1911 Buyer's Reference Guide - Revised 2012-06-16

I originally posted this to my Blog on Defensive Carry in September of '08 and on HandgunForum.net in July of '09, I try to keep this up to date. Any thing in orange text is newly added from the original.

So here we are, some months after 2011, the hundred year anniversary of the 1911 as patented Feb 14th 1911. In case you missed it, there were a lot of commemorative models last year  

and a couple of new manufacturers popped up on the radar.

 So where does that leave us in 2012? With a lot more manufacturers of 1911s. Some worth taking a look at, and others worth looking at sideways with suspicion.

Some of the newer guns we've got to look at are offerings from Ruger, Remington, Desert Eagle a return of Rock River 1911s with a twist, and we've also had some come off the list and some mild rebranding over the last couple of years since the original date of this posting.

We have a another couple of names to add to the Filipino imports, the Llama / Firestorm brand of 1911s imported by Eagle Imports is now the American Classic / Firestorm line of pistols, which is a sub category of Metro Arms. Citadel is new one as well, I believe those may be an Armscorp brand.

 Charles Daly is toast, which oddly enough got Desert Eagle into the 1911 game. 

I have moved Taurus into the mid-tier from the low tier, but it should be noted that I do not do so based on quality, but by price. When the PT1911s first hit the market they were priced as a low tier 1911 but after much market success the prices on them have risen.

We also had the addition of the S&W E Series which has been catching a lot of attention from the market.

So basically if there were more 1911 makers than you could shake a stick at prior to this rewrite...it's now definitely worse.

Purchasing a 1911 Revised 6-15-2012

So every now and then (every other week) it seems someone asks for input on which 1911 to buy, or which 1911 is best. This is going to cover most of the bases on 1911s. This is not meant to be the most elaborate description of every 1911 ever made, or a piece of propaganda for any one make and model. This is just a brief or rather not so brief overlook of various makes, models, and features of the more popular 1911 brands available.

Some of you may be reading this and thinking “Why should I give a hoot what this guy thinks or has to say?” We’ll let me just say it now, I’m no expert, I’m not a gun smith, I’m not a professional shooter, I’m not some ex-Navy seal that’s killed umpteen million people with a 1911 and one arm tied behind my back, I’m just a prior Marine Corps Radio Tech that happens to be a low/mid tier pistol instructor and current match director for an IDPA club that has had over a dozen 1911s from different makers, some have been good, some great and some horrible, the wife and I had have had the following 1911s.

One Llama, two Colts, four Para Ordnances, four Kimbers, one Springfield, two Les Baers, one Wilson Combat, one Nighthawk and one Ithaca from 1944. I’ve learned a lot about 1911s, shot plenty of other 1911s, and heard many a horror story about them as well has lived my own horror stories. Having spent a good number of years since 2003 handling, shooting, studying, and researching I AM STILL learning more and more about this type of pistol and I’m the last person that will give a hoot what you have to say about what I have to say, so let’s get to it shall we.

To say that one 1911 is better than all the others is just not accurate, some are better than others, but there is no "One 1911 to rule them all"

Before we get started, let’s take a minute to familiarize ourselves with some 1911 terminology.

Terminology and overview

1911
The original design, patented in 1911 and the 1911-A1 which began in 1926 are different pistols than what we are seeing on the shelves today, while not much has changed, there have been some “enhancements”. Please understand that when I say “1911” I am referring to the genre of pistols based on John Browning’s original design, this is why I refer to them as 1911 pattern pistols. There are multiple books and websites covering the history of the 1911 so I see no need to cover that information.

Firing Pin Safeties:
Series 80: In most terms this refers to the Colt series 80 and mainly it reflects that it has a firing pin safety, most makers of 1911s incorporate this type of firing pin safety in their design. The series 80 firing pin safety incorporates a firing pin block that prevents the firing pin from moving unless the trigger is pulled. Personally, I can’t tell the difference in trigger pull, but that’s just me and I don’t obsess over what my trigger pull is provided I can hit what I’m aiming at in an efficient manner.

Colt Series 80 Firing Pin Safety

Kimber uses a different firing pin safety known as the Swartz Safety that was originally used in Colt pistols (briefly) but was abandoned, this design is actuated by the pressing in of the grip safety and care must be used in assembly that the grip safety is not pressed in as that will cause the lifter to protrude from the frame and can be damaged by the installation of the slide.

Kimber Swartz Firing Pin Safety

Smith & Wesson uses a different variant of the Swartz safety in that it is still actuated by the grip safety but has a more robust plunger lever similar to the Colt Series 80 mechanism.

Of the two, I prefer the Colt series 80 design as removal of it does not require the removal of the rear sight like the Swartz safety, not that I would ever advocate the removal of a safety device. Given a choice I would not have a pistol with a "mechanical" firing pin safety.

Some prefer the Swartz style safety as it does not effect trigger pull like the Series 80 mechanism, however as the Swartz safety is activated by the grip safety, if the parts are not fitted well, it is possible to deactivate the grip safety but still have the firing pin block in place.


Sizes:
Government Model (Gov’t): This generally refers to any 5” 1911 in standard configuration, it has the full 5” barrel with bushing, (although some models do exist with the 5" bushing-less bull barrel) and full frame which with modern magazines will hold 8 rounds of ammunition.

Commander Model: The original Commander model has a 4.25” bbl with bushing and full frame, several makers do not use the bushing barrel, but instead have a 4” bull barrel with a full frame, for Kimber this is the Pro model, and Springfield refers to it as the Champion.

