Caution... controversial topic... who is making the best production 1911 these days?

[Balrog]

I realize this is subjective and a controversial subject and may boil down to nothing but personal preference. Which manufacturer is making the best production 1911 now?

I do not want to include custom pistols from premium makers like Wilson, Les Baer, Nighthawk, etc.

And I would further clarify by saying I am looking for who you thinks make the best product in terms of fit, finish, function, reliability, and accuracy. I am not asking for who makes the best for the money, just who makes the best production 1911.

 

[Ankeny]

Across the board in all price ranges, I would go with Colt. As far as custom shop guns (still a production gun) Springfield, Colt, and Smith are all making some pretty spectacular guns.

 

[SDGlock23]

Dan Wesson

 

[2wheels]

Of those choices, Colt. Then probably Springfield.

 

[Old Shooter]

From this selection I would have to go with Colt.

 

[tarosean]

Manufacturer as a whole. Colt
Specific mass produced gun. Springer TRP.

 

[bannockburn]

My vote is kind of biased as I have bought four new Colts over the last couple of years and all have been outstanding in terms of overall fit and finish and function. I believe current production is probably among the best quality-wise that Colt has made in quite a number of years.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

The one Colt I've had recently was a real lemon, but I won't hold that against them.

What I WILL hold against them is their apparent inability to reduce the edges on their 1911s to something less than razor blade sharpness.

 

[CDW4ME]

2nd reply nailed it.
Dan Wesson

 

[buck460XVR]

Out those listed....it has to be Colt. Those are all "middle of the road" 1911 manufacturers and thus the choice is easy. Start with entry level 1991s and which is the better bang for the buck and include upper end pistols where money is no object and the choice get almost impossible.

 

[Oceanbob]

For the money..........Ruger.

 

[Girodin]

The best maker of production 1911s is IMHO Dan Wesson. I'm not sure if they were intentionally left off your list. Behind them it is a toss up of colt and Springfield. I think the particular models being compared could make it go one way or the other. From what I have seen o sig 1911s they are accurate and have good fit and finish, I think the external extractor desing they use is holding them back. The tac ops guns ive seen compare well to the TRP in terms of fit and finish and accuracy. I've not seen enough of the S&W 1911s to have really formed a fair opinion. Hilton Yam had some good articles on his old 10-8 blog regarding them.

 

[Girodin]

am not asking for who makes the best for the money, just who makes the best production 1911

For the money..........Ruger.

Classic. And Btw I don't know that they do. I was goin to write more as to why but I don't want to derail the OPs thread since he expressly stated that is not the discussion he wants.

 

[mnhntr]

IMO the TRP from SA is the best production 1911 today

 

[Tirod]

Oh, my, the SIG P938, of course.

Goes to, what are you going to use it for, what caliber do you need, and what are you going to shoot at?

Brand name choices aren't specific enough, the various models can be better one than another in the intended application.

Is this a range gun for show? A CCW pistol for suit carry? Define 1911 by barrel length and caliber.

What range, what target? Otherwise it's a popularity contest among the fanboys who are rooting to impress everyone else with what they bought.

There is no "best." There is what is better doing a specific task.

 

[Girodin]

Is there s best? its debatable. Is there better? definately. I would suggest comparing manufactures as a whole across their product line you can determine that some really are making guns better than others. If you don't think Dan wessons are better made than Kimbers as a whole then I'd have to ask how many of each you examined. I don't think the op is lookin for just a features comparison but a discussion of build quality. And let's be honest 1911s are all about how they are put together.

 

[JTQ]

Classic forum responses.

You've been given an opportunity to choose between

Colt
Kimber
S&W
Springfield Armory
SIG Sauer

and yet people still say Dan Wesson, Ruger, and I'm sure there will be other's named not listed in the OP's group.

In the words of ESPN's Chris Carter, "Come on man!"

 

[HDCamel]

Colt and Springfield are the only ones listed that didn't screw with the basic design. As such, they are the best.

 

[Saleen322]

I realize this is subjective and a controversial subject and may boil down to nothing but personal preference. Which manufacturer is making the best production 1911 now?

I do not want to include custom pistols from premium makers like Wilson, Les Baer, Nighthawk, etc.

And I would further clarify by saying I am looking for who you thinks make the best product in terms of fit, finish, function, reliability, and accuracy. I am not asking for who makes the best for the money, just who makes the best production 1911.

The best answer to that question IMO is Dan Wesson

 

[Thompsoncustom]

Indeed Dan Wesson

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Of those choices, Colt. Then probably Springfield.

I agree.

 

[Rusty Luck]

Colt, then Springfield. Like previous stated.

 

[2zulu1]

The sheriff's office issue Colts and on one of the 1911 websites I am a member of, the consensus is that Colt is currently at the top of their game as a production 1911.

What I like about Colts are they shoot out of the box and have been very reliable for carry.

 

[Sol]

I own a sig 1911 and have no experience with the other brands.....so I voted Colt.

My reasoning: It was colts original patent and design. Anything that deviates from the original blueprint is not a 1911 technically. They are 1911 patterned guns. Really it's like comparing one of the many hi-power clones to a real hi-power.


I'm sure many if these companies tweaked a few things in their 1911 guns, in fact some may have actually improved the design and function but in the long run there is only one...

I guess if all the companies followed the same blueprint you would have all the same gun but with a different brand stamped on the slide (AR-15 lowers *cough*).

 

[19-3Ben]

so I voted Colt.

My reasoning: It was colts original patent and design. Anything that deviates from the original blueprint is not a 1911 technically. They are 1911 patterned guns. Really it's like comparing one of the many hi-power clones to a real hi-power.

The original JMB designed 1911 did not have the Series 80 changes, and many other modern touches (Novak style sight cuts, beavertail, etc…) that Colt uses. By your logic many Colt 1911s are not 1911s.