If you were going to buy a higher end 1911, or a higher end shooter of any kind.............?

Which high end gun would you choose if you could buy one, and you would NEVER sell it.

  • Wilson Combat

    Votes: 20 11.7%

  • Les Baer

    Votes: 43 25.1%

  • Ed Brown

    Votes: 18 10.5%

  • STI

    Votes: 8 4.7%

  • Nighthawk Custom

    Votes: 13 7.6%

  • Coonan Arms

    Votes: 8 4.7%

  • Some other Autoloader (listed below)

    Votes: 24 14.0%

  • All of these guns are overpriced, so none of them.........

    Votes: 13 7.6%

  • We've done this type of thread too many times, so I don't care.

    Votes: 15 8.8%

  • A fancy CZ of some kind

    Votes: 26 15.2%

  • Tanfoglio fancy edition

    Votes: 4 2.3%

  • Go totally custom

    Votes: 13 7.6%

  • If the Laugo Arms Alien pistol ever materializes, get that thing!

    Votes: 1 0.6%

  • Sig Sauer X-Five or X-Sig of some flavor.

    Votes: 5 2.9%
  • Total voters
    171
  • Poll closed .
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someguy2800 said:
I have driven a 355 and riden in a 360. They are impressive in many aspects and unimpressive in many others.
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I guess my point is that too often people who have never shot, owned or build a custom gun think that it is all about showing off or ego. It’s not. Most people’s desire to have something truly custom does not come from such petty motives like you suggest.
 
Were I to spend serious money on a handgun to be just beautiful and wonderful, I'd probably just go order a Sig 210 and some Nill grips.

There are a few awesome customizers of them as well so the sky's the limit.
 
460Shooter said:
Now I found this and I really like the concept. Purpose built double stack 9mm pistol with 1911 style.

View attachment 795988 View attachment 795989
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That's the one I saw in person at a LGS. I keep going back and forth as to whether I should sell a few guns and buy it. The rational part of me knows it doesn't do anything my current guns do, but I was so impressed with everything about it that the emotional part of me wants to pick one up.
 
460Shooter said:
Well your last post really didn't articulate what you meant.


This just reads like they aren't the best looking because you said "pretty" and "rough for the money". That didn't articulate the issues they can have, and then you said "They are great hard use pistols." which seems a little contradictory compared to what you're saying now.

Sorry we cross communicated.
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The issue with the Les Baer is that sometimes they ware too tight. They can be so tight that they do not function. When they don't function right Les can be hard to work with. He will tell you to keep shooting the gun it will work itself out.

Mine shows excessive wear on the inside the dust cover of the frame similar to this. The guide rod and the spring tip down and the soft Baer frame shows wear. This is a result IMHO of the tight fit barrel. It is for the most part self limiting but it is an example of some of the Baer issues.

springscratches5_zps755978b8.jpg


When you get one that runs they are good guns. The blue is super thin but wears nicely. I love the gun and for the $1,4000 I paid for it years ago LNIB was well worth the price of admission. So I am saying they have fit and finish issues but are still hard working guns.


460Shooter said:
Now I found this and I really like the concept. Purpose built double stack 9mm pistol with 1911 style.

View attachment 795988 View attachment 795989
Click to expand...

They are excellent guns. They are very 1911 like but they are not 1911s. Lots of 1911 guys are buying them and then selling them LNIB because they don't "LOVE" them and if you are paying $2895 for a gun you should love it.

This guy likes them a lot. He let the students at the training shoot it during our lunch break. It gave me the wants...

7xZMmpD.jpg
 
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460Shooter said:
What do you all think about the Sig Sauer X-Fives and Sixes?
@Old Dog

Old Dog, you're a Sig aficionado. Thoughts? I only have one Sig. It's a great pistol.
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Just saw this. I like the P-220 and P-226 SAO concepts better. The X5/X6 might be better for competition, but they just don't do it for me ...
 
A Swiss SIG P210-6 with adjustable sights. Second choice would be a Guncrafter No Name 1911 Government model. I have them both, and they are my favorite autoloaders.
 
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I've had lots of 1911s from cheap ones to Baers and Browns to custom builds and all points in between. I like Baers but I consider Baer money ($2500+/-) to be the point of diminishing returns as far as "semi" customs are concerned. If I'm spending more than that I'll have a gun built. Nothing wrong with semi customs if your in a hurry or they make something that pushes all of your buttons, but I can get a gun built the way I want for the same money as buying one off the Wilson, NH, GI, etc. shelf and it's going to be a gun I'm more likely to keep, enjoy, and hand down to a family member. Or you can take a semi custom gun and have it tweaked to meet your wants and needs if it isn't exactly what you want. Whatever you choose, my opinion is that if your going purchase a gun to keep with the intention of using it and handing it down you should buy quality and make it special, a gun that is important to you will be important to whoever gets it after you.

