If someone want just one 1911, what would you recommend?

[powder]

Les Baer TRS.

A training buddy has a collection of high end 1911s, more than 20 pistols. Once he got his TRS, that's all she wrote.

 

[ID-shooting]

Why spend so much? Ruger SR1911 fits your entire list at ~$700. Spend $300 on holster, mags and $1k on ammo.

 

[Brin]

A hi capacity Caspian 1911 in 38 super.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Why spend so much? Ruger SR1911 fits your entire list at ~$700. Spend $300 on holster, mags and $1k on ammo.

Because the OP is interested in collectible value.

 

[orionengnr]

If someone want just one 1911, what would you recommend?

Buy one. Soon you will want another.

Seriously:
In your price range, I'd be looking at Baer, Brown, Wilson.
Also, Guncrafter Industries makes a nice semi-custom 1911. You can have a hard chrome .50GI 1911 with a .45acp conversion for $3500 or so. That is a unique and fun combination.

 

[JTQ]

I overlooked STI International. I believe they do a lot of sales in Europe.

The Sentinel Premier may be an option. They also have a variety of other options you may want to consider.

http://www.stiguns.com/the-sti-sentinel-premier/

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Dear THR:
If someone asked you for advice on buying the only 1911 what would you recommend? The following is the general criteria:
- Preferably in SS finish
- .45 ONLY
- Collectible value and a looker as well
- Full size. No carry models please
- Very accurate
- Very reliable. Does not need to pass any silly torture tests!
- Must be under $5k but over 2k
- Combat sites
- Not too keen on rail and threads but not against it as well
- Please no Kimbers, DWs, Springfields.


What do you suggest?

Sheesh! With a $2,000 to $5,000 budget, just get what you want and be done with it! With that kind of budget, does it really matter who you're buying from?

 

[TennJed]

Because the OP is interested in collectible value.

Let me start off by saying I do not know much about high end 1911s, but would any of these custom shop guns really become "collectable"? The may hold their value, but when I think of collectable I think of historic or hard to find. It sounds like if you have the money anyone can get one of these guns, that just makes it expensive, not collectable ?

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I also don't think high priced necessarily equals collectible, that is why I recommended a Gold Cup over a custom build.

 

[easyg]

Let me start off by saying I do not know much about high end 1911s, but would any of these custom shop guns really become "collectable"? The may hold their value, but when I think of collectable I think of historic or hard to find.

I also don't think high priced necessarily equals collectible, that is why I recommended a Gold Cup over a custom build.

I agree.

Buying an expensive 1911, with no history behind it and no story to tell, is just buying an expensive 1911.
It might be an exceptionally well made 1911, but that does not make it a "collectible".
Heck, anyone with a wad of money can buy an exceptionally well made 1911.

 

[csa77]

for that much money id buy a mint norinco(said to have the best steel of almost any 1911) and send it out to a true 1911 gunsmith and have 4,000$ worth of work done to it.

 

[el Godfather]

Ok if we narrow it down:

Wilson--- which one?
les Bear --- which one?
Nighthawk -- which one?
Colt Gold Cup
Colt C C Special

 

[clance]

Dear THR:
If someone asked you for advice on buying the only 1911 what would you recommend? The following is the general criteria:
- Preferably in SS finish
- .45 ONLY
- Collectible value and a looker as well
- Full size. No carry models please
- Very accurate
- Very reliable. Does not need to pass any silly torture tests!
- Must be under $5k but over 2k
- Combat sites
- Not too keen on rail and threads but not against it as well
- Please no Kimbers, DWs, Springfields.


What do you suggest?

I second any of the Ed Brown if you're looking for a quality piece that matches all of your criteria's in the price range you quoted.

 

[MCMXI]

I have three Ed Brown Special Forces pistols and other than the rather soft Gen 3 coating I really can't find any fault with them. Eventually I'll send all three off to Dave Severns for his "Hard Hat" treatment. Anyway, I ordered this Ed Brown Special Forces Light Rail with a few extras. Price tag was about $2,650. I have a couple of Dan Wesson Valors and the EBs are better ... no doubt about it. So I'll echo others here and suggest an Ed Brown but you couldn't go wrong with a Wilson Combat, Nighthawk Custom, Les Baer etc.



I have three EBs, two DWs and two Kimbers but if I had to pick just one to keep it'd be the EB Special Forces shown below. I'd swap the current rear sight for the 10-8 rear sight that I ordered with the Light Rail model.

 

[tarosean]

You need to hold all the ones that peek your interest. They all have subtle differences that separate them..

Want pretty? Brown
Want all options? Nighthawk
Want a workhorse? Baer
Want a fighting gun? Wilson
Want unique? Guncrafter Industries or Christiansen

 

[el Godfather]

^ want unique and all options.

 

[TimboKhan]

Ed Brown would be my choice off the shelf, and one day I will own a Dan Wesson Valor. They are a nice pistol.

However, I think what I would do would be to spend the money and go to a class and build my own. Vickers does a class, Cylinder and Slide does a class, and I know a few others that do them. To me, that would be an apex gun and the ultimate collectable.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Colt Combat Commander

I have a relatively new Colt Combat Commander, Made in 2012.

Now I've had 1911s since 1973 (Colt Commander aluminum frame for $125 back then.)

Some, mainly Series 70s, were jam-a-matics unless a smith fixed 'em.

But I can say this Commander is outstanding.

Excellent functioning, Very good accuracy. Works with any mag I've got (Colts, Wilsons, McCormick, etc...) All types of ammo.

The feed ramp seems to have an extra recess in the middle of the barrel ramp. They must have added that recently to their design.

So I have to say the newer Colts, while only around $900, would qualify as the name Colt defiantly is a collectors item name!

And no, this one I'll shoot along with my 629-1 4 inch .44. They make a right dandy pair!

Deaf

 

[Armor Snail]

No rail = DW Valor
Rail = DW Specialist

That's a good start. Then get a better barrel.
Maybe some engraving if it's your thing.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[smalls]

Armor Snail

No rail = DW Valor
Rail = DW Specialist

That's a good start. Then get a better barrel.
Maybe some engraving if it's your thing.

OP stated money DW's.

And why would you put in a new barrel?

 

[Armor Snail]

Oops missed that. Saw Number and Springfield.

The barrels could be better. A well fitted Kart or Bar Sto would do the trick. DW is the best semi custom IMO but there is still room for improvement.

I change my vote to a custom Infinity or Fusion.
I like guns different but classy.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[savanahsdad]

at that price range I'd go with two S&W's one for home and one for the range

 

[VetPsychWars]

^ want unique and all options.

You want unique? Shoot a stock gun. Seems like everyone customizes the heck out of theirs. Mind you, I customized mine too... put an arched mainspring housing on it and Packmayr grips.

Most of the toys are utterly unnecessary. People do it for fun, I think.

Tom

 

[Robbins290]

Sig 1911. Stainless with the rail. Shot one. And i want one. Very crisp and clean trigger. And keeps very tight patterns. I just happen to keep this pic in my phone so i can look at it. Its the same 1911 i shot for sale at cabelas.

 

[tommy.duncan]

You should be able to order 1911 parts from brownells.com. I have ordered and upgraded many pistols with their parts. They sell Wilson, Brown and other parts. They might ship it to you outside the US. You should look into this route prior to dropping 3k on a 1911. The newer Colt Gold Cups have a lower price (1,200 to 1,500) and they are nice and accurate. just my opinion