Will polymer ever end up in mainstream 1911?

one can only hope!

the XD is getting kind of close isnt it?

Already started

http://www.wilsoncombat.com/p_specops.htm

They are out there, if your definition of "1911" is loose enough.
STI and Bul are the two that come to mind first.

A 1911-like pistol can - and has - certainly be produced in a polymer frame, but to duplicate the original design frame exactly in polymer is not feasible, IMO. The large cutout for the slide stop would make a poly too weak.

I had a chance to put 300 rounds through an old Kimber polymer 5" 1911. The grip texture was nice, the grip comfortable, and the weight manageable. Had it been cheaper, I would have bought it.

So Wilson is selling a poly framed 1911 for almost $2,000? I thought one of the ideas behind polymer handguns was to make them more affordable.

SV/STI double-stack "2011" pistols dominate USPSA Limited and Open divisions.

Demitrios said:

I thought one of the ideas behind polymer handguns was to make them more affordable.

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Taking a page out of Heckler and Koch's book. Where they price the similar polymer USP and P30 the same as the all metal P226

I have a friend who owns a Kimber that I shot several times. It's a double-stack, polymer 1911-ish-thing-a-ma-bobber. Shoots great. He's offered it to me at some decent prices, but I just don't care for it.

Not many people ever seem to show much interest in polymer 1911-ish designs.

I like the Kimber and the Wilson mentioned above, but for the money I'd rather have an alloy or steel bob-tailed commander for carry. Double stack polymer 1911's are too thick and heavy for me to carry. I tried. I'll stick with single stack alloy or my glock for carry.

An STI grip is not really wider than a regular 1911 with standard grips at its widest point.

Much blockier, though.
Sorry I don't have mine at hand to measure circumference.

Taking a page out of Heckler and Koch's book. Where they price the similar polymer USP and P30 the same as the all metal P226

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HK pistols are no more expensive than any other quality pistol on the market. In fact they are less expensive than quite a few out there. Polymer doesn't mean cheap. It does add up to a large savings in weight when carrying.

It's a double-stack, polymer 1911-ish-thing-a-ma-bobber.

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Good description.

Much blockier, though.
Sorry I don't have mine at hand to measure circumference.

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I do, a stock colt is 5.25" an STI 2011 is 5.625".

Smith and Wesson offers the M&P 45 with a 1911 style safety lever. Not exactly a 1911, but pretty close in practice.

Now that the 1911 is a century old, will polymer frames step in as the next phase of it's evolution?

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Been around quite a while. Check out BUL M5 (aka Government Model). Personally, I like it better than the wide-body SS Para and parked steel SA models. Parts are understandably non-standard with a ramped bull barrel. The ramped feature was necessary, the bull was not.

BTW, aside from BUL and Wilson, Kimber also brought out a poly frame "1911". Quotes for those who would otherwise protest the nomenclature. Don't bother.

MR2

So Wilson is selling a poly framed 1911 for almost $2,000? I thought one of the ideas behind polymer handguns was to make them more affordable.

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Someone has to cover the cost of the injection dies.

Not quite plastic yet but close - Aluminum

http://www.kimberamerica.com/products/pistols/covert/custom_covert_II/

The question is will it ever take over as it did in other platforms?

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As noted above they have in competition shooting. The only reason SVI went away from “plastic” is they didn’t get the equipment when “the split” occurred.

HK pistols are no more expensive than any other quality pistol on the market. In fact they are less expensive than quite a few out there. Polymer doesn't mean cheap. It does add up to a large savings in weight when carrying.

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Polymer does mean cheap, just depends on whether or not the company decides to overcharge for it.

NWCP said:

HK pistols are no more expensive than any other quality pistol on the market.

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If we are talking polymer frame, a lot more expensive than the FNPs I have seen. A lot more expensive than the Glocks I have seen.

Polymer does mean cheap, just depends on whether or not the company decides to overcharge for it.

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No, it depends on whether consumers are willing to pay the same amount of money for a plastic pistol that they would for a milled steel pistol. So far, consumers have shown themselves perfectly willing to overpay for plastic guns held together with metal stampings.

In a sense but the producer sets the price first and it was still high. Seems that the HK fans feel as though its better than all other guns for reasons that they can't fully describe. Only way I'll get a HK is a used for a good price or a new one when the company gets civie friendly and lowers their prices, or if they release semi auto versions of their military arms like they use to.