile on your face after you do these things, then the higher-end 1911s are probably for you. On the other hand if all you think about is the money and that a Wilson is 2-3 times the cost of a Colt, then you'd be better served sticking to production guns.

Personally I feel that semi-customs are worth it. (Don't have a custom yet, I'm still waiting to win the lottery) I don't want a lot of guns, so I buy what I want and I strive for the best quality I can afford. That being said, I don't think that a semi-custom is always superior. I like Springfield Custom, Les Baer, and Ed Brown. I find Wilson and Nighthawk to be too tricked out for my tastes. Others will disagree with me. This goes back to my original recommendation to go and try to personally handle the semi-customs.

Whatever you decide, I don't think anyone can deny that a well-built 1911 is a thing of beauty.

Ed,

It's your money....get what you want. I have three Wilsons, have had a Brown and numerous other non custom or semi-custom brands. I prefer my Wilson Combat 1911's.

bigmike45