CCO: This was the Concealed Carry Officers model since discontinued by Colt; this was the 4.25” upper from a Commander mated to the compact frame of the Officers model which with modern magazines holds 7 rounds. For Kimber this is the Compact model, several others make guns in this configuration or a similar variation and their nomenclature differs.

Officers: Originally this was a 3.5” barrel on a compact frame which is .5” shorter than the full frame of the Gov’t and Commander models. With modern magazines this will hold 7 rounds of ammunition. Springfield refers to this size as the “Compact” model.

Defender or Micro: This is a 3” upper on a compact frame, these models in most if not all cases will have a 3” bushing-less bull barrel. Kimber refers to this as the “Ultra”, while Springfield refers to it as the Micro, other makers have different nomenclature for guns of similar size.

Long Slides: Long slide models have 6” or longer barrels on full frames, these pistols are mainly used in competitions and for hunting, as the purpose of this piece is geared mainly for defensive use, I am not going to cover these models, they are only mentioned here to show the variety of options available.

The following is a common question, and a good one at that.

“I know that there are 1911 pistols with 3 inch, 4 inch, and 5 inch barrels available. Which length is the best choice for a balance of reliability, accuracy, proper ballistics performance, and concealment?”



Looking at the factors listed:
• Reliability
• Accuracy
• Ballistics performance
• Concealment
A Government Model gun will generally have the most mechanical accuracy, the longest sight radius, and the highest muzzle velocity, but the least amount of concealment. The Gov’t is historically the most reliable size of 1911 as it is the original design and the geometry of the pieces were designed around the .45ACP cartridge.

A 4" will generally be more mechanically accurate than a 3” gun, but less accurate than a 5” gun, have less muzzle velocity, a shorter sight radius, but is easier to conceal than a 5" gun. Reliability wise, the 4.25 models with a bushing barrel have a good track record. Some of the 4” bushing-less models have had some issues.
A 3" Has the least amount of mechanical accuracy, muzzle velocity, sight radius, but will be the most easy to conceal. Of all the sizes, the 3” 1911 has the worst reliability record from almost all manufactures. Current models are getting better, but they still have a tendency to be buggy creatures.

Now looking at my statements, please understand that concealing a 5" gun is not a hard thing to do; great number concealed carriers do it every day.

So to answer the question, a new in the box, 4"-4.25" 1911 will most likely be the balance of reliability, accuracy, ballistics performance, and ability to be concealed.

The Commander sized guns are the happy man in the middle so to speak, they are not as long as the 5" so they will clear the holster more quickly, and still offer more recoil absorbing mass, while still maintaining a longer barrel and sight radius while being able to carry a full length magazine.

So here's where it gets tricky, the hardest thing to conceal on any gun, is the grip area of the firearm. While the smaller Officers size guns have a shorter grip to ease concealment, you're cutting your slide mass, sight radius, barrel length, and capacity. While some have no problem concealing the grip (see my bit on the 5" guns) some do, if you want the benefits of a Commander sized gun but also want the benefits of an Officer's size gun you need to get a gun with the Commander length slide and barrel, but has the officers size frame like the Colt CCO, and the Kimber Compact. There are other makers of this style 1911 which will be discussed later in this text.

Magazines:
The original magazines for the Government Model held seven rounds, while the Officers model held six rounds, so how do you get eight rounds in a seven round magazine? You chop the skirt of the follower. Generally I prefer the Tripp Research Cobra mags, Wilson 47D or Elite Tactical Mag (ETM) or the newer version of Chip McCormick mags, I could probably do a whole other section on 1911 magazines, and probably will so I won’t go into detail, all I’m going to say in this piece is in most cases, you’re better off ditching the magazines that come with your thousand dollar shooter and spend about $100 on good magazines.

Guide Rods and Spring Guides:
There are different types of guide rods, the original design which consisted of a short spring guide and plug is thought to be sufficient and the easiest to manipulate when it comes to field stripping the gun. Full Length Guide Rods (FLGR) come in different varieties, mainly one and two piece rods. The two piece rods typically require a tool to take the rod apart during field stripping while the one piece rods should be short enough to manipulate the barrel bushing (if applicable), the two piece rods have a tendency to come apart at inopportune times such as when shooting and the once piece rods can be kind of a pain sometimes during maintenance. There are also specialized recoil reducing assemblies on the market which will not be addressed in this text.

Bushing-less guns generally have one piece rods that require even more tools (commonly just a piece of stiff wire such as a straightened paper clip) to remove the spring assembly from the gun.


There are proponents and detractors of each type of rod, it is thought that a FLGR will prevent “spring bind” and improve accuracy. I will offer the following: Most of the match grade bullseye 1911s that I’ve seen win competitions both in the past and currently usually have a GI style plug and guide. Your Colt National Match pistols which are a gun of choice for accuracy competitions as well as the Les Baer PPC and National Match guns have a GI Style plug. The models I’ve had that came with a one or two piece rod usually end up with a GI Style plug and rod and I’ve never had an issue with a recoil spring not working properly. As with most things, it’s a matter of preference.

Manufacturers

So let’s look at some of the different companies making 1911s, this is a really long list and it's not even complete, recently there have been more importers of 1911s made in the Philippines and it’s hard to keep track of them all and note affiliations.

I group the manufacturers in to three tiers by overall cost of their average gun.

