Who are the top ten 1911 manufacturers?

[Pappabear]

Springfield
Springfield
Springfield
Springfield
Nighthawk
Wilson
Eddie Brown
Colt
Springfield
Springfield

[maximus83]

A great option for what? Plinking and competition maybe, duty/CCW not so much...and a Para double stack?

Agree. I have not OWNED a Para, but have seen so many plagued with troubles and unreliability, I pretty much decided that they were not for serious use. Comps maybe, where the double-stack models would be an advantage.

[rushca01]

Springfield
Springfield
Springfield
Springfield
Nighthawk
Wilson
Eddie Brown
Colt
Springfield
Springfield

I concur.

[Animal_Mother556]

My Kimber Custom II has functioned flawlessly. That's not with a few rounds every month either. I have put at least 5000-5500 rnds through it in groups of anywhere from 500 to 1000 rounds at a time. I have maybe cleaned it 3 times. I love it.

Having said that...Kimber is pretty poopy in other departments. The finish on this gun is terrible. My fingers have RUBBED most of the finish off of the front strap, and my hand has rubbed it off of the grip safety. I replaced the plastic mainspring housing with a steel one. Not a bid fan of plastic parts on a 1911, but I am sure the plastic one would have performed fine.

BUT...for the $750 that I paid for it, I am fine with it. I carry it with confidence. Is it the best 1911 out there? No. But, mine works. I may have gotten lucky and bought a "good one" and I am fine with that.

[Jfkudla]

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

Grant,

Not sure if I missed it somewhere..I'd be curious to know your opinions on 1911s?

[C4IGrant]

Grant,

Not sure if I missed it somewhere..I'd be curious to know your opinions on 1911s?

I really only have experience with Wilson Combat (personally owning and building from parts kit) and seeing broken Kimbers.

Talking with more experienced 1911 folks, WC is king. Springfield custom shop does an excellent job and Colt is producing probably the best 1911's in their history.

I also think that the S&W E-Series are a great value as well.



C4

[Ankeny]

Springfield
Springfield
Springfield
Springfield
Nighthawk
Wilson
Eddie Brown
Colt
Springfield
Springfield

As a newbie to the forum I should probably keep quiet, but I sent yet another Springfield back for warranty repair just yesterday. SA quality control has really gone down the tubes. The only way I would put Springfield on par with Wilson, Brown, Nighthawk, etc. would be if you ran the gun through the SA Custom Shop and flat demanded some decent fit and finish.

...and Colt is producing probably the best 1911's in their history.

That's what I keep hearing. I almost picked up a Talo Colt CCO this month. But once again Colt proves to be a crap shoot. The gun was nothing more than a $600.00 parts bin piece with a premium price tag. What a shame. On the flip side, some of their current line models are pretty decent for the price.

[mstennes]

Springfield
Springfield
Springfield
Springfield
Nighthawk
Wilson
Eddie Brown
Colt
Springfield
Springfield

This, but I would add Dan Wesson

[beltfed]

I dont think I could come up with 10 that I would buy or build on. But here goes.

Springfield
Colt

That covers the ones I would buy as a base gun to build or have worked over, but either one I would want to have in my hands before spending the cash. Lately I have seen terrible examples from both. It seems hit or miss but when you hit on a good one they are really nice.

The ones Id buy with the intentions of leaving alone.

Springfield Custom Shop
Les Baer
Ed Brown
Wilson

Thats it and in no particular order, except I would have to be able to look over the Brown before I bought it as well.

[C4IGrant]

As a newbie to the forum I should probably keep quiet, but I sent yet another Springfield back for warranty repair just yesterday. SA quality control has really gone down the tubes. The only way I would put Springfield on par with Wilson, Brown, Nighthawk, etc. would be if you ran the gun through the SA Custom Shop and flat demanded some decent fit and finish.

That's what I keep hearing. I almost picked up a Talo Colt CCO this month. But once again Colt proves to be a crap shoot. The gun was nothing more than a $600.00 parts bin piece with a premium price tag. What a shame. On the flip side, some of their current line models are pretty decent for the price.

That is Talo's fault (not Colt) for the high price.



C4