Dan Wesson/Kimber/S&W 1911 can't decide

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bikemutt

bikemutt

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I'm looking at these handguns below, all chambered in .45 ACP, all around the same price, all around 29 oz dry, all with a suitable form factor for conceal carry, all 4" barrels.

Dan Wesson Guardian
Kimber Super Carry Pro
Smith and Wesson E-Series

Of the three I've been able handle the DW and the Kimber, both feel real good. The Smith is new enough I don't see any at the local LGS' so far. I'm including the Smith purely because it looks like it will work for me on paper, and I do trust S&W to either get it right or make it right.

What I'm hoping for are comments that will help me rule out one or more of them. Thanks.
 
from reports here.. I think the order you have them in is correct.
The Dan Wesson looks to be a nice way to go.
 
From the perspective of individual parts quality as well as build quality, the Dan Wesson is easily the better pistol of the three in my opinion. A CCW encounter isn't a good time to call up customer service and request an RMA ;).
 
No question that the Dan Wesson is the better gun in those options.
 
Dan Wesson has started using some high quality parts in their guns over the last couple years and I would regard them as a solid product. They are very tight out of the box so if it was me, I would run at least 500 rounds through it before carrying it.

I have a friend who bought the 4.25" E-series and it has been an excellent gun. S&W got rid of the firing pin safety (a plus in my book) and improved the extractor on the E-series. There had been some issues on the early models with the pin that holds the extractor, it will begin to drift down and contact the frame, which is something you may want to watch for.

The biggest issue I have with Kimber is that you never know what you are getting which makes it a no go in my book.
 
I can vouch for the Dan Wesson being quality and the 1200 version of the e-series not feeling worth 1200. If you can find and want to buy an all steel full size E-series for around 800, it is a nice gun. I just think the scandium carry versions are way overpriced.
 
rbernie said:
Do you have a preference or adversion to firing pin safeties?
Click to expand...
I'm new to the 1911 gig so, from what I understand, the main purpose of the firing pins safety is it allows for de-cocked carry on a live chamber without the risk of a hammer drop discharge. But I also understand it may not prevent an unintended discharge while de-cocking the gun. If this is correct then I'm not inclined to find much use for a safety that requires me to perform an unsafe action in order to benefit from it.

Most of my knowledge of the 1911 platform has been from various gunshop countermen, and to tell you the truth most of these guys talks so fast I wonder if I've learned all that much.
 
A firing pin safety will securely block the firing pin from hitting the primer unless either the trigger has been pulled (Series 80 design) or the grip safety depressed (Swartz design). This provides utility beyond just de-cocking, i.e. if the hammer were to fall for any unintended reason or the gun were dropped from a great height (causing the firing pin to move forward on impact from inertia). It is also not a feature initially put on the pistol by JMB, and therefore many folk consider it somewhat inappropriate in nature.

I have 1911's both without and with a FPS. I do not mind owning and shooting range guns that do not have a FPS but I will only carry a 1911 that has a FPS.

Of your list of candidate 1911's, only one (the Kimber) has a FPS.
 
You've already picked MVP candidates of an All Star 1911 lineup. Between these three, I would rank 'em; Dan Wesson, S&W, and then Kimber. But those rankings are PURELY subjective (not objective) personal preferences. That means there's no reason to argue with me or ask me to explain, because...I can't.
 
It is "Fait accompli" as they say, wherever French is spoken.

I ordered the Dan Wesson this afternoon.

Thanks!
 
I have a CCO and CBob, if you like yours as well as I like mine you'll be very happy. I like the bobtailed frames so much that I did it to my Colt Commander.
 
In 2004 I purchased a new S&W 1911 Target model. In 2007 I purchased a new Dan Wesson PM-7. Both purchases were based on internet research. Neither pistol would shoot a full magazine of any brand or style of 45 acp, both were plagued with feeding and extraction issues.
The S&W was off loaded without delay. The DW went to the gunsmith three times and the factory twice. I finally could not afford to continue to try and fix it and sold it.
I have never owned or fired a Kimber pistol.
I carried a SA loaded 45 for three years until it jammed once on the second round. There were no worn parts or other visible problems. It was sold the next day. (I guess in my older age, I have far less patience for trying to fix broken things)
I now carry and shoot a blued Colt series 70. It has never hicupped. It works well clean or dirty.
I will say this, the 70 series is much easier to reassemble than one with a FPS.
 
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I agree with respect to fit and finish of the DW over the Kimber. I handled and inspected them both at the same time and there was no question in my mind the DW was "more" gun than the Kimber, especially considering the price difference of $85 before tax.

No way to shoot either before buying so who knows about that, I imagine they are both pretty good shooters.
 
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