Is there an epidemic of gaudy high-end 1911s?

[RA40]

Nice group tarosean.

 

[MICHAEL T]

As far as 1911s and JHP ammo, the 1911 was not designed to reliably feed JHP ammo. Some do some don't, it's a roll of the dice.

That might been true at one time years back. But I think all the 1911 today will feed HP with out problem . My 1951 Commander in 9mm doesn't seem to have much problem with HP or my 1995 Officer . Guess I just know how to pick those used pistols

 

[WC145]

OP - It doesn't sound like you're looking for anything to "gaudy" or outlandish. The way I read your post you want a quality railed 1911 that is ready to run out of the box and there are plenty of those on the market today. Some of the model names not withstanding, Colt has a few different rail guns available including some from the custom shop, the Springfield TRP Operator is a solid choice, the Dan Wesson Specialist you're looking at is another quality gun. If you want to step up into essentially hand built guns without going full custom take a look at the Les Baer Ultimate Recon. I've got a number of custom 1911s and that's the route I would go. In my opinion and experience, Baers are, dollar for dollar, as good as you can get in terms of build and component quality in a factory gun.

 

[Ed Ames]

It seems like the real barrier to finding what you are looking for is the combination of dehorning for carry and having a rail. To me that makes sense...I actively avoid rails on concealed carry guns. I don't think I am alone in that. Barring that it seems like you can get everything you want off the shelf.

Have you considered getting a rail gun you like and having it dehorned?

When you see the custom 1911s out there in the $2000, $4000 price range, you have to wonder why, unless you consider them show to be pieces. They don't work any better!

If you want your mind really blown, think about watches. You can get a Casio that will last for years and tell decent time for under $20, but people regularly spend $2000 on a "decent" watch. Start shopping brands like Patek Phillipe and you won't find many offerings under $20,000 and $200,000 isn't that unusual. You can buy $950,000 watches online as off the shelf items and they tell time about as well as the $20 Casio.

In that light custom 1911s are remarkably inexpensive. I can get a darned nice 1911 for under $10,000.

 

[Zerodefect]

The Dw Specialist is GTG. Good choice. I prefer the black treated one though.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I basically concur with the OP...I don't care for many of the gaudy 1911's on the market today. They are like hairstyles....stylish and cool today and dated tomorrow.....much like the mullet.....I prefer a traditional 1911....A rail? No thanks.

 

[bluecollar]

DC, what a great post. Gave me a good chuckle. Yea, I know what you mean about all the craved accoutrements of the day. When the bling begins to overwhelm the sting, might be time to back away from the pipe But I can't say anything; I just bought a plastic 1911

 

[funnelcake]

If you need the rail, pretty tough to find a better value than the Colt CCU Rail Guns.

 

[PabloJ]

Earlier this year I gave the 1911 another try, and ended up bringing home a Springfield Loaded SS. I've always liked the 1911, but some experiences from a couple decades ago turned me away for a long time. Coming of age in the 1990s, I just couldn't find an affordable 1911 that fed the various JHP defensive ammo. In fact lot of available handguns wouldn't. I went total Glock for about 15 years. The Glocks were the first for me that just worked... in the same sense as a terribly homely yet totally trustworthy wife does.

So, at any rate, I bring this sexy Springfield home, and it works really well... Flawless reliability. Granted, I have a firmer grip, better technique and better maintenance habits at this stage of my life, but the 1911 is now what I'd consider "duty reliable".


Which has brought me to looking at more duty oriented 1911, ones with light rails and high end hand fitted components. I only live once, so why spend the last half of a law enforcement career toting a homely Glock? I want to carry something classy.

So I start looking at $1000-2000 priced 1911s. It seems nearly every 1911 in this price range is overly cheesy, with different colored coatings, snake scales, fish gills, big letters TRP, TLE, CQB, TACTICAL, WARRIOR, SPARTAN, SCORPION, etc.

It's like the same people who put dragon stickers, Cessna wings, ground effects, and neon lights on Honda Civics, are now designing 1911s.

Though it appears like Ed Brown and Dan Wesson tend to stay a bit more conservative, and their handguns look classy (to me).

I think I finally settled on a Dan Wesson Specialist stainless for a duty gun, assuming it appears well built and proves reliable once I try it. It fits all my criteria, without getting too gaudy or exceeding my pricing ceiling (sorry Ed).

I recognize that my personal taste is obviously not the popular flavor (given the prevalence of dura/cera-Kotex & fish gills). For those of you with the special color coatings and uniquely shaped cocking serrations, was it a love at first sight thing, or an acquired taste?

I'm just wondering whether if in future years I'll find myself lusting after something previously dismissed as gaudy, or if I've permanently crossed over into the "music is too loud" stage of my life.

Has anyone learned to love a gun that wears too much lipstick? ;-)

I found second-hand M45A1 for $1300. It is my first 1911. Not a bad handgun. If you're patient something good will eventually turn up.