The Ultimate $1100 1911

[sneakerd]

Ok it was a little tease. It's a question, not a presentation. I know- spend $600 more and get a Les Baer. Let's say that my cash limit right now is $1100. I want a RTG (ready to go) 1911 and that is the limit I've decided on. I've owned several Les Baers and am aware of their quality and value. I want to know what you guys think. The pistol should have pretty good night sights, must have an ambi-safety, and at that price should have a checkered front-strap. I should not need to take it to Bert at BPTactical for a fresh-up. It also has to be available- not a pipe dream. I would prefer a "Commander", but I'm thinking a used TRP. What do you think??

[CO-Exprs]

New S&W E-Series. They've dropped the firing pin block and beefed up the component quality with performance center parts. This is the nicest commander series pistol for the requested price range.

http://www.bigskyguns.com/1911_E_Ser..._Series_1.html

Here is a nice write up from 10-8.

http://10-8performance.blogspot.com/...irst-look.html

[JohnTRourke]

Sig

best value with all the little things you want or don't want in $1000 and under.

I have 4 (no wait, maybe 5, I dunno, a lot), never a FTE/FTF, one is my EDC.

excellent value IMO

[BPTactical]

Fully loaded tactical Taurus, for your dollar limit you can have 2 then you and Atrain can finally get along fer Chrissake

Seriously though, the S & W is a good choice and if you can find a lightly used Dan Wesson that would be a good call, especially if you can find an earlier one. Your idea on the TRP is a sound one as well.
You know your going to bring it to me anyway

I have not had enough time with the SIG 1911 to really make an honest call on them. I have heard mixed reviews on them.

[Graves]

So you have $1100...would it kill you to actually not spend it and save a little more to get what you're really after?

STI trojan or TRP if you just have to spend it. If you're even considering S&W or Sig you may as well save some dough and grab a Ruger, because we both know that neither falls into the category of 'the ultimate 1911'.

[Gunner]

I think I'm in love with that smith commander

[CO-Exprs]

Graves, Normally I would agree and lump the Smith SW series into the same ho-hum boat as Kimber, Sig and Springfield. Unfortunately, while a big fan of STI guns, the Trojan is one of thier budget guns and I have to lump that model in with the other brands. I only pointed out E-Series because I know that Smith has been working very hard to improve the product line and the new model line is rumored to be much better. Sneakard specifically asked for commanders for $1100. The only reason to go commander is for carry. The Smith runs a bobtail and light weight Scandium frame. Had Sneakard asked for the best deal in a full size, I would have pointed him to the STI Lawman, which can be had from Brazos for $1277, and simply add the ambi safety. The lawman is the least expensive, quality 1911 with a forged frame and tool steel fire control group. STI customer service is also the best there is. STI pistols also have the luxury of being the most compatible with aftermarket goodies, which we competition guys really like.
http://www.brazoscustom.com/Home.htm

[sneakerd]

This is the kind of info I'm looking for.

[CO-Exprs]

Yeah, unfortunately in the great wide world of 1911's there is a great wide range of quality, both in fit and finish as well as raw components and raw materials. Many of the manufacturers have learned which terms are the most marketable and sell cheap guns for huge markups. Some features are important while others really just raise the price. Kimber, Springfield, Smith, Sig and Colt have all been floating on marketing and name for way too long. Value engineering has been focused on parts cost rather than true value and it shows in the poorly executed details. Kimber's quality the past few years has been a travesty (i know from first hand experience) and Springfield is only marginally better. Both have poor to mediocre customer service. Colt is about the same, although they have been trying hard to resurrect thier name lately. Of the production built 1911's you really get the best bang for the buck from STI. I may be mistaken, but I believe all STI's come with EDM'd tool steel internals and is the only company in the price range to do so. If you want a match trigger job to hold up for 30k+ rounds, then you will need tool steel internals. MIM edges break down too fast for match trigger applications. If you don't plan to shoot the pistol tons and don't care about match trigger pulls, then tool steel isn't as important. Smith is trying to make a break away from the midpriced 1911 pack with the new E series, by improving parts quality. If I were looking for a commander sized carry pistol, I'd personally grab the new Smith Bobtail, dump the MIM internals for real tool steel and call it good. With that set up, I'd have a light weight pistol, with a Scandium frame rather than the usual forged aluminum (Scandium will hold up 5x longer). It should be a decent shooter and the good trigger job will last a long time. Were I looking for a range gun, i'd grab an STI Lawman, add the ambi safety, a magwell and go shoot 100k rounds through it. Were I looking for something more special with some attention to detail, hand fitting and excellent parts quality and an overall great value, I'd be looking at a Dan Wesson Valor. $1400 will get you close to Les Baer quality for a much more palpable price. I have a Les Baer and probably won't buy any more. Baers are great and mine shoots outstanding, but they do everything proprietary and every part I've installed had to be hand fit. Too much like work. Once you start getting close to $2k, you may as well grab a Wilson. My Wilson CQB is truly marvelous. If you ever come across a used Wilson for a good price, grab it up.

Well there you go. Three possibilibities, none of which are right at $1100, but all are no more than a payday away.

[Atrain1]

I would personaly go with a Sig. I also like the Ruger. I would think that it would come pretty close to some of the 1100.00 1911 pistols, but I could be wrong as I have never even held one. I really like the way the SR1911 looks and I have read nothing but good reviews on it, and all the parts are American made.