I've been getting interested in these and am trying to narrow down the focus a bit. I'm leaning towards the Dan Wesson Bruin or the Fusion Firearms Freedom Series long slide.

Any obvious differences here? There is a price difference, but I wouldn't consider it dramatic. I know Dan Wesson has a long history of quality, but I've heard plenty of good things about Fusion. The Fusion unit does allow more options on purchase, too. Some of them that I'd want on the Bruin are already installed on the Fusion, such as the magwell. The Bruin has a round butt while the Fusion is series 70 based, though I'm not 100% clear on all of the things this means.

Thoughts?

https://danwessonfirearms.com/product/bruin/

https://fusionfirearms.com/freedom-series-longslide

I've handled and shot 1911s from Llama to Les Baer and in between, but have never owned one myself. I have no interest in the .45ACP cartridge.

I've had little experience with Dan Wesson 10mm other than handling one. Seems to be well made and a solid choice.

Fusion? Well... a few years ago they had a lot of room for improvement. They were helpful with returns and a refund.

SVI was out of my price range, so I went with an STI (now Staccato) Perfect 10. Consider a 2011 if you can find one that suits your needs.



Let us know what you ultimately decide.

Between those two options, Dan Wesson all day long. Great, consistent quality, I've never read a negative post or review of any of their 1911 pistols. I can't say the same about Fusion.

First one I bought, I knew I shouldn't. It went against everything I had seen first hand and everything I had read. But I listened to a company hype man that "things had changed" and bought a Para USA.

It came to be known as "The Pretty Turd".



It was the most inaccurate centerfire handgun I've ever owned. It went from tight, to loose POS rattle trap in less than 500 rounds. I sold it (with full discloser) for less than 1/2 what I paid for it.

(I've never owned a Fusion, but I have two friends who do/did. One has a long convoluted horror story I won't write out, but it reflects badly on the gun and the company. The second friend was selling his. I inquired about purchasing it and he said NO. "You do NOT want to buy this gun." While I didn't ask for details, that spoke volumes.)

A while after that I bought a well used DW RZ-10. And while I liked it (and still like it), the long slide was still calling to me.




I was always interested in the Bruin, but the non traditional looks combined with the price kept me away. When the Kodiak came out I knew I was in trouble. I managed to restrain myself for a couple years, but ended buying a used, like new one.

I would say "I'm happy with it in every way" but that can't be true since I obviously changed it a lot.



I like long flat triggers. I don't like ambi safeties unless the right side one is very thin. I didn't want to alter the factory part since the finish would be ruined. Me a grip safeties don't get along, I either completely disable them and swap in a "temporary" one. Since blued parts wouldn't match, I went two tone with stainless. Changed the slide lock to complete the look. So now when I die someone can sell the gun cheap, only to later find the original parts in a box somewhere and throw them away.

Based on these two, I wouldn't hesitate even slightly to buy another DW.

I have several .45 and 9mm DWs. They are fantastic pistols, especially for the price point.

When I decided I wanted a 10mm, I found a Nighthawk Custom Heinie long slide. One of my favorite 1911s I own.

I have a Fusion 10mm longslide. Love it!

Have a Ed Brown 10mm longslide with and RMR. Very accurate and hope to try it on pigs. The EB 10mm is the only expensive gun I have ever purchased. Don't regret that one big buy. My estate won't have much money but one of my boys will get a superb handgun.

I can’t stand the rail on the Kodiak. I’m confused on the front end of the Bruin. In some photos, it has a strange, nontraditional slanted cut on the muzzle. In other photos, it looks completely flat and normal.

That's because they made them both ways.

https://images.coreware.com/im...ts/346252-954560.jpg

https://danwessonfirearms.com/...DW-Bruin-Black-R.png

Oh, snap! That’s what I was thinking. Their website doesn’t specify that. The description says one thing while the photos say another.

I much prefer the traditional cut.

Any reason NOT to consider an optics cut version of a Bruin? It is pretty subtle, visually. While I don't see myself adding a red dot immediately (or necessarily ever), having the option seems like a good thing.

I have been a fan of the 10MM Auto cartridge going back almost 4 decades now, both in the 1911 and less traditional firearms that include revolvers and single shots

Over the years I have owned many of the AMT 1911s and all of mine functioned beautifully and ran well, in fact I still have 3 two of which are 7" long slides

My first long slide 1911 was the 7" AMT Javelina pictured below



For a production gun it was sufficiently accurate and at the time that they came out the pricing was quite reasonable. One of the things that I've always loved about the AMT 1911s is that they utilize a wide trigger, very similar to the Colt Gold Cup.

Perhaps 5 or 6 summers ago I decided I wanted something a little more than a production 1911 chambered for the 10MM Auto cartridge, so I looked around and decided to build my own

Part of what pushed me into the decision to build my own was that STI was blowing out 6 inch 1911 long slides for the 40 S&W cartridge really cheap. Why they did not advertise these as 10MMM slides I will never know. So I ordered one of the ones with no sight cuts.

My good friends at Briley produced a 6" barrel for me with the matching spherical bushing.

I went with a Aristocrat 3 position rear sight and I machined the slide, then manufactured a custom a front sight specifically for this application.

This pistols match trigger happens to have ball bearings mounted in the trigger bow. This reduced friction allows for a 2 1/2 pound repeatable and safe trigger pull



I call this pistol THOR and the reason that I do that is just before I built it there was a youth at the firing range with his brand new 40 S&W Glock proclaiming that he now owned the hammer of Thor.

Esmerelda O'keefe did the beautiful scrimshaw work of Thor's hammer on these grips

Today's market has a much greater choice in long slides than back when I built mine. So if I were to do it today I would probably go with the Dan Wesson Bruin

The other long slide pistol that I have chambered for the 10MM Auto cartridge is my Witness Hunter which is a fantastic pistol and a great value