Best 1911 made at around $3000.

Guncrafter Industries is generally in your price range, depending on model & options. I have one of its railed "American" models.

Here's another company, Cerberus Tactical, which had a similarly-looking 1911. Currently, the website said new models are coming and there are no 1911 offerings visible.

Good luck with your choice.

L-2 beat me to it. Guncrafter makes some really nice 1911s.

I'm a big Wilson fan. A CQB is on my wish list.

I would rather get a colt marine pistol or a SA operator and send it to a fine custom shop

I took a similar quest last year - I wanted a top-quality, very accurate 1911. Being in CA, selection is somewhat limited, but I ran across a Baer SRP in hard chrome finish, with the 1.5" at 50 yards accuracy package. I now have no excuse if I don't shoot well.

I bought it exclusively for range use, but it's ended up being my "church carry" gun. It is, by far, the best shooter I own, and the finish is really holding up well.

To each his own. There are more striking 1911s out there, but I haven't found a better shooter - and in spite of it's very tight fit, it eats everything from cheap range fodder to huge hollowpoints.

You could get one of these for a lot less than 3 grand!

If you get something for about 3 grand that is highly regarded by the masses and later want to get rid of it, you are more likely to get more of your money back than if you sink substantial bucks in some custom job, which is really nice (to You), but is of limited appeal. Just sayin...

I have three Ed Brown pistols and consider them to be worth the price tag. My only complaint is the Gen 3 coating which isn't particularly wear resistant. I see that EB is now offering Gen 4 which is the "latest evolution of thermoset polymer coating technology" but at $295 for a complete pistol I'd rather go with a salt nitride finish from Dave Severns. All in all I have zero regrets with my EB purchases ... can't say the same for one of my Dan Wesson purchases though.

Sounds like you want a fun toy...double barrel 1911 will fit that bill. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=440557621

So would a coonan in 41 magnum. Sorry, can't find one to link you to. A stainless coonan .357 with good engraving would be my direction in that price range, but I'm not too big on extremely high end factory guns. I would rather build something into awesome rather than buy it.

@1858: Looks sharp. The nitride finish probably wouldn't look as good.

If you wanted something really nice, and done how YOU want it. You could start with something like this....



and go to something like this.

Les Baer, Wilson, Ed Brown, SVI Infinity, Peters Stahl, ADC Dallera Custom.

For around $3000 you can get an original 1911 made by Colt, in 90% or better, from the between the wars, which will give any pistol lover shortness of breath and heart palpitations. I see them all the time in the Rock Island Auction Company catalog.

Such a gun can be shot occasionally and still appreciate faster than any new gun. Their fit and finish and quality is equal to, at the least, anything being made today. I am talking about the Commercial models with a C prefix to the serial numbers.

Ria takes phone bids. Their Catalog is on line. Get a C&R licence and go for it.

peacebutready said:

@1858: Looks sharp. The nitride finish probably wouldn't look as good.

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Thanks ... I had a Kimber finished with Hard Hat (salt nitride) by Dave Severns and I really like how it looks. It doesn't have the sheen of the Gen 3 coating but it's way more durable and I prefer the understated all business look.

As far as I'm concerned, you could spend $30,000 and not find a better pistol that a good old 1911A1. To me, all the "updates" and "improvements" are just so much bling.

1858 said:

Thanks ... I had a Kimber finished with Hard Hat (salt nitride) by Dave Severns and I really like how it looks. It doesn't have the sheen of the Gen 3 coating but it's way more durable and I prefer the understated all business look.

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Looks better than I would have guessed. Recall how much it costs to ship it to Dave Severns? Recall return shipping?

I had a buddy with an FFL mail it to Dave via USPS. I think Dave sent it back via UPS for $35 or so ... it's been a while.

1858 said:

I had a buddy with an FFL mail it to Dave via USPS. I think Dave sent it back via UPS for $35 or so ... it's been a while.

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I think shipping to the 'smith is typically around $75 via UPS or FedEx. That would be over $100 for shipping. Ouch.

I think with Springfield it's $30, round trip.

DRYHUMOR said:

and go to something like this.

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Excellent. Adjustable sights that aren't too tall. Beveled on the sides to avoid snagging. What brand?

Which coating?

I hope I'm still my uncle's favorite nephew, then I'll settle for this...



(Excuse the hair on my pants... his dog had just jumped in my lap.)

But to answer the OP's question, my preference would be Turnbull.

Excellent. Adjustable sights that aren't too tall. Beveled on the sides to avoid snagging. What brand?

Which coating?

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This is the end results of a full rebuild on the pictured (above) Springfield Mil Spec 9mm. This is the first full rebuild that Joe Chambers of Chambers Custom did in his shop after going it on his own after apprenticing with Bob Marvel.

The coating is blue over a very high polished steel.... I can't recall the rear sight make off hand. The front is a gold bead blended nicely into the slide. Kart barrel. Ten shots less than 1 inch at 50 yards in a Ransom rest.

@Dryhumor: Thanks for sharing.

You could get 3 different Sig 1911's for 3 grand!

be safe

Don't overlook the Dan Wesson Valor. The 1911 forum has an in depth part by part appraisal and ransom rest results comparing the top brands.

Wilson Supergrade?

The 1911 forum has an in depth part by part appraisal and ransom rest results comparing the top brands.

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Do you have the link to this? I was looking on their and could not find it but it sounds very interesting.