Auto Ordnance
Charles Daly
Llama/Firestorm*
Metro Arms / American Classic / Fire Storm
Norinco
Rock Island / Armscor


Colt
Dan Wesson
Desert Eagle - *Content Pending*
Kimber
Para Ordnance
Sig Sauer
Smith&Wesson
Springfiled
Remington *Content Pending*
Ruger
STI
Taurus

Ed Brown
Fusion Firearms
Les Baer
Nighthawk
Rock River Arms
Wilson Combat

Pending on what you want, there are MANY fine providers of 1911s out there, of this list the only one's I would suggest to totally stay away from are the Charles Daly models, the older Llama/Firestorm as there are newer models coming in from a new manufacturer under the Firestorm name that seem to be a decent product or any "home brew" 1911 that you may come across unless you know a thing or two about 1911s, there are many home gun smiths that can make what looks like a great 1911 that may or may not be worth the money.

To keep things simple, I'm not going into buying used; all the following info is based on the assumption that items being purchased are new in the box from a reputable dealer.

So you want a 1911? What exactly do you want? Do you want a "Government" size all steel frame, or how about carbon steel, not stainless? Do you want a light weight frame? Compact? Sub-compact? Micro?

There's a ton of different options out there regarding which size you even want and pending on what size and options you want will greatly influence the opinions given regarding what kind of 1911 you want or should buy.

If you want a basic 1911 like your Grandpa use to carry in WWII, you don't go to Kimber, if you want a 4" bushing-less bbl, on a compact frame, you don't go to Colt. Looking at the list of manufactures above, and starting at tier 1, we'll go over some of the options.

Auto Ordnance (AO--Now owned by Kahr Arms):
AO makes mainly GI model 1911s, and one Custom Stainless, that's not a lot of options if you want a carry gun, as they are 5" guns, and if you don't want stainless, why invest in refinishing an Auto Ordnance? I have heard few complaints on the AO line and have had absolutely ZERO experience with them, most of the time they don't even get brought up when people ask for advice on which 1911 to buy. Why this is I don't know, but if I recall correctly, I've only met one guy who carries one and he was very happy with it. But looking at the Custom Stainless with it's MSRP of $813; I'm not surprised that one would look elsewhere.

My pick from AO would probably be a GI model, as there’s no way I’d pay the $700ish for the Custom AO, I’d rather have the GI and put about $300 into work and probably end up with a better gun than their custom, there’s just not enough value in the AO line to justify spending over $600.

Metro Arms / American Classic & Fire Storm: 
As previously stated, these guns are made in the Philippines. The American Classic/Firestorm are imported by Eagle Imports who used to the importer of Llama 1911s. The Metro arms guns actually appear to have decent fit and finish to them, but they seem to lack soul. I've not seen many in person. I took a look at them during the 2011 SHOT Show but when it comes to the Filipino guns, I think I'd have to stick to Rock Island Armory.

The American Classic line in stainless would probably be my choice from this manufacturer. User reports are out there.

FWIW I'd probably be a little leery of them or any other brand that changes names a lot.

Rock Island Armory (RIA):
These are probably the highest rated low budget 1911s, everyone that has one seems to love it. They come in more than one size and two basic packages as they offer a GI style model and a Tactical Model with Novak or Novak style sights, ambidextrous thumb safety, and a nice beaver tail, all for on average less than $550. They also offer a compact model. A lot of the misgivings about the RIA guns is that there is no "Company" website to view the models, the guns are associated with ArmsCor and some info can be found on the ArmsCor website listed above, oddly enough the most info on RIA guns I've found as been on M1911.org and the SARCO Inc. website, which unfortunately isn't working right at the moment, but usually they have a nice lay out where you can see some of the different RIA models. RIA 1911s are available in .38Super and .45ACP.
RIA and Armscor info cam now be found here: ArmscorUSA.com .

If I had only $500-$600 to spend and I wanted a 5" 1911 with some of the "needed" add-ons, the RIA Tactical would probably be the gun I would buy if I didn't want to buy a used gun, as the case is I managed to find an older, used, Springfield Loaded back when they still came with a blued finish for $450 and that was my first "Real" 1911. It should be noted that the Rock Island guns do not incorporate a firing pin safety and do have (or rather did not have at the time up this update) an increased poundage firing pin spring to prevent a drop fire.


My pick from RIA would have to be the Rock Island Tactical, this puts you pretty close to a Springfield Loaded at a lower cost than the PT1911, all you need is some night sights and you have a damn good 1911.



Colt:
Colt has been making the 1911 since day one almost 100+ years ago and it shows. They offer some of the finest 1911s in an affordable price range. But call me crazy, but I'm just not impressed with Cot's current options from the factory. I find them to be too edgy, and not equipped with the same features that I can get on a similarly priced gun from the other major players. 

Starting in 2011, Colt began issuing pistols with proper beaver tail grip safeties and genuine Novak sights. they also introduced a couple new variants and reintroduced a the Combat Elite. Some new offerings were the Colt Rail Guns, available in black Cerakote and stainless steel which feature a picatinny rail, Colt made beaver tail, Novak sights and a National Match Barrel. If you're looking for a 1911 with rail, these are some good choices.

I still think Colts are too edgy from the factory.

