1911 TIme! Which one?

[jaybet]

I am fortunate enough to have the money saved up for a new 1911. Not even an expensive one, just a "better than bottom rung" one. My bucket list calls for a "Shiny 1911" so you can see it must be stainless or nickel.
I"m looking at Colts, S&W, Kimber (a little too $$$ though), and the Ruger. Springfield is a maybe too. The price of the Ruger is nice, but I"ve held a S&W and racked it and know that it's nice. AND I would just feel great if I got a Colt.

So, I know this is going to open a floodgate, but any opinions? I'm spending around 1K.

[tombogan03884]

Rock Island/ Armscor.

[Big Frank]

The only one on your list I've ever owned was a Colt that I liked. The Ruger is a series 70 design and Colt is available as a series 70 or series 80. I don't mind having the series 80 safety but some people don't like it. It's easier to get a good trigger pull without it. My Para Ordnance kit gun came with a metal plate to take up the space of the series 80 safety parts so I could use series 70 parts but I chose to make it a series 80 anyway. Safer should be better.

[MikeBjerum]

I have had my S&W for many years and man tens of thousand rounds.  I would buy it all over again!  A friend just bought a S&W Koenig for a good price new, and it looks worth as well, but I would not hesitate to go with the basic. 


P.s.
Mine is SST,sso I do shower with it.

[Swamp Yankee]

 I would go with the Smith & Wesson 1911 Enhanced great bang for the buck with all the bells and whistles.

 Mike Mc

[Sponsor]

[alfsauve]

Let's see:

I own S&W stock, so please buy S&W.

Personally, I own an original Mk IV Series 70 Colt and love it.  Then again, I don't shot it often.  It's wearing, Bullseye Target fiber optics right now.   I wish I could get a spare collet or two for it.

I may have to take her out more often.  But then the revolvers might get upset.

[Rastus]

Rock Island/ Armscor.

I think Rock Island is best bang for your buck.  I remember when they were $300 at the gun shows and I was scared to buy one....now I wish I had bought a bushel basket of them.  You can save a few $$$'s then use the savings to dress it up however you like.

Kimbers....maybe if you want a 10MM.

Ruger would probably be my choice.

S&W never wanted to get into the 1911 business.  They were doing castings for someone who we would all recognize the name and the guy rejected them for a lower price.  That's when they decided to go it on their own.  I suspect they are good quality because the name we would all recognize is definitely Tier 1.

[Ichiban]

Take a look at the Sig Sauer "traditional" line.  It has the rounded slide where their regular line had the squared up slide like their P2xx series.  If you are not a purist and can handle the external extractor I think you will find they have a lot of features that are normally seen on the higher dollar guns.  IMHO they are currently the best deal in 1911.

[billt]

If you like shiny, Cabela's has the Ruger SR-1911 in High Polish Stainless Steel. It's much better than Nickel, and you can take any scratches or imperfections out with some Flitz Metal Polish and a microfiber towel. They're around $1K. (Click on the bottom left 3 images).

http://www.cabelas.com/product/shooting/firearms/handguns/semiautomatic-pistols%7C/pc/104792580/c/553829580/sc/105526980/i/105529680/ruger-reg-1911-centerfire-pistols/1226036.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fsemiautomatic-pistols%2F_%2FN-1114851%2FNo-48%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_105529680%3FWTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_stype%3DGNP%26recordsPerPage%3D48

[Timothy]

I'm sure S&W makes a good 1911 but my SIL had one that just would not run.  They had it back twice in a few months and could not determine the problem!

I liked my Para, learned on an old 50's era 1911A1 Colt with GI sights...  That would work for me but they're pricey in MA cuz new Colts aren't approved here.

Ruger looks like a good buy.  I like em blued or the equivalent.  SS doesn't get my blood flowing..