Looking for an American 1911.

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I too was looking for a quality US made 1911 that wasn't going to set me back $2500. $1000-$1500 I was ok with...


I finally found a DW bobtail for $900 and I couldn't be happier. It's a dream to shoot, trouble free (only 300 rounds so far).... And man it's purrrrdy! It's kind of silly, but I feel proud when I hold it...


I almost gave up on searching for a DW CBOB because it was so hard to find.... I began to seriously look at the STI Guardian.... I just didn't like their "billboard" slides.... But that's just me
 
Some of the American 1911 manufacturers:

1) Colt
2) S&W
3) Kimber
4) Les Baer
5) Wilson Combat
6) STI, except for the Spartan
7) SVI
8) Nighthawk Custom
9) Rock River Arms (no longer in production)
10) Ed Brown
 
Some of the American 1911 manufacturers:

1) Colt
2) S&W
3) Kimber
4) Les Baer
5) Wilson Combat
6) STI, except for the Spartan
7) SVI
8) Nighthawk Custom
9) Rock River Arms (no longer in production)
10) Ed Brown
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11) Dan Wesson :D
 
SIGs 1911's are made here in the USA as well (it was an all Exeter design I think to begin with). S&W too.
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So is the SIG actually worth buying? The MSRP is pretty high, but MSRPs are generally in conflict with reality.
 
Check out Kimber Custom I or Custom II. I own a Custom II. It has digested 1200 reloads. The only time it won't feed reliably is when I reload with 200 grain Semiwad bullets produced by Rainer. It likes the 200 grain and 185 grain semiwad cutters from Hornady. It also likes hollow points-both 185 grain and 230 grain and of course, 230 grain FMJs. Wilson Combat Mags are the KEY in my opinion with 1911s. The Kimber mags are CRAP.
 
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STI, Fusion, Rock Island are made in USA.

Just a guess, but I think lots of people confuse Rock River with Rock Island. Rock River in the US made 1911's in a lower price range for a short time, but doesn't anymore (too bad, they were very nice). I was just informed they still build a 1911, but it is pushing $3000. As much as I do like my Rock Island, it is made in the Philippines.
 
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Springfield Armory frames and slides are all forged in Brazil. If the serial number has an "NM" prefix, it means the forgings were sent to SA in Geneseo where they were machined, fitted and assembled into a finished pistol. The NM in the serial number DOES NOT stand for National Match. Any serial numbers without the NM prefix were fully built in Brazil. That is why those guns are stamped, Made in Brazil.

STI was looking for a "lower" tier entry level gun for that market. They contracted with Armscor in the Phillipines to machine the frames, slides and barrels to STI's metallurical and fitting specs. STI then sends the remainder of the parts (STI manufactured parts) to the Armscor factory where they are fitted to the slide, frame and barrel to make a finished gun. The guns are then sent to STI in USA. STI goes over them, makes any adjustments then does thier distribution and sales thing. Something like 5% of the pistol need to be tuned up while here. STI is no slouch company so the standards on that pistol are high.

The Rock River, high quality 1911's have been discontinued. The demand for their AR 15 pattern guns and their contracts with agencies for those guns pushed them to making that decision. They are great guns but were never cheap nor inexpensive. Nicely finished and real shooters.
 
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Double Star makes 1911s. I assume they're made here in Kentucky like their ARs. I don't know anything about their quality.

EDIT: I confirmed that they're made in KY.
 
Take a serious look at Fusion. I was looking for a Kimber and stumbled across these guys. Considered a TRP or Loaded springer. After having this in my hands and comparing my existing springer, which by the way is a very good pistol, I can say I will never buy anything other than Fusion. It makes me look like I can actually shoot accurately, it looks beautiful, and feels right in my hands.
 
Post #28 & #29 covered most of them, the only other one I can think of would be Olympic Arms. They cast their frames in Washington State.
 
I finally found a DW bobtail for $900 and I couldn't be happier.
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There's this persistent confusion that Dan Wesson is an American company. It's not - it's a Czech company. The components are manufactured in the US, but the profits all go back to Easter Europe. Small distinction but worth understanding.
 
Components which are produced in the Phillipines, while the pistol is assembled in the USA, is a pistol Made In the USA. No, not 100% as I would prefer it but damn close.



Once again, the STI Spartan and ALL Rock Island 1911's are made in the phillipines by armscor.
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ol' scratch said:

The Kimber mags are CRAP.
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My Custom II would only feed reliably with the factory Kimber, mec-gar, or Colt; all 7 rounders.

Wilson and Chip Mccormick 7 & 8 round mags would invariably either not feed the last round or eject the second to last round into my brass pile.

Never had a bobble with the other three brands.
 
There's this persistent confusion that Dan Wesson is an American company. It's not - it's a Czech company. The components are manufactured in the US, but the profits all go back to Easter Europe. Small distinction but worth understanding.
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But, per the OP, it's made in America.

The profits from many US companies go overseas, that's a non issue.
 
The profits from many US companies go overseas, that's a non issue.
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The profits from US companies flow back to the US. It's an issue only to those of us who are US Citizens. ;)

This may or may not be a reason to buy a gun or other product made by a foreign company, but it's worth thinking about, and not just glossing over. Usually when someone says "American made" they tend to think top-to-bottom US products, not ones that repatriate profit abroad.
 
good debate about US made and what that means. unfortunately, you're often hard pressed in this day and age to find products (not just firearms) both made in the US and US owned. SA doesn't fit the OP's requirements because much of the manufacturing happens in brazil. the profits stay here, but not the jobs and wages. on the other hand, dan wesson profits go overseas, but at the same time the guns are made in america by american workers.

so if you can't have both (which you can...this is just for the sake of argument), which is better? keeping the profits here without the jobs or having jobs and wages here, but profits going overseas?
 
....a new stainless Colt Series 80 Government Model:
and the MIM thumb safety had bad casting marks.
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I'm pretty sure the thumb safety is investment cast, but I could be wrong


The plastic mainspring housing is an abomination on a pistol in this price range
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I'm pretty sure it's Derlin, which is some pretty darn tough stuff, but none the less I appreciate where you're coming from.
 
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