HOWEVER, if you're looking for a 1911 to take to the range, or just want a 1911 that won't loose value, or want something that you plan to have smithed to your liking, I would greatly advise getting a Colt Series 70 (pre firing pin safety) reproduction. If you plan on spending in the $1300+ range and want a 5" gun, the Colt Special Combat should be an item on your list of prospective purchases, after all Colt is the original maker, and they've been doing it a LONG time. The Colt family of 1911s is still one of the finest product lines available. The frames, slides and small parts are thought my many to still be among the best in the business and there is something to be said for them not getting too caught up on all the whiz bang enhancements and a WWI Reproduction is a must for all serious 1911 enthusiasts.

If you’re looking for a base gun for custom work, you can’t beat the Series 70 reproduction guns. Colt has offerings in .38 Super, .45ACP and 10mm now that the Delta Elite as it has been reissued. They have been previously offered in .40 and 9mm as well.

My pick from Colt: Special Combat Carry

Dan Wesson:
Dan Wesson was purchased by CZ some years ago and has been turning out top notch 1911s since. They are US made in NY and are among the top of the line in the mid tier as well as having some very attractive 3rd tier options as well such as the Valor and Valor Bobtail. If you want a bobtail from the factory (most makers will consider hacking of a corner of the frame grounds to void a warranty, or so I would think) costing less than $2K, a Dan Bobtail Commander is just the thing for you. I have not heard one complaint on a Dan Wesson product yet, and if I had an endless budget, I would buy one in a heart beat, but as it is I have several guns that fill the bill as a compact carry gun but if I were to want another commander sized 1911 in the ball park of $1k, this would most likely be it.

Dan Wesson also offers several 5" guns in varying calibers, .45ACP, .40S&W, 9mm, and 10mm as well as several Commander sized guns and one CCO sized gun. Dan Wesson also introduced an Officers sized 1911 called the ECO which is a 3.5" model. If you're looking for a sub 4" 1911, this would probably be my gun of choice. One model is available with an aluminum frame, but the majority of the models are steel framed and do not come equipped with a mechanical firing pin safety.

My Pick from Dan Wesson: Dan Wesson V-Bob. Of note is also their new "Specialist"

Kimber:
Kimber has a vast offering of different models / option packages in all manner of sizes and different calibers. Kimber does have a bit of an on-line history of having issues with QC and guns not functioning properly, barrels that rust over night in transit to dealers, and horror stories of customer service. I'm just stating the fact that such a history and opinions exist. There are literally thousands of people that have Kimbers that work 100% and never have an issue, and rant about great customer service. On a positive note, Kimber has supplied multiple Law Enforcement agencies such as the Los Angeles Police Dept. (LAPD) and the now disbanded Marine Corps Special Operations Command Detachment One.

Don't let the majority over ride the minority; take both sides into account before making your decision to buy. The one thing that did drive me nuts about our Kimbers is that for some reason the ends of the barrel near the muzzle had a tendency to rust, I’ve NEVER had that issue with any other 1911 including my Llama. If you get a Kimber and it runs 100% it’s hard to find a 1911 that you will like better. If it doesn’t run and you get a raw deal, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Kimber does have something that not all the makers offer, and that is a CCO sized gun offered in the Kimber compacts. That’s a 4” upper on a compact frame. Several calibers are available pending on exact package. As noted earlier Kimber uses the Swartz firing pin safety in their Series II guns, currently, Kimber does sell some guns that do not have the firing pin safety. The SIS and Warrior models do not have a firing pin safety incorporated in the design.

My pick from Kimber: SIS Pro, as much as I hate the cocking serrations on this gun, I love the fact that it’s a steel framed 4” gun, does not have the series II firing pin safety, and has the other things I like having on a 1911, such as some nice wood grips, night sights and the 30lpi checkering. 

The SIS has been discontinued, the Super Carry is the new offering that does not include the Series II firing pin safety, and is actually pretty well equipped including a round butt that delivers the same results as the Ed Brown bob-tail. It comes available in aluminum and steel frame variants.

My pick from Kimber would be a Super Carry Pro HD (Steel Frame, 4")

A Kimber Warrior is a close second.

Para Ordnance:
I've had 4 Para models, both single stack and double stack, some single actions, and some Light Double Action models (LDA) I only have a few complaints on the Para family of pistols, one being that the Parakote finish on their pistols is not the equal of other "baked on" finishes, such as that of Kimber’s Kimpro finish. My other issue is that the double stack magazines cost around $50.00 ea. Para Ordnance guns are equipped with the Series 80 firing pin safety.

However, if you want any of the following, a ramped barrel, a double stack hi-cap 1911, a single stack 1911, a double action only 1911, or a combination of the above, Para is the gun maker for you. I will also add that if you do go with a double stack 1911, that you get a good belt and a holster with off set mounting attachments to better offset the weight of the heavier gun.

Para offers guns in .38 Super, 9mm, .40 and .45.

My pick from Para: Tac 4 LDA, I hate the ParaKote finish, and 13+1 of .45ACP is nice thing to have, but as they only offer that in the “Carry” line of Paras, I’d remove the bobbed grip safety for an upswept model as the bobbed one was not comfortable for long periods of shooting.

Update on Para, they change their lineup pretty often, the previous Carry line is now the "Carry Safe" line of pistols. The Tac 4 has been discontinued and I can honestly say that they don't have a single pistol that I'd want to buy. For a while the LTC was available in stainless, and if I could find one, that would be a pretty nice gun.

It should also be noted that Para's quality control has begun to slip a but in the last couple of years. I wold probably look to some of the STI offerings for a double stack 1911.

