S&W 1911 E Series

[archigos]

If you look at my history here, I've posted a number of questions about 1911s over the years as I've wanted one for quite a while, but always wound up purchasing something else before I'd saved up the money for the one I had wanted. Well, now I'm finally getting fairly serious about buying one and S&W has come out with the 1911 E series and they seem to have some nice features at an attractive price point. Say what you will, but looks are important to me and the E series definitely meets the that requirement.
I guess I'm looking for any opinions on quality and features. I also have a fairly simple question but one that's fairly important: I know that most 1911s take 7 round magazines. These come with 8 round magazines - does this mean that a S&W 1911 E Series will not accept standard 1911 mags?

 

[2wheels]

7 and 8 round 1911 mags are the same size, and will both fit in any 1911, including the S&W 1911s.

They just manage to jam an extra round into the 8 rounders.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Actually S&W 1911s come with 8 round magazines made by ACT-Mag and marked Novak. These magazines extend a bit beyond the bottom of the frame to provide extra space for the 8th round...the space is covered by the magazine base pad.

All 1911 magazines, be they 7 or 8 rounders should work in their 1911s.

The biggest improvement in the E series is the incorporation of the extractor previously used only of the Performance Center 1911s...it offers optimized purchase on the cartridge rim

 

[Jackal1]

The fit and finish on the E-series is fantastic. Got mine the other day. It is probably one of the best production guns. If you want something 'better' you'll need to go the custom route.

 

[Walkalong]

No FPS is a big plus to me.

 

[archigos]

No FPS is a big plus to me.

FPS?

 

[tschmittel]

fps= firing pin safety. No fps like a series 70

 

[archigos]

Dumb question - does that actually mean that its more likely to fire when dropped?

 

[JTQ]

Yes.

However, while S&W has removed the firing pin safety from their "E" series 1911's they have added a lightweight firing pin and stronger firing pin spring which will aide in the drop safe worthyness. Not as good as a firing pin safety, but better than the original 1911.

Remember, up until the early 1980's, the 1911 had no firing pin safety at all. Wilson, Les Baer, Ed Brown, Nighthawk, etc also don't have a firing pin safety in their pistols.

 

[Walkalong]

Don't load it and beat the barrel on concrete and you will be fine.