Best 1911

Custom 1911 built by JRH advanced gunsmithing.

Detonics as well.

Ed Brown are excellent. However, I'd rather have the vacation home in Hawaii then one of their guns. Use their parts
in a cheaper frame.

It depends. What are you using the gun for and how many rounds a year are you looking to shoot out of the gun? At a certain point it becomes a matter of taste vs one is the "best".

Ed Brown
Les Baer
Wilson
Night Hawk
RRA

All will produce a great semi-custom gun it just depends on which flavor you prefer.

I think Colt has the right mixture of production quality without being too tight so as to be impractical.

(at least with the non Gold Cup models)

I voted Les Baer of the listed options. Baers are the best custom gun going for the money, and the quality of parts used and the level of fitting is far beyond anything you'll get from Colt, Smith & Wesson, Kimber Springfield (non-custom shop), Para, or Sig.

THat Said, RRA also MADE outstanding 1911s, but RRA has since stopped producing 1911s and the used market for them is rather sparse. Insofar as Brown goes, they make great guns, but you'll definitely get mixed responses from people as far as after sale service from Ed Brown is concerned.

Two entries on the list that are conspicuously absent are Wilson Combat and Nighthawk Custom. They are both at about the same price point as the Ed Brown, but their after sale service is head and shoulders above that of Ed Brown. In my personal, biased opinion, I'd say the absolute best 1911s out there are going to come from Wilson Combat.

There are also great guns coming from smaller custom builders like Luke Volkmann and Dave Berryhill, but based on my personal experiences, I'll be sticking with Wilson Combat when I opt for another upper end 1911.

NONE OF THE ABOVE

best 1911 is STI, imo

You can get a feel for which brands are tops by looking at a list of the what the competitors are using in ipsc competitions.

wilson combat has a strong showing in those competitions too.

The criteria used to pick race guns are not the same as defensive guns IMHO. Simply because tons or people use STI for gun games does not mean that they are the "best". I personally do not like the Spartan, which is their budget gun, because I do not need or want a fiber sight.

Again how can we answer the question what is the best when we do not have enough info to make an informed statement?

MINE! is the best one.

The best plain-jane gun FOR THE MONEY is springfield, imo. You can have a gunsmith spiff it up with a few ed brown or wilson combat parts if you like.

If I was looking for a new 1911 right now I would buy this...

No nonsense 1911 built for serious business.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=577407



Upgrades:
-10-8/Vickers Hard Use Trigger (no overtravel screw hole in finger pad) installed and fitted
-Ed Brown Perfection Sear installed and fitted
-Cylinder & Slide Marine Corps Disconnector installed and fitted
-Handpicked Gold Medallion Rosewood Double Diamind Grips from Colt

*Trigger job done by the legendary Peter Dunn, formerly the Lead Engineer at Detonics. Trigger pull is at a very crisp 4lb, clean break & no creep at all. Ed Brown Sear and C&S Disconnector polished and fitted by Peter Dunn. Immaculate all business with class 1911.

Shoot her as is for 2500 to 5000 then determine if I want to change anything.

MINE! is the best one.

Click to expand...

Mine too. Which is why I voted Kimber.

PcolaDawg said:

Mine too. Which is why I voted Kimber.

Click to expand...

Clearly, y'all are mistaken...MY 1911's are the best

Kimber done by JRH Advanced Gunsmithing, with Ed Brown parts:1200
Detonics Combat master:1200, new recoil springs, and checked by JRH: 1200

The conspicuously absent Wilson Combat would be my vote. In the non-custom category/top end category would have to be Kimber, IMHO.

Although rellascout hit the nail on the head... Purpose and intent of use are very important pieces of the puzzle. Defense, competition, concealed carry, etc. all have their own necessary criteria...

That being said, Kimber and Wison Combat have formidable offerings in most categories...

Wilson's Supergrade. (Outside of a full custom 1911)

I don't like kimber anymore. Their reputation has exceeded their quality. Lately.

Even though I'm a Colt guy, I love my Springer.

Remo223 said:

I don't like kimber anymore. Their reputation has exceeded their quality. Lately.

Click to expand...

Ladies, and gentlemen, we have a winner. I've had a few Kimber 1911s over the years, and have had more issues that I would ever expect to have from a gun that I paid better than $1k for. My Eclipse Target II is a total dog, the Royal II was meh at best, the Desert Warrior was passable, but the ambi-safety got dumped due to the right side paddle breaking off. At the Kimber price point, lately I'd say you're better off getting a Colt or Springfield.

No such thing. The best is a good high end 1911 that has been customized by your favorite smith, and/or yourself, to fit your needs and hands perfectly.

For example my idea of a perfect 1911 would be:
-Les Baer or Dan Wesson Valor
-Dawson front sights, Warren Rear
-Custom cut thumb safety
-Custom Carry melt, aka aggressive dehorn
-Severns Custom Hardhat black refininsh. Everything black.

Such a thing deos not exist form any 1911 builder unless you ask them to build a custom right from the getgo. But that often costs as much or more than having a 2-3 year old 1911 fixed up. $$$$

All my Colts have come right from box reliable . That to me means the most . Iam not in to all the ad on's So the basic Colt fills the Bill. I have a Dan Wesson its nice little more accurate than my Colts But my most carried still Colt.

If there was a best 1911, there would only be one make of them.

When all the best commercial and custom production manufacturers competed head to head for a lucrative government contract (FBI HRT & SWAT) this was the last gun standing:



Springfield PRO

Test article: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_144_24/ai_57886947/?tag=content;col1

JAC

I voted Ed Brown based on the choices on your list but I spent my coin on a Dan Wesson Valor.

When all the best commercial and custom production manufacturers competed head to head for a lucrative government contract (FBI HRT & SWAT) this was the last gun standing:



Springfield PRO

JAC

Click to expand...

If the government says it's the best, it's just gotta be true.

I vote for Colt too!