Ruger:  
Ruger came out with the SR 1911 and it's been a big hit despite having a cast frame. It's well equipped despite being low on frills and has a great reputation as a Ruger product.....Ok so they have a few recalls every now and then, but given enough time Ruger gets things right and the SR 1911 has been a winner. 


I haven't seen any high round count tests being well publicized, but if Ruger sticks to their rep as building guns that run like tanks, this should be a super buy with an MSRP of $799 which should have an average retail of around $700. 


The one bad thing with the SR 1911i is that they have been so successful they can be hard to find but if you're willing to to the leg work you should be able to find one. This is bad for impulse buyers that will buy something else due to the SR 1911 being limited. If you decide you want a SR 1911, wait till you find one. 


If the SR 1911 goes well, and a couple other additional models are added, I can see Ruger replacing Springfield as my "Go to maker of mid tier 1911s" 




Sig Sauer:
Sig has been making fine guns for many a year, when the GSRs started hitting the line there were some issues that were accredited to a bad batch of either slides or frames, They have an impressive line up of 1911 models including 5" target guns, standard 5" guns, 4.25" Commander variants with an honest to goodness bushing barrel, and CCO sized guns with officer sized frames and 4.25" bbls. Sig 1911s incorporate the Colt Series 80 style firing pin safety and have an external extractor but have has few if any reported issues with them. Sig is not offering the GSR in other calibers than .45ACP Some models are available in different calibers.

The main issue with the Sig GSR line is that the contours of the slide that scream Sig, will not fit in most 1911 holsters...  *Sig has introduced "Traditional Models" that do not feature the Sig profiled slide - I have tried squeezing a GSR into my Galco Avenger OWB holster and it could be done provided I loosened up the tension screw, most holster makers that I've researched don't have a listing for GSRs specifically. If you go the GSR route, do your holster research beforehand, make some calls, send some emails and see what's what with the holster selection for a GSR.

Sig has had some new offerings such as the Scorpion models and some others such as "Nightmare", "Desert", and some micro 1911s etc.

Sig picked up some "talent" from Kimber and you can tell that in the variety of different beauty packages available from them. Lately the QC on the P Series guns has been kind of hit and miss, but by most accounts the 1911s are doing well.

My pick from Sig: GSR Carry in black Nitron.

Smith&Wesson:
S&W came out with their 1911 line a few years ago and they have a pretty impressive line up of well equipped 1911s They are the only ones to my knowledge offering a scandium alloy framed 1911 and have guns in all four sizes including some railed models: full, Commander, CCO, and Micro. My two gripes with S&W is that they do not offer a steel framed Commander sized gun and they incorporate a Swartz style firing pin safety as opposed to the Colt Series 80 style safety. Although there is currently one full size model that does not have the firing pin safety. S&W 1911s come in .45ACP and 9mm pending on model.

S&W 1911s have an external extractor, Kimber tried this and it seems that as a result of customer demand they went back to the internal extractor. By all reports S&W got the external extractor right.

Smith introduced the E-Series in 2011 and they've taken off pretty well. They offer a round butt configuration similar to the Kimber Super Carry Line, Hilton Yam of 10-8 has a review up of the 5" E Series and it wasn't all roses. the E Series has 5" railed and non-railed guns as well as some Commander sized guns.

My pick from S&W: Gunsite Commander, 1st Runner Up would be a 4.25" E-Series gun.

Springfield Armory:
Springfield has a good product line with their non-custom line and also has some overlap into the custom section with their custom shop guns, the "Professional" models from SA are extraordinary guns and were selected by the FBI and Marine Corps Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) for use by their Recon units.

Springfield has different categories based on package options.

GI: This is just your basic no frills 1911A1 pattern pistol, it has that GI look of your Grandpa’s issue pistol and generally sells in the $450 range on up.
MILSPEC: Take your basic GI, and slant the cocking serrations, and beef up the sights a bit and this is what you get, it is available in stainless steel or a parkerized version.
Loaded: The loaded line is bread and butter 1911; it has everything that is generally considered a must on the 1911 it has your night sights, beaver tail grip safety, good fit and finish, and ambi safety.
The Loaded comes in different sizes as does the above mentioned GI, the loaded can be found the following sizes:

Loaded Full Size = 5" bbl, full frame
Loaded Champion = 4" bushing-less bbl, full frame available in stainless steel, or two tone black over OD w/ alloy frame.
Loaded Compact = 3.5" bushing-less bbl, compact frame, available in stainless only.
Loaded Micro = 3" bbl, compact frame, two tone stainless over black alloy frame.

Then you have you're Operators, which is Springfield’s name for their railed guns. These come in several variants and sizes. The 5" loaded can be found in 9mm, as well as the Springfield EMP which has been redesigned to work better with shorter cartridges, the EMP also comes in .40S&W

One step below the custom line is the Tactical Response Pistol (TRP): The TRP is a very well equipped gun in the $1400 range; it offers fine 30lpi checkering, ambidextrous safety, enhanced magazine well, G10 grip panels and Armory Kote finish.

My pick from Springfield Armory: TRP Armory Kote.

No real updates for Springfield regarding 1911s, they did release a new "Competition ready 1911 that they called the Range Officer. I think they should have left it as a stainless steel gun rather than parkerized but other than that it's getting good reviews. 



