My wife and I shot handguns for the first time a week ago and we both really liked it. We decided that we should both get seperate handguns that fit each other and not try to share just one. I fired a friends .22 revolver, 9mm Hipoint and a Glock .40. After this I have been holding handguns and have found that I really like the 1911 and feel that the 9mm is the choice of calibur. I want to purchase a USA manufactured 1911, that is of extreme importance to me! I am asking for input on Smith & Wesson and Fusion Firearms. I want ot keep the cost below $1600. This will be used for the range and not for canceal and carry. Sorry for the "long winded" start of this thread. I am firm on the USA manufactured handgun. Thank you.
9mm 1911 First Purchase S&W or Fusion
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Rail Driver
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I'd go with a Fusion personally, just because I really dig their style. I don't care for the S&W guns unless they're revolvers.
Mr.Revolverguy
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I don't think you could wrong with either company. Both has strong support and back their products along with making exceptional products. I think it builds down to features you are looking for, like internal extractor vs external etc etc. Personally I love and went with S&W in 45ACP review here
http://www.dayattherange.com/?p=1546
But wow is this a hard choice
and I do have admiration for you in your strong since of American Pride.
Someone need to tell the politicians Americans aren't lazy and we can still manufacture with the best of them in any market. Bring our troops and Jobs back home.
http://www.dayattherange.com/?p=1546
But wow is this a hard choice
and I do have admiration for you in your strong since of American Pride. Someone need to tell the politicians Americans aren't lazy and we can still manufacture with the best of them in any market. Bring our troops and Jobs back home.
rklessdriver
Member
I want to point out that the 2 you are considering are a slightly different class of gun.
The S&W is a production built gun and the Fusion is a Semi-Custom or boutique brand.
The Fusion will have slightly better fit, finish and internal parts.
That said both are solid products. You really can't go wrong with either. My advice is to handle them both and buy the one that you like the best.
I also applaud your intention to buy American.
Will
The S&W is a production built gun and the Fusion is a Semi-Custom or boutique brand.
The Fusion will have slightly better fit, finish and internal parts.
That said both are solid products. You really can't go wrong with either. My advice is to handle them both and buy the one that you like the best.
I also applaud your intention to buy American.
Will
I have a S&W 1911 9mm Pro Series, great gun, accurate, 100% reliable out of the box.
I used to have a Fusion 9mm CCO, also a great gun but it took some work and a trip back to Fusion before it was reliable. When I sent it back I told the owner of the company that all I wanted was for it to work as well as my S&W.
Buy the Smith, you won't be disappointed.
I used to have a Fusion 9mm CCO, also a great gun but it took some work and a trip back to Fusion before it was reliable. When I sent it back I told the owner of the company that all I wanted was for it to work as well as my S&W.
Buy the Smith, you won't be disappointed.
Loosedhorse
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Only two S&W 1911s are in 9mm; the only difference is the "Pro Series" has an adjustable rear sight. Both are all-steel and have 5-inch barrels, which are odd choices for 9mm IMHO.
Rent one? Maybe at the S&W factory!
(I own two SW1911s; not a moment's trouble with either one. If the 9mm came in an alloy frame/4.25 inch, I'd own three.)
Rent one? Maybe at the S&W factory!
(I own two SW1911s; not a moment's trouble with either one. If the 9mm came in an alloy frame/4.25 inch, I'd own three.)
rellascout
member
Neither... not a fan of Fusion. His shot has been hit or miss.
S&W are good but I do not like the external extractor.
If I were in the market for a 9mm 1911 I would get the Dan Wesson Pointman 9mm.
S&W are good but I do not like the external extractor.
If I were in the market for a 9mm 1911 I would get the Dan Wesson Pointman 9mm.
JTQ
Member
I think that is probably your answer right there. You are going to have a hard time finding a Fusion. As mentioned earlier, Fusion is somewhat of a boutique shop.
S&W has been around for a long time, and will most likely continue to be around. They have an excellent customer service reputation, and dealer and service network. If something does go wrong, you should be able to get it taken care of fairly easily.
rellascout
member
Made in NY. You can get one for under $1300.
Olympus
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S&W: Production gun with thousands of identical models being made.
Fusion: Semi-Custom gun where the customer can alter the design in any way they can imagine. Provides the opportunity for a truly "one of a kind" gun.
That's going to be the biggest difference between the two probably. With S&W, you get what comes on the gun, whether you like it or not. With Fusion, you can make as many modifications as your heart desires.
Fusion: Semi-Custom gun where the customer can alter the design in any way they can imagine. Provides the opportunity for a truly "one of a kind" gun.
