Opinions on the S & W 1911 pistols?

[BlindJustice]

I've been looking at a lot of the various 1911 offerings and
found a source for new S & W 1911 under $800 - and the
S & W clone seems to have a lot of features I like for a new buy.

ANy experience not opinions would be appreciated.

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's Sir-

I have the standard, stainless 5" S&W model 1911 (product code #108282)
that I'm well satisfied with; and have had 0 problems/issues with. When I
bought this one, we were retailing them for $739.88; due to the nature of
my work, my boss charged me $640 for one NIB. And, I'm happy too say-
it will run side by side with my much more expensive Les Baer Thunder
Ranch Special 1911~!

 

[BigdaddyG]

I have a Gunsite model and it is a very nice gun. Runs and shoots great.

 

[tackleberi]

I shot several of their 1911's at a "demo day" they had at a local range and was very impressed with the the fit, finish, feel, and performance of each of the S&W 1911's I shot. I've owned Wilson Combat (1996 A2), Colt (XSE, 9mm Commander, and Defender), and Springfield (TRP Operator), and while not taking away from the enjoyment I had from each of those guns (I only kept the Colt), I would certainly consider S&W if I were to go looking for another 1911 to buy.

I'm not saying the S&W 1911 is as fluffed/buffed/sexy as the Wilson/TRP or as founded on history as the Colts, the S&W didn't need to justify a premium price either.

FWIW, my opinion only.

 

[Rinspeed]

I don't own one or have even fired one but they do have a great reputation for the 1911s in their price range.

 

[Onmilo]

I have one of the first ones that came with a Briley barrel.
The only factory original parts left on the gun are the slide, frame, the goofy firing pin safety and that wonderful Briley barrel.
Thanks to the loan of a Ransom Rest I found out the gun can group better than I can.
I'm keeping mine.

 

[stogiegila]

I had the S&W 4.25" Scandium in stainless. A great gun, beautiful to look at, felt great in my hand. Accurate and reliable. But it still felt a bit too big for me to carry comfortably and the .45 is just a bit much imho.

I'm very comfortable with my 9mm and feel it will do the job it needs to if the occassion ever arose. As much as I love the look of a 1911, I just don't see the need or desire for a .45.

However, I am trying to restrain myself from buying a micro compact 1911 in 9mm. I see a Springfield EMP in my future. I'd just like the price to come down a bit.

 

[Z_Infidel]

My SW1911 has given flawless performance since day one. Early on I put 1000 rounds through it without cleaning, just some lube every 250 rounds or so. No malfunctions of any kind. It was a good shooter as it came out of the box, but I did replace the grip panels with Ahrends ebony panels and had a set of Novak night sights installed.

The commander-sized SW1911SC I had previously was also utterly reliable.

 

[BlindJustice]

Thanks, All...

Question what's the finish on a Scandium frame S&W 1911?

 

[tackleberi]

The scandium frame 1911's have been available with both grey and black finishes at different times.

 

[cbsbyte]

Until this past year S&W was the only 1911 pistol you could buy in Massachusetts due to certain state gun regulations. I know quite a few people who bought Smith 1911s, because they could not buy other manufactures. Most of these people would probably by a Colt, Kimber or Springfield if given the choice. Many of them also own used Colts, etc. Even though the Smith is not a classically designed 1911, and has some modern advancements they seem to be well liked by the 1911 crowd. They are accurate, reasonably priced, well made and very importantly - reliable. Only one person out of the group had an issue, with his pistol. His Doug Koenig model had a terrible trigger , unlike the others which all had nice trigger pulls. I am not sure if he sent it back to Smith to have it fixed. So it seems that many people do like them.

 

[scubie02]

I've got commander's in both the earlier "SC" "billboard" style and the "PD" style they replaced it with, and both have been 100% reliable with any ammo and are very accurate. I hadn't shot one in awhile and did notice the other day when I tool one out that since shooting my 9's and 40's more the recoil seemed harsher than I remembered, though when I shot my various 45's pretty much exclusively it didn't seem bad, so it's probably just getting used to it again. I think the steel guns ARE tamer though.

They scandium models at least (I don't have any of the steel smith's) seem better finished than the average out-of-the-box basic 1911 to me, in terms of coming across as having basically been carry beveled from the factory and such, which with many pistols of that type or in that price-range you'd pay extra for someone to do.

One of these days I'll be able to compare on side by side to a Colt Commander since I have one on order

 

[W.E.G.]

I fired one a few months ago.

It ejected 75% of the cases at such an angle that they hit the shooter squarely on the forehead.

You would think that after 96 years, somebody could reliably get that 1911 thing right.

This is consistent with my experience as an owner of 1911-type handguns. I've been the less-than-pleased owner of four (Colt Series 70, Springfield Armory, Para-Ordnance, and Ballester Molina). Only the Springfield Armory will refrain from fragging me with hot brass. I got rid of the other three offenders.

 

[BlindJustice]

Interesting, I have a friend with the Para-Ordnance P14
it always ejects about 4 o'clock. Never had a
FTF or FTE - yet

Anyway, I just put an order in with WIlson COmbat
for some of the Elite Tactical Mags, and Versa Tool. so, I
oughta settle on which S & W 1911 Probably a steel frame
since that's what I carried on watch in the USN

Thanks All.