STI:
STI spans all three tiers, they have an excellent lower cost gun that is the STI Spartan, this gun offers a lot of perks and only has an MSRP of $660, in the lower tier guns, this one is hard to beat, but as STI is mainly higher priced guns, not many first time buyers are familiar with it and may overlook it.

The features are listed as:

Crafted with classic 1911 design, the STI International Spartan is a traditional 1911 pistol with high-end standards at an affordable price.

The Spartan is built on a steel, government length, standard width frame. The grip includes a checkered mainspring housing to provide a sure grip. The controls are an STI International single sided thumb safety and high-rise beavertail grip safety. The slide features traditional 1911 styling with front and rear cocking serrations, and the barrel is 5.0" with a match grade fitted bushing. This excellent firearm comes standard with an STI square hammer, patented STI trigger system, and STI sear and disconnector for smooth, reliable function.

The Spartan has a Parkerized finish and is available in .45 ACP

STI has a great amount of mid to high tier guns as well such as the Lawman, Legacy, and Ranger II.

STI also offers several double stack variants in varying calibers as well as a wide variety of single stack options.

My pick from STI: Ranger II or Tactical 4.15

That pretty much sums of the first two tiers of 1911s, I'm not going to go into much detail on the third tier, as generally speaking, you're looking at a minimum of $1600 on up.

These are your semi-custom makers, they turn out fewer guns than the big companies listed above, but what they turn out is usually “grade A” awesome and perfection. While they don’t turn out nearly as many guns as, they are still production type manufactures with the major differences being in the quality of parts used, expert hand fitting of those parts, and extreme attention to detail on the finished product.

Generally, you can call them and get what ever you want on the gun with not too much of fuss. Before we purchased Lima’s Wilson, we were looking into a Nighthawk Custom, she called them up and basically any change she wanted they were willing to do.

Taurus:
Taurus began making 1911 models about 2 years ago around 2006, boasting that they gave all the great smith work that the high end gun makers charge you more for. Personally, I think that's a load of crap because all those options minus the checkering are almost standard on the center piece gun of the major players, you look at the Springfield Loaded models, the Kimber Pro Carry II or Custom II, the SIG GSR, or the S&W 1911s, and all those things are standard. According to the advertisement, all these features come up to OVER $2100! But I have a Wilson Combat and Les Baer in the safe that didn’t cost that much. You can get a pretty nice Springfield TRP for half that.

6-7-2-2012- Edited to add:
I recently had the opportunity to take two PT1911s down to the bare bones after they had been subjected to some moisture issues, after getting the guns cleaned up I wasn't too impressed with what I found under the crud. You can read about those findings in this post: Update on the PT1911s....

6-16-2012- Edited to add: I had a chance to look at a third PT1911, my view of their product is not getting any better: PT1911 #3: Have I Ever Told You...

All those bells and whistles don’t change the fact that Taurus' just cost less than the other major gun makers, if you compare a Beretta 92FS and a Taurus PT92, or a Taurus revolver and a S&W revolver and you'll see why there's a price difference, the same can be said of the PT1911. I'm not bashing the gun, I think it's great that there's a lower cost 1911 out there filling the gap between the bare bones GI models and the other 1911s out there, but it's not the end all, be all of the 1911 world that some make it out to be. It is what it is, a well priced 1911 that isn't quite as nicely fit or finished compared to the other guns, and the price is climbing on them.

Think of it this way, if they are giving you all these options for free, how are they making a profit? Another misgiving I have on the PT 1911 is the key-lockable hammer, as there have been cases of this lock failing and locking at inopportune moments. The PT1911 is equipped with the Series 80 firing pin safety.

The PT1911 currently only comes in 5" configurations, a railed version is available which you won't find on a Rock Island, (RIA now has "Tactical models with full length rails) and in 2009 models in 9mm and .38 Super, as well as a double stack .45ACP model were added.

My pick for Taurus would have to be the Stainless Pt1911 as the blued finish reportedly doesn’t hold up for squat and I’d hate to have the gun refinished for almost half if not more than half of what I paid for the gun.

Ed Brown:
Ed Brown has been in the 1911 business for a while staring back in the early days of IPSC as parts maker / gunsmith. He’d the genius that came up with both the Bobtail and speed bump, high ride, beavertail grip safety. It’s a family business and the guns produced are spectacular it fit, finish, and function. They began making 1911s and rifles in 1998, but as noted Ed Brown has been building guns at one level or another since 1968.


Fusion Firearms:
Fusion Firearms are still relatively new but are making great progress establishing themselves in the market. I’ve been talking to them in the past few weeks working up a quote for a custom build and their level of communication is excellent and their prices are more than fair, come spring time don’t be surprised if I have one on order.


I really, really wanted a Fusion 1911....

Until I could not get a solid build sheet returned from them that contained the items I wanted on my gun. At one time I received a build sheet for another customers gun. After a number of incorrect build sheets being sent back to me for final approval, I took my build to Nighthawk, it probably cost me twice as much as the Fusion would have but I got the gun I wanted.

There are TONS of Fusion customers that have had super experiences with Bob Serva & Co. 

My story is very much in the minority, but just keep it field away in the back of your mind should you decide to have a custom done. Get everything in writing and don't send in a dime until you have a complete and accurate build sheet in your hands.


Fusion Firearms is run by the former owner of Dan Wesson Bob Serva. They are turning out some fantastic guns at prices lower than the other makers in the third tier. Currently, the word is to buy one now before prices go up higher than they have since their inception. From what I’ve been reading they are worth every penny and those that have them seem to like them.

