Buying a high end 1911, which would you pick?

Status
Not open for further replies.
G

gunjunky

Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2005
Messages
92
Location
Washington
Ok I retire next year after 25 years of active duty and I have decided that I will pick up a nice 1911 as a gift to me:)

I would like input from all, but I am particularly interested in feedback from the guys out there lucky enough to own multiple high end 1911's. If you have say a Baer and Brown and could only have one (like me) which would it be and why.
I am looking for a very nice, but basic gun. Needs; ambi-safey as I am a lefty, don't want forward serrations, don't need night sights but would be ok, no rails.

Also if you have a recommended source please let me know.

The guns I am interested in, feel free to add:
1. Ed Brown, Special Forces (with out the slide marking).
2. Ed Brown, Kobra
3. Les Baer, Custom Carry (no front serrations)
4. Rock River Arm, Basic Carry (can I get this with no forward serrations?)
 
Ed Brown.
Ed Brown.
Ed Brown.
And, BTW, I think there's a local gunshop (Tacoma/Kitsap Co. area) that's been negotiating to be an Ed Brown distributor ...
 
Have you looked at Nighthawk??

You can get them anyway you want. Bobtail, no FSC, no markings, anything you want. True customs.
 
First off, congratulations on retirement, gunjunky! You, sir, have earned it and I want to say thank you for your service and commitment to your country.

I'm not exactly where you are, but the stores I refer to are all in the South Sound. I finally saw the Nighthawk T3 up close at the Marksman in Puyallup. All I can say is WOW. Impressive piece of steel. They really are amazing to the eye and hand. I've yet to shoot a Nighthawk, but I can imagine they're everything they appear to be, and then some.

If you've not seen an Ed Brown and want to check one out, Cabela's in Lacey carries both the Kobra and the Special Forces (assuming they are not sold out). They also sell a Wilson Combat in the case, too, but I didn't pay attention to what model it was. I was there a week and a half ago and they had a Baer in the gun library that's very sweet, but I don't know if it'd still be around.

Just some help if you want to go out and actually look at these high end production pistols up close. You really cannot appreciate them until you've seen and held them.

Let us know what you choose!
 
Just a suggestion;

Caspian Arms matched slide and frame set and have someone build you one from the ground up with your preferences. Avery rewarding experience; one of a kind gun for not that much more than a Les Baer (which I think is sweet by the way)!
Cheers, TF
 
Ok, it may not be in the same category, but the new Dan Wesson Valor looks like a winner to me. And no forward slide serrations.
 
Thanks keep em coming

Tom Fury - The Caspian build is a great idea. But, I have done that, it is a self built gun in .38 Super/9mm on a Ti frame. Great pistol.

357 JDJ - I will check into the Nighthawk line.

riceboy - Sounds like you get around the sound. I will take the drive down to Cabela's and I will stop by The Marksman as well (they are a great shop and offer military pricing on some guns). Thanks for bird-doggin all the hot spots.

NWdude - had not considered SVI. What is your opinion of the STI line?

Texas - I like the DW line but have some 1911's and looking to get up to the next level - see if it is worth the extra $$$.

Old Dog - I am leaning heavy twords the Brown. Found one just like I want from a Gent in Alabama. Had always wanted a Baer though, I guess because of all the press they get. So I thought I would ask some folks that paid for the guns out of pocket and were not getting paid to write about them. Do you have any of the Brown pistols?

Thanks all!
 
Les Baer is a lot of gun for the money.

Ed Browns are very, very nice.

RRA's look real nice, don't know about em.
 
The Browns are very nice but the SA PRO is great.

attachment.php

My KC and two SF's

attachment.php

SA PRO

JAC
 

Attachments

  • 3 Browns 1.JPG
    3 Browns 1.JPG
    93 KB · Views: 523
Springfield Custom Carry. As good as Baers and Browns and comes with Springfield's lifetime warranty.
 
Not sure if this is the answer you're looking for, but I'd keep my eyes out for a pre-Series 70 National Match.
 
They are great guns from all that I've heard and read. SVIs are a little bit better and are custom built the way you want.

SVI Infinity pistols make exclusive use of Infinity Accuracy Enhanced pistol barrels, which are Titanium Nitride coated, and which make use of a variety of proprietary technology to make what is touted as the most accurate pistol barrel available. SVI also now uses slides with interchangeable breech faces, which makes caliber changes easier for customers wanting to shoot several different calibers in the same platform. SVI provides accuracy certificates with their pistols which feature the accuracy enhanced barrels that are less then 1.50" groups at fifty yards, which is remarkable accuracy for a pistol.
Click to expand...
- Wikipedia
 
The Springfield Professional is, IMHO, the equal to any custom gun out there.

Nighthawk sure does some nice stuff, too.

Congrats and thanks!
 
I have a Wilson Stainless Protector that is a GREAT shooter.
I would like to have an Ed Brown. Mostly just because he is from Missouri :D
So Wilson and Brown would be my top 2 of the semi-custom market.
 
I tend to lean toward Brown....well made, no from slide serrations, no FLGR, no bushing wrench required for takedown.

You can get some or all of the above with most of the other high ends, but I believe EB has all of the above as standard.
 
Low-round-count, WWII Colt.

JMHO, I wouldn't touch a newer model any-1911, and frankly wish I hadn't purchased even my current Colt 1911s. I wish I had purchased 1 or 2 older, low-round-count Colts from the WWII era. Way-back-when, the 1911s were made to to go bang, not punch single-hole groups at 50 meters.
 
You can custom order Baer's how you want them, to some extent. I know most models can come with or without the front serrations. Contact Pro Load distributers if you are interested. They may even have a few in stock.

I'd be amazed if Rock River wouldn't do the same thing to sell a $2K gun.

There really is a pretty good price range between what a lot of what people consider to be "high end", to me it seems to range from 2-4K. Knowing that you want to spend $2500 vs $4000 will narrow it for you quite a bit.

I don't think you could lose with anything you mentioned. If you want to get away with it for around 2K, I think baer may be your best bet. $2500 will open up a few Wilson's. I thought the EB's were a little more, but it looks like the model you mention is around 2k.

If it were me I'd start with a call to Pro Load to get a solid price on the LB model that has everything you want and then start comparing. You won't have quality problems with any of the manufacturer's you mentioned, and if you do they'll take care of it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

C
  • Locked
Best High End 1911 Shop?
Replies
20
Views
989
dcarch
D
Rival
  • Locked
Which Les Baer to get?
Replies
13
Views
2K
Rich357
R
G
  • Locked
If you are going to buy a 1911(under 2000)--which one is the most reliable?
2
Replies
37
Views
2K
Sean Smith
S
R
  • Locked
1911 - Want input/feedback - Next Purchase
2
Replies
33
Views
2K
Richstag
R
GunNut
  • Locked
New Customized Colt Combat Commander
Replies
3
Views
745
sm
S
Back
Top