That's going to be the biggest difference between the two probably. With S&W, you get what comes on the gun, whether you like it or not. With Fusion, you can make as many modifications as your heart desires.
bluetopper
Member
Finding a Dan Wesson PM9 9mm will be the biggest obstacle in getting one.
They just make a short run of them each year and most of them are spoken for before they're even manufactured.
They just make a short run of them each year and most of them are spoken for before they're even manufactured.
robctwo
Member
My S&W 1911PD Commander with the scandium frame in .45 cap has been rock solid out of the box.Very nice trigger.
Then there is the Les Baer 9mm.............
Then there is the Les Baer 9mm.............
SuperBoomTurbo
Member
For further perusal, STI is located here in Texas and make a damn fine weapon. They have everything available from 9mm, 38 super, .45, and 10mm if you ask real nice.
For my personal experience, whatever that may be worth, I considered Fusion and came this >-< close to buying a full custom 10mm build, but then I happened across some information considering the quality and reliability of their weapons. For 1600, which is what my budget was also, you can get a fine 1911 about anywhere from the custom shops (Wilson Combat, maybe nighthawk, Kimber if you want to call that custom, etc).
Personally, I'm itching to get an STI but my eyes are looking a lot higher than my wallet. Perfect 10 baby...
http://www.stiguns.com/guns/Perfect10/Perfect10.php
For my personal experience, whatever that may be worth, I considered Fusion and came this >-< close to buying a full custom 10mm build, but then I happened across some information considering the quality and reliability of their weapons. For 1600, which is what my budget was also, you can get a fine 1911 about anywhere from the custom shops (Wilson Combat, maybe nighthawk, Kimber if you want to call that custom, etc).
Personally, I'm itching to get an STI but my eyes are looking a lot higher than my wallet. Perfect 10 baby...
http://www.stiguns.com/guns/Perfect10/Perfect10.php
I really appreciate all the input! I have looked at all the web sites for the mentioned hand guns. On the STI sight they show "double stacked" and "single stacked" hand guns. What's difference and how would either make a difference in shooting?
bluetopper
Member
Double stacked means the ammo is stacked diagonally or staggered in the magazine which makes the mag and the grip on the gun noticeably wider, but you have much more ammo. Single stacked is one cartridge directly on top of one another.
ichiban
Member
I'm a big S&W fan and think that you would very happy with one. But, I think the Dan Wesson is a superior gun and would highly recommend one if it is within your budget. I have a DW Guardian (bobtail commander length) in 9mm and find it to be every bit as accurate as any 5" 1911 I've shot.
http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/dan-wesson-guardian/
http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/dan-wesson-guardian/
I looked deeper into STI and it appears that they "assemble" thier 1911's in the USA. But some of thier parts come from overseas. In my opinion that does not consititute "Made in The USA". Are there any true USA based hand gun producers that have 100% of all the parts produced here in the USA and assembled in the USA?? I am trying to figure out if Dan Wesson still does. If STI does then I have a high interest in them. I am willing to spend more for this. As well as a second hand gun for my wife. Thank you for your help.
aliveisalive
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Springfield, made in brazil but profits still go to a US company. Only problems with mine have been mags... just spring for the more exspensives Tripp's off the bat. They have solved ALL my problems. I have about 1300 in my loaded, thats bought nib and then ed brown MSH/mag well, 10-8 trigger, hienie straight 8 night sights. This along with a reliability job, sight in, and trigger job from an excellent local 1911 smith... I think for 1300 I have a damn sweet shooting 9mm
JTQ
Member
The STI Spartan and the GP6 are the only imports in the STI line-up (not counting revolvers, which I don't know much about). The rest of the STI line-up is made in the US of US made (probably made by STI themselves) parts. Buy with confidence that they are made in the US, with the exception of the Spartan and the GP6.
The STI Trojan would be an excellent choice. STI has a little more experience making 1911's in caliber's other than .45ACP, than the competition.
Brazos Custom
http://www.brazoscustom.com/Home.htm
and
Dawson Precision
http://www.dawsonprecision.com/
are two of the big STI distributors.
I'd avoid the double stack pistols, unless you are planning to compete. The are a different animal, and you'll have a hard time finding magazines and they will be pricey.
SuperBoomTurbo
Member
What JTQ said. Everything else is machined in-house on CNC machines, or molded in the event of the double stack polymer frames. Hard to get any more US-made then that.
If you really like them, the double stack mags are a little more expensive, and yes, it stinks that you can really only use their mags as its a custom gun frame, but their service is very good and super friendly to deal with if you ever need parts. Everything in their catalog, aside from maybe two pistols, has been made for at least the last 6 years steadily. That's as far as I'd vouch, as I became more familiar with them six years ago
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