Les Baer:
Les Baer is another long time maker of 1911s. They have a solid reputation for building some of the best and tightest 1911s out there such as the Thunder Ranch Special (TRS), Swift Response Pistol (SRP), and their Premier II line. Les Baer was also involved in the FBI 1911 selection with a but as rumor has it, the contract went to Springfield as they were better equipped with a larger staff to meet the service needs that the FBI wanted for their guns.


Nighthawk Custom (NHC):
NHC started as a spin off from Wilson Combat (both are located in Berryville, AK). They are still “new on the block” so to speak but the staff that makes up NHC has been doing this for quite some time. The guns are beautiful and functional to the point that Larry Vickers and Richard Heinie allowed them to produce guns with their names attached, however the original Vickers pistol is no longer made under that name and is now available as The Enforcer due some disagreements between Mr. Vickers and NHC regarding pricing. Regardless, when names like Heinie and Vickers allow you to add your name to a product, it speaks volumes. For information on Heinie and Vickers, you can find lots of good information via the internet.

Rock River Arms (RRA):
It should also be noted that as of Sep. 17th 2008 (about 10 days after the original version of this piece being composed) that Rock River ceased taking orders for their line of 1911 pattern pistols. This was a rather upsetting blow to me as I had always wanted one. I will say that if you ever have the chance to acquire a Rock River 1911 that you should do so.

At the 2012 SHOT Show, RRA announced they would be building a polymer framed 1911, as of 6-16-12, they are not currently available.


Wilson Combat:
Bill Wilson is an avid shooter and credited as the inventor of the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) as well as the 2002 Pistolsmith of the year by the American Pistolsmiths Guild and former director of the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) and has been building custom guns since 1977. Their line of magazines is thought to be the industry standard for aftermarket magazines with a solid reputation for reliability.


Regarding the high end guns, I’m not saying that you should rule these out due to price, but $1600+ is a big chunk of change. If you are buying your first 1911 and you have the money, buy whatever you want. We have 1911s from Les Baer Wilson and Nighthawk and while I can tell the difference in fit and finish between them and the 1911s I’ve either got in the safe or have had and sold, the guns themselves do not make me a better shooter. I took my Colt XSE along to a two day class with Insights Training and my groups did not magically get better when I was shooting my Baer, or vice a versa. I’m not saying that a high tier gun doesn’t shoot better than a lower tier gun, I’m just saying that I’m not a good enough shooter to make the gun perform to its maximum performance level. In short, you don’t need to spend a large sum to get a solid performing 1911.

Regarding which one should you buy, that’s all up to you. Each maker and model can have their positives and negatives. Two guns from each maker can run totally different, and the $450 used Springfield I have can run just as well as the $1300 used Les Baer that I have, it all depends on the EXACT gun in question, I do think you can cut potential head aches by staying in the mid tier, but that’s just my opinion.

One thing I did not go into detail about is warranty, before you buy check out the warranty program of the manufacturer in question. Something just bothers me about a maker that doesn’t warranty their work for the life of the gun.

Getting started with your new 1911

So we've all heard that most if not all 1911s NEED to be broken in order to work properly. This is simply not the case.


Personally I find the idea that a gun needs "X" number of rounds fired down it to make it work properly a load of BS and quite frankly, I don't think I'll ever buy another gun that has this "requirement" There's testing a gun to make sure it works, and then there's blowing a weeks pay in ammo to get the gun feeding correctly.

I went through over a dozen owners manuals from various makers of 1911 pattern pistols and while gun manuals aren't the most friendly regarding some aspects of operation (mainly having a round chambered) odds are that if the manufacturer thinks there should be a break in period, the info should be in the manual.

Looking at my list of makers above:

Auto Ordnance: No break in mentioned in the manual, however they do have the weapons conditions code wrong...might have to call them about that one.

Charles Daly: No mention of a break in period.

ArmsCor: No mention of a break in period, although it does specify to use standard "round nose" ammunition and that if you choose to use wad-cutters, you may want to have the feed ramp re-worked...OK, good to know.

Taurus:

Before shipment, your firearm was carefully inspected and test fired in order to ensure that it conformed to our specifications and standards. Should your firearm require adjustment or repair, we strongly recommend that you return it to Taurus for factory service.
If there is any question regarding the performance of your firearm, please
write to our Service Department fully describing all circumstances and
conditions involved.

What was of interest was their stance on ammunition:

They did get their carry conditions correct but I’m not sure I like the way they presented them, it is viewed by many that Condition 2 is the most dangerous as that requires lowering the hammer manually with a live round in the chamber which increases the chances of a negligent discharge. Condition 1 carry, commonly referred to as “Cocked and Locked” is as about as safe as you can get.

Oh yeah, nothing written about a break in period...

Colt (Series 70): I didn't see anything about a break in here either...apparently Colt is of the opinion that if the gun doesn't function as it should that it just might be broken.

What the Colt manual does say regarding what might be construed as a "break in" is this:

Again, I'm not really surprised.

Dan Wesson: All DW says in it's wonderfully brief 7 page manual about what do prior to firing is

Before firing your DAN WESSON handgun for the first time…
To assure safe, trouble-free performance beginning with the first time you fire your DAN WESSON handgun, follow the cleaning and lubricating instructions of this manual.

Doesn't sound like there's a recommended break in period to me...

