Springfield or S&W in 1911

[mrrev]

I've been set on a S&W 1911 for a long time, the two-tone Dough Koenig and recently started looking at the Springfield A1s in stainless steel with the black etching. The guy behind the counter at the shop started talking about how he preferred the Springfield over a Colt or SW since Springfield has been doing 1911 for a long time, plus he didn't like the SW's new extractor. What do you guys think?

The two tone SW DK sure does look nice, especially with the rose wood grips, but the Springfield is cheaper and has a similar look...It'll be my first 1911....
Sway me one way or another....thx again for your input as always....

 

[Lonestar49]

SA all the way IMHO

...

Well, don't know if this will sway ya, but I'm ordering a SA 4" all stainless steel, with wood grips, night sights, for 825 NIB, as of all the 1911's with exception of much higher priced 1911's, the SA Champion's adjustable trigger, like my SA 1911 EMP's trigger, is the lightest, sharp, clean, crisp, pull I have come across of any comparable priced 1911's NIB..

Add to that a lifetime warranty and SA gets another gun buyer.. me.


Ls

 

[MICHAEL T]

Colt been doing 1911's a lot longer than the Springfield Company and Colts are made in America. Can't say that for a Springfield Notice I said made not assembled
Get a S&W if you want I would just get a S&W with out all the added junk and price. I don't like the DK

 

[19-3Ben]

The guy behind the counter at the shop started talking about how he preferred the Springfield over a Colt or SW since Springfield has been doing 1911 for a long time,

Yeah. Those silly guys at Colt. What makes them think they can get into the 1911 business so late in the game when S&W has been making 1911s for a least 4 or 5 years now?


Colt has been making them for the best part of 100 years at this point. While the real Springfield Armory has been around for a bagillion years, Colt was building 1911's long before the Springfield Armory company ever existed.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not a Colt guy. I'd rather go with SA or S&W myself. I just think that the counter guy's statement is ludicrous at best.

 

[Walkalong]

You would not go wrong with either. S&W and Springfield are both putting out quality 1911's.

 

[10-Ring]

I'd go Springfield

 

[2nd 41]

Flip a coin. I was considering a 1911DK and bought a Springfield Loaded Model 9152 instead. I still might buy the DK.

 

[robctwo]

I bought the SA Black Stainless Target a couple years ago, and the S&W1911PD Commander. The SA extractor broke. The Trigger was at least 5-6 pounds as advertised. The S&W has a much better trigger out of the box, the extractor works fine. The ejector needed filed a bit to stop the brass from hitting me in the fore head. I'd go S&W for sure.

 

[M47 Dragon]

I think either one is a fine choice.

I can only speak to the SW1911DK. The only thing I didn't like about it (not discovered until after I purchased it) was that the thumb safety's shape kept me from engaging the grip safety (sometimes) when using a high grip with thumb resting on the safety. Never had this problem with my plain jane SW1911, but the thumb safety is a totally different shape and size. The ambi on the DK is more rounded, thicker and sticks out further toward the rear of the gun.

I took the DK into a smith for a FO front sight install, a trigger job (also a new trigger as I did not care for the flat DK trigger) and mentioned the problem I was having. He shaved some metal off of the thumb safety and I haven't had a problem since.

FWIW, I shoot the DK much better than my plain SW1911, though I love them both. I don't know why exactly - tighter gun if you ask me.

 

[Eightball]

The two tone SW DK sure does look nice, especially with the rose wood grips, but the Springfield is cheaper and has a similar look...It'll be my first 1911....
Sway me one way or another....thx again for your input as always....

Do you want to always look at a gun you own, and say "but it was cheaper," or look at it and say "Damn, that looks nice, I really wanted it and now I own one!"

The answer's pretty obvious--get the one you want, not the one you have to justify owning to yourself. Make your first 1911 one you treasure and keep, not one that you had to justify purchasing over another one.

 

[Marshall]

You might want to look at Springfield's Trophy Match.

http://www.springfield-armory.com/armory.php?version=25

 

[possum]

i say sa as well i have an mc operator and i love it, i highly recomend there firearms and there comany as a whole.

 

[Ala Dan]

Gentleman-

both companys manufactuer quality 1911's; as I own firearms made
by each of these manufactuer'ers. Looking at the over all picture from the
"high end" side of things, and all else being of equal value- I would have to
give the nod to Smith & Wesson. They strive hard too put a very decent
1911 before the American public. Take their basic stainless 5" model 1911
(product code #108282); its equipped with excellent Novak 3-white dot
sights, a beaver tail grip safety, and comfortable rubber grips. This gun
fares well, when put up against a Springfield Armory "Loaded" 1911; and
in fact, the S&W may be a few $$ less expensive than the SA weapon.

 

[Richard]

I like both of these 1911s and they are good ones but I want to address the internal/external extractor issue. I spoke with my gunsmith, Marianne Carniak, about it and her opinion was the external extractor was fine as long as it was fitted properly. This opinion was shared by Alex Hamilton of Ten Ring Precision; they do not come any better than Alex. Lastly, my Dan Wesson Compact 10mm has an external extractor and it has given me no grief. Regards, Richard