Love my ARMOR TUF'd CQB

[Will Fennell]

Last night, while checking various firearms out in my safe, I pulled out my Wilson Combat CQB. I have not been carrying it lately, because during deer season, I usually rotate it "out" and my 1911 10mm "in". Well, I notice that I had not really given it a good cleaning in quite awhile. Sooooo...

I pulled it down totally and checked it out. Now this pistol has been around the block.....I had this gun for over 3 years[nearly 4]. Its been my CCW/Car/farm/loaner/match/training 1911[is there anything else ] for all that time. There is no decernable mechanical wear. Slide fit is still awesome, the barrel fit is as tight as the day I got it, and the trigger pull is still AWESOME. This pistol is as well put together as any full house 1911 custom piece as I have owned. When I ordered this blaster from Arkansas, I spec'd tool steel hammer and sear, Bullet Proof extractor, and Bullet Proof slide stop.

Last year I sent the slide to Richard Heinie for new sights. I liked the fixed WILSON sights that came on it, but I LOVE Heinie's sights. He knocked out the WILSON's, and fitted his sights into the existing dovetails. This made a good gun even better. I have also fitted a set of the excellent GUNNER GRIPS from my now departed friend Rob Simonich. These slabs are as tough as the pistol they are bolted to and give great traction!

Other than these changes, the only thing I have done is changed recoil spring, firing pin spring, and Shok Buff every 1000 or so rounds. I can't remember how many thousand, but a few.

Some folks have complained about the finish that WILSON's uses.....called Armor Tuf. AT is basically a baked on polymer "paint" that has lubricant in it. Very similar to Birdsong's Black T. I have had pistols with both finishes now, and I find Black T slightly slicker, and AT slightly hardered. But still, very similar. Now, I'm hard on a guns finish. I live in the south, and if you use a firearm, especially a pistol, you sweat on it. Sweat rusts guns. I've rusted stainless handguns and knives while wearing/using them. I've also rusted through hardchrome and E nickel.

I have not rusted through Armor Tuf yet.

Yes, its showing some wear, but considering what the gun has been through, not alot. If this would have been a blued 1911, it would be in VERY sad shape. It would not have %50 finish left....it would certainly be pitted around the grip frame.

Not bragging just experience.

I took some pics that I will post with this......I was thinking about sending the gun into WILSON's for them to refinish[which I believe they would do for FREE], but this CQB is just getting broken in good, like a pair of jeans. Its looking fine to me....so I think I'll just keep feedin' it. If it looked like new, somebody might try to buy it

 

[Will Fennell]

wear around the trigger....

Hear is a pic showing wear around the trigger/safety area....

notice that the trigger is showing the most Armor Tuf wear. Its my experience that AT wear off on Aluminium MUCH faster than steel. I wish they would just not coat the triggers.....

Also, notice that the rear sight, that Heinie put on about a year ago, has lost most of its blued finish.....much faster wear than the AT'd pistol. Yes, the AT "wears", but NO PLACE on the gun has the finish chipped.

 

[Will Fennell]

another pic....

Here is another pic of the CQB....

 

[QuarterBoreGunner]

Now that looks like the definition of 'honest wear'. Nothing wrong with that at all. I really like the look of the grips.

At first I wasn't turned on by the various 'green guns' out there, but they've really grown on me. May have to see if I can get one approved by the in-house 'Firearms Acquisition and Approval Department'...*cough*wife*cough*

 

[Will Fennell]

In conclusion.....

Well,
I'm not even sure why I posted this....I guess I just am amazed every time I look inside this pistol at the fine job done by the folks that made it. WILSON's aren't the cheapest of the "limited production/entry level custom" pistols out there, but one thing is for sure.....they were made to use. This pistol will but the entire magazine of 230 XTP's touching each other from a good rest @ 25 yards[did it last week .......wish I were capable more often!] . Keep the springs[especially in the 8 round mags!] fresh, and it will run without a hitch for a thousand rounds[thats the most I've gone without cleaning it].

I've had some of this guns competitors.....and I've sold them. I've kept this one. If you have been thinking about getting a WILSON CQB, I believe you will not be displeased with your purhcase no matter what the price.

I've got another WILSON on order now.......

 

[B27]

After two years the only wear mine is showing is a spot right behind the ejection port where the empties sometimes bounce off it.



I cannot understand why they refuse to make a Commander sized gun.
I hate that chopped off Officers size frame and won't own one.

 

[Sven]

That's a damn fine pistol you've got there. Don't think you need a reason to post pictures - but glad you did.

 

[George Hill]

I'm loving the green frame. That's tough looking.

And some wear marks? Hey, I like those too. To me, that tells me your a "Shooter" and not just a "Gun Owner".
Kinda like those guys that you see drive a BMW to work every day and wearing a suit and tie... but on Sundays... when the weather is *just right* then they *might* put on thier HD underwear, HD jeans, HD socks, and HD boots, HD chaps, HD shirt, HD vest, HD gloves, and an HD leather bandana.... roll out the HD bike that has less than 2000 miles on it that they purchased 2 years ago...

 

[Bren]

Yeah, I've noticed the so called "Armor Tuf" finish comes off the edges right away in a holster but a nice gun in indeed.

I like the looks of a working gun, it's got charactor. Bren

 

[Lumpy196]

My 3 1/2yr old Service Grade Protector. On my hip daily all that time.

Her beauty is in her 100% reliability.

 

[Sean Smith]

I cannot understand why they refuse to make a Commander sized gun.

Actually, Wilson just introduced one. Or close to it (full-size frame with 4.1" bull barrel).

http://www.1911forum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=65744

 

[Archer]

Quick question, that is a Wilson BP slide stop on your pistol- did it come that way ? Have seen the standard SS on CQBs and was curious as to whether they did it with the BP one in the past.

 

[B27]

Thanks Sean!
That good news got right past me.

 

[Will Fennell]

Bullet Proof Parts

Archer,
I've heard that they are now standard on CQB's, but I can't verify that....On my CQB, I specified those parts- BP slidestop, BP extractor, Tool Steel hammer and sear, as upgrades when they built the pistol. It was a small extra expense[don't remember the $$ at this time, but it wasn't much], and in my mind, well worth it.

Remember, WILSON COMBAT is still a custom shop, they will do it YOUR WAY, within "reason", it will just cost a little[or alot] more, and take a little longer.

 

[extremefishin00]

Truly a beautiful gun Will. I'm tempted to sell a kidney to fund the purchase.....now stop playing around and get back to bladeforums

Chris

 

[Marko Kloos]

Honest wear adds to the appeal of a sidearm. It shows that the gun is actually used.

I get a kick out of the folks that buy a $700+ handgun and then throw a fit when the finish gets a little scuff here and there. What did they intend to do with it....use it as a wallhanger to impress visitors?

One nice thing about buying used handguns is the fact that they come "pre-worn". I wish some manufacturers included a "worn" option in their finish offerings.