Guys;

Looking at new 1911's for range, fun, defense if needed. All in 45acp and 5" barrel. My criteria is (in order); great trigger, accuracy, reliability, looks. Here are my choices - please feel free to provide ANY comments and feedback (no particular order):

1) Dan Wesson Silverback stainless
2) Smith & Wesson Performance Center (blue handle and ported)
3) Springfield TRP stainless
4) Colt Gold Cup (new one with blue handle - why is it suddenly $330+ more expensive??)
5) Dan Wesson Specialist Stainless

All input sought and welcome.

Thanks,

P

For looks and reliability I think I would go with the Colt. Accuracy the Dan Wesson.

Cannot comment on the trigger since compared to the da revolvers and da/sa semi's I shoot, any 1911 trigger already seems light to me.

Of your choices noted, I'd go Dan Wesson. Top quality, Series 70-style mechanics, one of the best brands to be had outside of the semi-custom / custom realm, IMO.

Happy hunting!

If I were limited to your options, I would go with the TRP. When it comes to 1911s, I'm not a fan of adjustable sights or rails. In general, I'm not a fan of ported handguns. That pretty much leaves the TRP.

I'm with TheFrontRange. You simply can't trump DW for bang for the buck.

Alright everyone, it's unpopular, unfiltered opinion time with Caneau. I've shot all but one of these models and taken apart quite a few of them, so I'm not completely conversing out of my hindquarters.

Pat, let's go through your list:

1) Dan Wesson Silverback stainless - It's a two-tone Valor. Everything great you've heard about the Valor is true. They're awesome, amazing, out of the box pistols that for $1600 shoot better than guns for $1000 more, and blow away (pun of course intended) anything at their price point or below. It's so rare to hear a bad thing about a Valor or one of its siblings that I can recommend it wholeheartedly. Yes, I've shot nicer guns, but they were way, way more money.

2) Smith & Wesson Performance Center (blue handle and ported) - This is the only gun I haven't shot. The closest I've come is the not-quite-Performance Center Doug Koenig edition. I'll be frank here -- I've never been a huge fan of S&W 1911s. There are a few design quirks that annoy me, like plungers retained by the sights. I've also never been hugely impressed with the quality of their internals. They throw on a cheap magwell, ill-fitting grips, and while they used to do Wilson Combat rear sights they've since cheapened out and use their house brand with a proprietary dovetail cut.

3) Springfield TRP stainless - I don't get why this gun is popular unless you really like 20 LPI checkering and a load of MIM parts. A decade ago when you could get this gun used for $1000, it was a good deal -- especially when the alternative was a Kimber that would spend more time at UPS on its way back to New York than in your holster. Now I've seen the prices climb to $1500. I have a hard time seeing what's so special about this over a Range Officer model for half the price. And if you want a better trigger, spend $150 on an EGW kit and $100 for a gunsmith to install it all (or just watch a YouTube video and do it yourself).

4) Colt Gold Cup (new one with blue handle - why is it suddenly $330+ more expensive??) - Ahh, the Gold Cup. Probably the gun in the Colt lineup that makes me scratch my head the most. It has more variations than anything else they've made and I'm still not sure who is the target audience. Waaay back in the day, the Gold Cup was hot stuff. Now? I'm not sure what makes it so much better than a Colt Competition Pistol (formerly XSE). National Match barrel, blah, blah, look, Colt barrels are actually pretty solid even in the M1991. If you want a Colt, get the Competition pistol. It's an awesome value these days. And then get the EGW kit I mentioned above.

And yeah, they're getting expensive. Because if it's not a Colt, it's a copy. Even if it's a better copy. For less money.

5) Dan Wesson Specialist Stainless - It's a Valor with a rail. Same thing I mentioned above regarding the Silverback. Except now with 100% more 1913 goodness for you to blind your opponent before you blow them away.


So if you are going to blow $1500 or so on a 1911, get a Valor derivative from Dan Wesson. Take pictures. Upload to SigForum. We'll all say how nice of a gun it is and admire your small group size.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: caneau,

I have owned a few 1911s (S&W, Kimber, COlt and S.A.) but was never really impressed by them until I got a Dan Wesson Point Man. They are an incredible value and quality made.

I'm a simpleton when it comes to 1911s, so I bought a basic Colt last year.

I have to agre with Caneau.

Bob

quote:

Originally posted by rbert0005:
I have to agre with Caneau.

Bob

I have to agree with rbert who agreed with Caneau.

 
Buy a basic Colt (with the original tiny sights), and send it to Don Williams. For around the price of a DW, you will get back the most reliable and accurate 1911 you could imagine. Takes some time, though.
 

quote:

Originally posted by Pat@Nexus:
. . . 2) Smith & Wesson Performance Center (blue handle and ported)

Correction: The S&W PC1911 has cuts to lighten the slide, but it is not ported. I own one so know whereof I speak.

Someone in this thread (rightly) criticizes S&W 1911s for the design "feature" of having the firing pin safety plunger retained by the rear sight. The current PC1911, however, does not have a FP safety plunger so it's a moot point.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Editor,

For a stock gun, I'd agree with caneau as well, and choose the Dan Wesson Valor over the 5 you have listed.

However, if I had the time and money, my first choice would be to get the reissue Colt Series 70 Government Model and Have JD Harrison do a retro package on it.

Dan Wesson Silverback. Or Specialist. From a quality standpoint the rest pale in comparison.

I'm curious why you would rule out a 4.25" Commander size 1911. It would meet all your criteria except barrel length. My 4.25" DAN WESSON "Classic 45" shoots as well as a 5" and I can easily carry/conceal it if I chose to.

Dan Wesson gets all my 1911 money. You just can't beat the value for the money ratio.
Next step up from there would be Ed Brown.

Dan Wesson Specialist if you want a rail and ambi safety. Valor if you don't. All tool steel parts inside, no mim used.


-Mike

Don Williams should get my Ruger Commander tomorrow.
I am considering liquidating a few things to get a Dan Wesson.
But the Ruger will be EDC. Less traumatic if seized post-engagement.

I bought a s/s Colt Competition 9mm and it's a very nice gun. This is what I would buy in the $850-900 range. If that's what you want to spend buy it and about the only thing you'd need to do to make it really sweet is possibly a trigger job.

However, if I'm spending over $1000 for a 1911, I'm skipping over everything in between and buying another Ed Brown, end of story....because everything in between, while nice, isn't excellent....and to me it's either be happy with something like a Colt Competition or go to the top of the line......I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Ed Brown and prefer them over the Wilson I have.

I would personally choose one of the DW's. Silverback has adjustable sights and no rail whereas the specialist has fixed sights and a rail. Depends on which you value more.