These three 1911s are among the guns that I'll keep forever and eventually hand down to my sons. Each one is special to me for different reasons and each one is unique and set up the way I want. But even if you buy one good quality pistol, as long as you carry it, use it,share it, and make it special to you then, like I said, it'll be special forever to whoever gets it down the road, if for no other reason that it was "Dad's gun".

Joe Chambers did some work on this Baer Boss for me-
By_DAebKbUBIAxRxa1X4mq0DKvaAR29YsWAg4rZDCnFjluWZCbUCbGz1Igm6ow9sc--ec40bTeWCIijinD=w1194-h907-no.jpg


I ordered this new Hemi from the factory with a few changes to make it the way I wanted it-
6LHM-sMgkU1ZQOi3CwuPz-0nfd0WGeCbWsXrBVRboePWPtzF5fboVlGjkv1Btx6lWFAXbG_VNdS73ljLsy=w1280-h866-no.jpg


And David Clevinger just finished this custom Colt Wiley Clapp Commander for me this past week-
EsfDBgcx2bDNAoWYCIsH3v_xKd4biNJxchTeNiowaGsiUbeVJY0BtcpQL_umHPUg7wmrZXKnbJ8NZrL5Hc=w1280-h779-no.jpg
 
WC145 said:
I like Baers but I consider Baer money ($2500+/-) to be the point of diminishing returns as far as "semi" customs are concerned.
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Agreed!

And WC145, I've probably said this before, not only to you have great taste in your pistols, they're all beautiful (and I'm sure fully functional and reliable), but beyond that, your photos are always superb.
 
Old Dog said:
Agreed!

And WC145, I've probably said this before, not only to you have great taste in your pistols, they're all beautiful (and I'm sure fully functional and reliable), but beyond that, your photos are always superb.
Click to expand...
Thanks, Old Dog!
 
WC145 said:
I've had lots of 1911s from cheap ones to Baers and Browns to custom builds and all points in between. I like Baers but I consider Baer money ($2500+/-) to be the point of diminishing returns as far as "semi" customs are concerned. If I'm spending more than that I'll have a gun built. Nothing wrong with semi customs if your in a hurry or they make something that pushes all of your buttons, but I can get a gun built the way I want for the same money as buying one off the Wilson, NH, GI, etc. shelf and it's going to be a gun I'm more likely to keep, enjoy, and hand down to a family member. Or you can take a semi custom gun and have it tweaked to meet your wants and needs if it isn't exactly what you want. Whatever you choose, my opinion is that if your going purchase a gun to keep with the intention of using it and handing it down you should buy quality and make it special, a gun that is important to you will be important to whoever gets it after you.

These three 1911s are among the guns that I'll keep forever and eventually hand down to my sons. Each one is special to me for different reasons and each one is unique and set up the way I want. But even if you buy one good quality pistol, as long as you carry it, use it,share it, and make it special to you then, like I said, it'll be special forever to whoever gets it down the road, if for no other reason that it was "Dad's gun".

Joe Chambers did some work on this Baer Boss for me-
View attachment 796294


I ordered this new Hemi from the factory with a few changes to make it the way I wanted it-
View attachment 796295


And David Clevinger just finished this custom Colt Wiley Clapp Commander for me this past week-
View attachment 796296
Click to expand...
Beautiful guns man.
 
Have a Les Baer I bought very gently used for just over $1k. Well fitted, smooth operation, extremely accurate, 100% reliable over some thousands of rounds, good sights, good trigger, checkered front strap, ambi safety, beavertail grip safety, beveled mag well . . . what more do I need? I really don't see that spending more would get me a BETTER 1911, just a more EXPENSIVE one. I'm not one to spend a bunch of extra money just to have the name of a BNP (Big Name Pistolsmith) on the slide somewhere, and I'm really not into engraving or gold inlays.

Second choice would be a gently customized S&W E-series 1911Sc, a Commander size 1911 with a scandium frame. Good to go with a good trigger job. MAYBE a ramped barrel - I've read that extensive shooting with certain specific brands of JHP can put some wear on the aluminum frame in the feed ramp area.
 
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While I admire all of the high end guns, and the craftsmanship is worth every penny, I would not buy one. I have owned every manner of 1911 from hardball target guns, to GI carry guns. I have customized 1911s with good carry options, in search of that holy grail. I'm not looking for "wow" factor at the range, I'd rather spend the money hunting or on ammunition. I love them all, but for me they do not shoot any differently than plain ol' plain ol' .....:thumbdown:

My current 1911 and the one I am sticking with, is a Iver Johnson ceracoated Hawk. 4 1/4 inch barrel. Beavertail, commander hammer, Novak sights. It came that way for 600 bucks, and it shoots, as the old timers say, "Like shiite through a tin horn..." No worries about rust, great reliability, and I am not wearing the beautiful bluing off of a vintage Colt. :thumbup:
 
I’ve owned colts, a Les Baer, STI, and a CZ Valor. The only two I kept is a Colt that Jim Garthwaite worked on and the CZ Valor. They were all fine but I did have reliability problems with the Baer. I was apparently still breaking it in when I sold it at about 950 rounds. In its defense, it was super accurate but they are too tight for my taste. I think 1911s have diminishing returns the more you spend. A $2500 gun doesn’t really do anything that a $1000 gun doesn’t. That being said, if money were no object I would buy a two tone Wilson Protector.
 
