Les Baer...Worth it?

[vf111]

This thread is like an Omega vs Rolex discussion....

[vf111]

I had a Les Baer SuperTac that I bought used. Best shooting handgun I ever owned. I stupidly sold it to a buddy so I can buy a Porsche 911 and now that I can afford to buy it back he refuses to let it go!

But a new one is on my radar screen. Possibly a retirement present to myself in 5 years.

[elSquid]

This thread is like an Omega vs Rolex discussion....

[SunkenShadow]

So is a Glock....

[SunkenShadow]

LB and many other high cost 1911 clones are "ego" pistols for most buyers. Looks good at the range and your friends chicks dig it. If that's a reason to buy one then carry on.

OP could take his Rock to a verified competent 1911 mechanic/smith and have magic performed on it for $2k and walk away very satisfied with the result. All custom from grip to snout. Real custom vs oem faux custom. Magical and one of a kind.

Fixed. :P

I have a lot of female friends, 1% go shooting.....and arent fascinated.

The 1911s are ego buys for sure, however, they are like the luxury watches, a lot of them are overbuilt workhorses (expensive for many reasons and I'm not going to go down that path) that are going to last a lifetime and more (some have!). I'm buying a high end 1911 because I'm going to make it a work horse.

LB has been on my list so I'm loving this thread but I've been shooting a SACS Pro LR as my workhorse.

[dk94044]

If your gut feeling is that you want it, you have already made your decision. I have the Ultimate Master, SRP, and Custom Carry. I shoot the CC the most. I also have Ed Brown Kobra Carry also awesome, but don’t shoot is as often.

[FISHNFRANK]

[newbie1234]

Only $1K difference between Ferrary and Honda, you know what to choose. In the long run, the cost of ammo will be much more than the cost of the gun. For the next 30 year you shoot the Baer instead of SA, think about that.
For me, I owned both Les Baer and SA, I said to myself when I die my son can have all the SA but if he wants the Baer he has to go to the coffin to pry my Baer from my dead hand. .
(Notes: If I want another 1911 then it will be either RIA or Baer, that's it)

[Peahi2]

I aspire to wear my down like like olds442guy.

https://www.1911addicts.com/threads/baer-utc-25k-round-write-up.32650/

Amazing pictures! I tried pasting, but the resolution was too high.

And people pay big bucks for fake weathered guns....Les Baers wear down with pride.

[Brother_Hesekiel]

G-Shocks have more functions, are more durable, and are just a better all-round tool watch even before you factor in purchase price.



— Michael

I think that's a valid comparison. Not too long ago, I was deeply into wristwatches. I now have all the watches I ever wanted: 3 vintage Panerais (including the original Bronzo), a Rolex Deep Sea Cameron, and a 60mm Zlatoust. What I don't have is a watch to wear when I go shooting, so I'm shopping for a tactical watch now, perhaps even something as pedestrian as a G-Shock.

I also have two motorcycles, an old Kawasaki KLR 650 and an out-of-this-world vintage Ducati.

And then there's cars. I have a very mundane 4-cylinder car I commute in, and a cherry high-end classic.

So how does this translate to guns? If you need to ask . . .

[Vinnie Boombatz]

They are not worth it. I've had multiple Les Baer 1911s and sold them all. I was having issues with one of their guns. I spoke to Les and he told me that I need to run 500 rounds through the gun before it would work properly. This is BS for a gun in that price range.

Ha. Kimber told me the same thing when I called them after having issues during my first range trip. I called their BS and said the slide shouldn't be locking back with rounds still in the mag. After some hemming and hawing they agreed and provided a return label. About 2 weeks later got the gun back and it was perfect. Had a small laundry list of things they did to get it to where it should have been when it originally left the factory. Now it's one of my favorite firearms.

[hunterb]

Clearly you have never shot a real custom 1911 worked over by a competent 1911 smith.

You can keep your over priced oem factory 1911 clone du jour ordered off the same menu everybody else does. Golf clap for participating.

Doing a full custom job on a Rock Island?

[jon94520]

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[FeuerFrei]

Doing a full custom job on a Rock Island?

Another ignorant comment. Many shooters/smiths have used Rocks as a foundation to a full custom build these days.

[AFTII]

And a Tissot will display elevation, temperature, barometric pressure and has a titanium case that will let you pass through a metal detector without having to take it off. So? Why does this have to do with Baer Custom?