Kimber(full size manual)

Ok, so far that's the only reference of a break in period. Kimber claims this is due to the "tight tolerances" of the gun. Now I'm no gunsmith, but I've had a few 1911s, four of them Kimbers and I've laid hands on I don't know how many other brands that are KNOWN for being tight guns (Les Baer, Wilson, Ed Brown etc) and the Kimber is no tighter than a Dan Wesson. I don't know why Kimber mandates this break in period, but I know plenty of people that have had to go though it to get a working gun. I made it well past 500 rounds (not a cheap expenditure) and still had a [non-functional gun], so basically I wasted the cost of repair trying to reach that "magic number" where my gun would start working.....

OK, I'm going to stop now, not bashing the brand, just stating what my experiences were and my thoughts on the matter....

Lets proceed.

Para Ordnance

Here's another one which dictates a break in period.

While this one is similar to Kimber's, I think it's written a little better as it explains in a little more detail some things to try if there are issues and it flat out states that if you have ANY malfunctions to call customer service. The way Kimber words it, it's almost like they expect it to
run like crap during the break in period.

Sig Sauer: No break in period.


Smith&Wesson 1911 Series: No break in period listed.

Springfield Armory: You have to download the manual, but there's no break in period listed. I've seen it posted that if you talk to Springfield Customer Service that they recommend any where from 200-750 rounds of break in / "testing" of the gun prior to carry, I'll have to place a call here and see what they say. I'm not taking hearsay on this one as it just sounds goofy as there's been conflicting information posted regarding this and I don't want to regurgitate bad info if I can help it.

Added 6-16-12, still no update on Springfield 

STI: No mention of break in in the manual.

Ed Brown: From the sound of things, they expect it to work.

Les Baer:

Here's where the break in myth gets really started. Les Baers are probably the tightest 1911s ever made. If you have ever tried just to rack the slide on a NIB Les Baer, you will agree with me. If you haven’t I suggest that if you ever see one in the case that you check it out and see for yourself. And that's not even looking at one with the 1.5 package.

The items I come across regarding a break in period for a Les Baer is 500 rounds, no cleaning during the process. I bought my Baer used didn't have to do this. While I'm not much for here say on this matter, I'll buy into the needed break in for the Les Baer guns just because the guns ARE that tight and the information I've read on the 1911 forums is generally consistent with little in way of differing data.

Added 6-16-12
I spoke with Brenda a while back and this is what they told me regarding break in of Les Baer pistols.

JD,

All of our pistols have a break in period of about 500rds, this just means that the gun is fit very tight and you will need to give it at least this many rounds before, the slide will become a little easier to rack and the you will notice the slide will mate to the frame and become smoother. This does not mean that you can not disassemble and clean it, you can do this at any time you want to. You would treat it as any 1911 style pistol. We do not have owners manuals, but the pistols are shipped with a small disassembly manual, if you did not get this we can send you one if you email your name and address.

 

Nighthawk Custom: I didn't see any info on a break in on their website, and I'm unaware of if they come with a manual, I guess there aren't that many people spending upwards of $3K on a 1911 that don't know how it works...

But what they do say is this:

Craftsmanship is also evident in the way your gun feels and performs. Every model gets a level of attention that only the highest priced guns get elsewhere. We remove every sharp edge, round every corner and smooth every serration on every handgun we manufacture. You will immediately notice the solid way it feels, and how it fits your hand like a natural extension.

The level of craftsmanship we offer is carried over to our Custom Knives, Tactical Shotguns, Hunting Rifles and Tactical Rifles. Your imagination is your only limit to what you can have done. Some of our best ideas have come from our customers, and we welcome them.

No one stands behind their product the way that we do. Every pistol, rifle, shotgun or knife that leaves our building has been thoroughly tested and has met our stringent standards. We make sure that your purchase will provide you a lifetime of flawless performance. We do this because we take a lot of pride in what we do, and also because we back it up with the best warranty in the industry.

Firearms are mechanical and everything mechanical can have a problem now and then. We understand this and stand behind all of our products. If you have a problem, give us a call. If we determine that it needs to be returned for repair or adjustment, our policy is to pay shipping both ways. We will issue a UPS tag that allows you to ship the item at no cost to you.

That sounds like no break in to me.

Added 6-16-12
I can say that there were no break in instructions and that my pistol has run reliably from round one to current, somewhere around two thousand.


Wilson Combat: Wilson does recommend a 500 rd break in period not too different from Kimber’s, however I do not have supporting documentation on hand. I will say that most if not all reports on Wilson guns are that they run right out of the box and the break in is more of the test variety rather than an actual break in.


Now that we've been through six-teen maker's websites/manuals, four of them recommend a break in period, two of them are known for being problematic. One is known for being tighter than almost every other brand of 1911 out there and the last is thought by many to be the finest “large” producer of 1911s there is.

Now I'm not saying that you should just take the gun out of the box, stick it in the holster and run out the door, EVERY gun should be tested prior to carry, whether it's a Hi Point, a Glock, a Sig, or a two-thousand dollar 1911. All I am saying is that MOST 1911s do not need a specific break in other than the basic testing of about 200-300 rounds or so, and that if there are issues, odds are that there's something wrong with the gun. Will parts eventually get smoother and "wear in" with usage? YES, but you shouldn't have to count on it for the gun to work properly. Read your users manual, follow the instructions given regarding cleaning and lube and blast away. If the gun doesn't work, send it back to the manufacturer for repairs.