WVsig said:
Do you own a Baer? It is not just the finish which is not pretty. There are aspects of the way that they are built that are not "pretty". In some ways they are too tight. They are not refined. Accurate yes but not always functional and reliable. Everyone builds a bad gun every now and then. Even a monkey falls out of a tree sometimes....

The issue is if you get a Baer that does not run you will experience a new level of "not pretty." Not all Baers are functional and reliable and when they aren't Les can be a pita to deal with getting it to run right.
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I beg to differ with the above statement. I own a Baer PII, Thunder Ranch and Monolith and can assure you that they are very reliable. I know because I've shot them for two DECADES.

Yes they are tight when new. Shoot them and they loosen up very well indeed and become nice and smooth. They still lock up tight at the front and rear of the barrel.
 
460Shooter said:
Now I found this and I really like the concept. Purpose built double stack 9mm pistol with 1911 style.

View attachment 795988 View attachment 795989
Click to expand...

I happened to run into a LGS last week, and they had one in stock. They knocked $300 off the price and I couldn't say no. I picked it up last night and will make it to the range tomorrow night. I figured I can always sell it, even used, for what I paid for it if it's not worth the money to me, although I don't think that's likely. I'll make that decision after I shoot it. I never thought I'd buy a $2500 gun and don't know that I'd pay that for a single stack 1911 as the difference between the ones I have and the higher end ones aren't important enough to me to pay the difference. I went with this one as there aren't that many options in double stack 9m 1911's that are geared for CC. Assuming I make it to the range tomorrow I'll post pictures and a range report in a separate thread then.
 
TomJ said:
I happened to run into a LGS last week, and they had one in stock. They knocked $300 off the price and I couldn't say no. I picked it up last night and will make it to the range tomorrow night. I figured I can always sell it, even used, for what I paid for it if it's not worth the money to me, although I don't think that's likely. I'll make that decision after I shoot it. I never thought I'd buy a $2500 gun and don't know that I'd pay that for a single stack 1911 as the difference between the ones I have and the higher end ones aren't important enough to me to pay the difference. I went with this one as there aren't that many options in double stack 9m 1911's that are geared for CC. Assuming I make it to the range tomorrow I'll post pictures and a range report in a separate thread then.
Click to expand...
Sweet! I really look forward to your impressions, because I've had a hard time getting this particular gun out of my head. I'd order one with the largest backstrap and longest trigger to accommodate my hands. I'd pay more though.
 
460Shooter said:
Sweet! I really look forward to your impressions, because I've had a hard time getting this particular gun out of my head. I'd order one with the largest backstrap and longest trigger to accommodate my hands. I'd pay more though.
Click to expand...

I made it out to my gun club and put 630 rounds through it. I used 50 rounds of HST 147 grain, another 50 HST 124 grain, 100 rounds of my reloads using RMR's 124 grain multi purpose rounds with the remainder being 115 grain RN ammo. I thought there might be some type of malfunction, expecting there to be a break in period but it was perfect, having no malfunction of any kind. IMO it lives up to the hype. It's everything I expected in regards to the trigger, fit and finish and the way it shoots. The grips are rough, but not too rough. They got them just right.

I had mentioned buying it because of the deal I got on it, knowing I could get my money back if I didn't think it was worth the money. It's definitely a keeper. I have a number of guns I shoot maybe once a year, and if my choices are selling off 4 of those to keep this one, I'm definately keeping this as it's exactly what I've been looking for in a carry gun. The only thing I'm going to change is the sights. It has a front fiber sight, which I'm replacing with their tritium sight. The rear sight is their black battle sight, and I need to talk to them tomorrow about other options. I'm hoping they have a tritium sight that fits as the all black sight that's on it doesn't work well with my middle age eyes. Let me know if you have any other questions.
 
I have some 4 digit priced 1911's and a 2011 from my IPSC days. I can't fathom a 4 digit priced 1911 for carry since I'm a po boy and can't bear the thought of one going through police impound. I can't see one for just a straight range toy either even though my race guns were range toys in a great sense but they were an ends to a means in terms of score. My guns were for the most part built by a guy who would be a parts changer in current terms. He was a gun nut but didn't shoot enough to understand what 500 rounds a day would do to your hands if not properly dehorned. His checkering was a bit too good. It would turn your hand into blisters but his precision fit was first class. He was a tool and die maker who got his journyman's card about the time I was born. He also built the first Plaxco compensator in the US. My other race gun was one of Plaxco's last builds. There is an old joke in the USPSA circles that asks the question of what's the difference in a Limited gun and an Open gun. The answer is $400-500.

I voted Les Baer since he represents the majority of what I own.
 
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