Who are the top ten 1911 manufacturers?

[Tootsies]

I would add STI and Infinity

[sinister]

http://www.1911addicts.com/showthrea...u-1911-addicts...

[ThreeFingerPete]

I would add STI and Infinity

I would very much agree with these additions.

[varoadking]

[d90king]

Ones you can readily buy are:

Ed Brown
Les Baer
Nighthawk
Dan Wesson
Wilson
Springfield
Colt

Sorry, that's only 7...there aren't 10. I'd say the best bang for your buck is Dan Wesson then Les Baer.

I like the list! I would swap out Ed Brown with Paul Liebenberg of Pistol Dynamics. He is also probably the only guy that I would buy a 1911 with an external extractor from. If you stumble across a RRA they are also excellent 1911's.

If we are going to let the custom 1911 guys on the list then...

John Harrison and Larry Vickers would top my list.

[shua713]

Kimber? I find that they are some of the less reliable 1911's out there. They shouldn't even be considered in the top 10.

I can't speak for all 1911 brands, But I do have a kimber with about 3000 rds through it with out a hicup, Is that NOT reliable?

[C4IGrant]

I can't speak for all 1911 brands, But I do have a kimber with about 3000 rds through it with out a hicup, Is that NOT reliable?

You really cannot judge an entire brand by an example of one.

Many of us see kimber pistols in shooting schools or in all 1911 classes and know that they are just not a good pistol.



C4

[maximus83]

I'm surprised I was the only one to mention Cylinder & Slide. Usually in 1911 discussions on forums, they are considered one of the very best, rivaling if not beating in quality the more production oriented shops.

I suppose this COULD be due to the fact that C&S is more of a custom shop. I was never really clear from the OP if it could be any 1911 maker, or if he wanted only production makers.

[WillBrink]

I can't speak for all 1911 brands, But I do have a kimber with about 3000 rds through it with out a hicup, Is that NOT reliable?

A single (n=1) observation on a gun with 3k rounds (a very low rnd count by 1911 standards) is more valid then the advice of those who see thousands of 1911s, build them for a living over decades, assess them, go into combat with them, put 10s of thousands of rnds through them, have forgotten more about the platform in day than you or I will ever know (e.g., Yam, LAV, Hackathorn, et al) to a man will tell you they are problematic, poor QC, not worth the $$$ etc.

Which opinion to follow? Such choices...

God help me people are thick some times.

[diving dave]

I have owned 3 different Kimbers and had issues with all of them. Currently I run a Nighthawk Custom Enforcer, and have not had one malfunction. Cost a bunch of bucks, but worth it.