What's your favorite 1911?

Well, if I can only have 1 favorite it's currently this RIA in .45.

I've had 2 standard 1911's... first a Colt Government stainless, and then a Springfield stainless, neither of which just floated my boat, and both had problems.

Around 2003 I decided to replace the Springfield with something new, and set out to buy a 3" compact 1911. I drug my brother with me, and went to the LGS. My brother was yacking away about how unreliable a 3" .45 can be, so I thought I might just cover both bases... and get a 4" with a standard grip. Lo and behold, in the case was a Kimber Pro Eclipse II. It had everything I wanted on a pistol, and nothing I didn't... and even with a $1100 price tag on it, I went ahead and bought it... again, my brother, being the Voice of Reason, telling me spending the money on a pistol that had all the modifications I was liable to make was better money than buying a base model and trying to mod it... and he was right. Right out of the box this thing makes you feel like a hero. It promptly became my favorite pistol.

About 10 years ago, I got a line on a Kimber Pro Carry... essentially an alloy-framed, budget version of my Eclipse, nearly new... and I got it, too. Now when I shoot a standard 5" 1911, it feels like a boat oar swinging around out there, the difference in pistols is so marked. Although I will eventually pick up another 5" 1911... a Kimber TLE or Warrior is on the short list... the 4" 1911 remains my favorite.



Yes, there is a lot of Kimber Hate out there... I always acknowledge that some of it is deserved... but Kimber builds some good pistols, too. I happen to have 2 of them.

My four:
1. AMT Hardballer-used it to compete in IPSC, always came through for me.
2. Colt Mark IV, have one slide with high fixed sights, another is factory.
3. Colt Combat Commander Satin Finish with MMC sights.
4. M1911A1 Ithaca converted into Bullseye gun-I bought it that way. Very accurate.

Charlie98 said:

About 10 years ago, I got a line on a Kimber Pro Carry... essentially an alloy-framed, budget version of my Eclipse, nearly new...

View attachment 1041010

Yes, there is a lot of Kimber Hate out there... I always acknowledge that some of it is deserved... but Kimber builds some good pistols, too. I happen to have 2 of them.

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Nice pair of Kimber's.

No hate here, for either Kimber's or CMC PowerMags, just a heads up, but most will recommend against using PowerMags with aluminum framed guns. The followers have a tendency to tip out of the tube and ding the feed ramp of aluminum framed guns.

JTQ said:

Nice pair of Kimber's.

No hate here, for either Kimber's or CMC PowerMags, just a heads up, but most will recommend against using PowerMags with aluminum framed guns. The followers have a tendency to tip out of the tube and ding the feed ramp of aluminum framed guns.

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Thank you!

Yes, I've heard about the CMC's and the alloy frame. I need to tear the Pro Carry down to clean it, I'm going to have a look at the feed ramp when I have it apart.

I have been a 1911 lover an owned a dozen different brands, barrel lengths and calibers. My favorite is my EDC, a stainless Wilson Combat Professional in 45acp. I carry it daily in a Milt Sparks Versa Max 2 IWB holster.

My first duty gun. It was also my HS Graduation present. Lightly modded back in the IPSC days. Stag grips added later.



Once I had a little money. I had Wilson build this Master Grade 130 that I carried for close to 20 years. And, shot IPSC.

I added the magwell. Always worried about breaking the baseplate off the Wilson mags while fighting some idiot in a bar parking lot. (I’m also quite sure, every parking lot in every bar in my city was paved with broken beer bottles. )

I think I gave $350 for the gun. Brand new. Sent it to Wilson’s. $800 bucks later, it showed up. 1988 or so.

That's a tough question. I have eleven 1911s. Five of those are STI. So I guess as a brand, STI is my favorite. But picking one from that five....I just don't know.

My favorite is the one in my hand. I have a pretty Kimber SSII that friends have told me they would put away to keep it pretty but I refuse to own a firearm I don’t shoot.
My 1911 has it’s share of wear marks but I love it all the more for that.

My favorite modern 1911 is my Springfield Armory 38 Super comp pistol.

My favorite classic/vintage 1911 in the original Remington GI 1911 that belonged to my Dad. Its in very good condition and all original.

I need to learn how to post pictures!

Lov’n this thread. There sure are a lot of of great looking 1911’s here. I can see why they are your favorites!

This one, in .22lr and 380acp.

Atavar said:

friends have told me they would put away to keep it pretty but I refuse to own a firearm I don’t shoot.

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Not happening. A firearm can be gussied up and pretty all it wants, but it's true beauty lies in how it shoots... doing what it was meant to do.

Reinz said:

Lov’n this thread. There sure are a lot of of great looking 1911’s here. I can see why they are your favorites!

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Absolutely right on

This one.

For carry purposes this Sig 1911 RCS is the best I've ever had...and that spans 50+ years and more than a dozen 1911's from Colt, Ruger, Sig and a cpl WWll Remington-Rands.

The Sig, a compact sized 1911, came with all the carry options you really need and none of the games/mall ninja crap. Mine was standard with an alloy frame (checkered on mainspring housing and the forward grip), a truly match grade bbl. (sub 2" gps at 25 yds), Novak tritium sights, enough beavertail to correctly position the web, a bumped grip safey, match trigger that breaks at ~4 lbs., and a black parked ss slide...it's the cat's meow for carry. The frame BTW, has the Officer's Model grip length but still uses both standard and compact 7 round mags. It also sports at 4" bbl (about the lower limit in my opinion for positive day in day out functioning without resorting to trick springs).

The gun's light, throws a big fat .45 slug where I look and carries like a dream. I'd happily buy another if they were still made.

Best regards, Rod

View media item 3397My all time favorite 1911 is... All of them. But if I had to pick one its the very first one I shot with my dad when I was 6. The one on the left. I posted about it about a year ago. To recap it started life as a mil spec from Springfield Armory. My dad knew a gun Smith by the name of Omar Casey who mounted Bomar sights and did a trigger job on it. 34 years later its mine and will be passed on to my sons one day.

My favorite 1911 was carried by my uncle in WWI and by my father in WWII. It was made in 1918.

My favorite 1911?

The one in my holster at my hip. A full size Colt 1991A1.

Because that's what I have, mainly. It's ruggedly reliable and accurate, comfortable to carry and shoot, and didn't break the bank when I bought it 30 years ago.

No doubt, there are many which are more beautiful. But functionally, I couldn't ask for better.

My favorite is whichever one of my sixteen ACWs, Baers, Colts, Nighthawks, Springfields, STIs, and Wilsons (all in God's Caliber) I am carrying.

Newest, a Nighthawk Thunder Ranch Special

I believe I have 3.
A Colt Delta Elite 10mm that I bought around 10 years ago, shoots great.
A RIA in 10mm that is flawless.
A SS Remington .45 that I got for under $500 when they were having the crazy prices in 2019. Great shooter.

Colt

My favorite is just a plain Government Model. That’s what I started with in the Navy and what I have owned / carried the most.

Next it’s a toss up between my Delta Elite and the Wiley Clapp LW Commander.

I think sentimentally, it's my dad's old Llama.
I remember when he bought it. He had to save for a long time to get it and he loved it.
It's a good shooter, smooth and accurate.
I suppose it's not a "Real" 1911, but I love it.

My practical choice would be my Springfield A1