Who are the top ten 1911 manufacturers?

**WillBrink** · 02-21-12, 08:37

Originally Posted by BGREID

Really how many people do you know that have shot tens of thousands of rounds out of any handgun in combat?

That's why there's a comma between the statements, and those gents and many others, have indeed put tens of thousands of rnds through 1911s for decades. In fact, that's being conservative, as you can bet they have put 6-7 figures worth of ammo through 1911s.

**ColdDeadHands** · 02-21-12, 09:10

Originally Posted by d90king

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.

Not in my experience.

**samuse** · 02-21-12, 09:41

Originally Posted by ColdDeadHands

Not in my experience.

Hmm you're the first person on the whole internet I've heard say that.

Except for me.

I briefly had a RRA Basic Carry and there was not one salvageable piece on it when I got it (purchased as new from an individual). The frame, slide and barrel were trash.

**ColdDeadHands** · 02-21-12, 17:07

Originally Posted by samuse

Hmm you're the first person on the whole internet I've heard say that.

Except for me.

I briefly had a RRA Basic Carry and there was not one salvageable piece on it when I got it (purchased as new from an individual). The frame, slide and barrel were trash.

yea, mine was a RRA Elite Commander. Nice gun on the outside but the tool marks inside the frame and slide were so bad it wouldn't cycle. RRA refused to even look at it, telling me that's not possible. I polished the tool-marks out myself and when I had it were it would work I sold it.

**maximus83** · 02-21-12, 21:11

It's fairly well known in 1911 circles that RRA 1911's didn't live up to their hype. For the high price tag (when they were still making them), you could definitely buy better 1911's from some of the makers I listed earlier.

Here's an example of a review of an RRA 1911 associated with the well known 1911 forum, M1911.org. You don't have to read the whole thing, just go to the conclusions near the end. A pretty representative summary.

http://ezine.m1911.org/RRATactical.htm

**d90king** · 02-22-12, 04:14

Originally Posted by ColdDeadHands

yea, mine was a RRA Elite Commander. Nice gun on the outside but the tool marks inside the frame and slide were so bad it wouldn't cycle. RRA refused to even look at it, telling me that's not possible. I polished the tool-marks out myself and when I had it were it would work I sold it.

Interesting. I have run several and they were all outstanding 1911's that reminded me a lot of Baer's. I wonder if at the end they started to go down hill.

**WillBrink** · 02-22-12, 06:53

Originally Posted by maximus83

It's fairly well known in 1911 circles that RRA 1911's didn't live up to their hype.

Just like their ARs...

**ColdDeadHands** · 02-22-12, 08:06

Originally Posted by WillBrink

Just like their ARs...

Actually, strictly talking about parts they've used to build their 1911's - they only used the best unlike in their AR's. If they would have had good quality control and customer service for their 1911's they would have been successful.