Which one would you choose?

[LovingTheYear1911]

I'm in love with 1911s. I have purchased a Sig Nitron Rail, Kimber Custom ii, RIA 1911, and RIA 1911 Compact. Ive had glocks, rugers, but sold them all.

My question is which high end 1911 would you choose? I dont like Springfields so please dont recommend that. Im not paying big bucks for something forged in Brazil. No offense.

My choices are Wilson Combat, Nighthawk, Ed Brown, or Les Baer. Im not too fond of Baers finish but what the heck, I will add it to the list.

It will be a while before I can buy one of these, but I would like your advice. Thanks.

[HOGDOG1955]

cant believe there are no colts in tha collection

[Ronin2]

I'd get the Ed Brown. For higher end tuned 1911's I have not heard or seen any reliability issues with them. I have seen two different nighthawks in day long (200 rnd) tactical classes with stoppages all day long.

You can never go wrong with a Springfield either....

[Snoopy47]

Wilson, NH, and Les all have their target markets. As you noted, Les has a finish that will wear (rather quickly from my experience). I love mine, but I shoot "A LOT".

For something more showy you might like Wilson. For something more Tactic-Cool then go Nighthawk. If you shoot a lot, then go Les.

[Snoopy47]

Oh, anything out of the Colt and Springfield Custom Shops will be on par with any of the custom brands you mention, and made in the USA.

[LovingTheYear1911]

I thought about Colt. Maybe as a collectors item Colt would be nice.

[Bongos]

Oh, anything out of the Colt and Springfield Custom Shops will be on par with any of the custom brands you mention, and made in the USA.

Nope sorry.. not Colt, Springfield maybe but definitely not Colt.
As far as quality, here is my take and I've personally owned all of the fore mentioned as I was bitten by the bug as well.

1) Nighthawk (the best)

2) Wilson Combat (be careful of 1997-2003 guns, Wilson used inferior parts to cur cost) I'm sure current offerings are excellent

3) Les Baer

4) Ed Brown (customer service sucks.. had a Kobra Carry that as unreliable.. they said why is it their problem?)

BTW: all Springfield 1911 are made in Brazil, the main parts anyways.. Slide, frame, barrel and bushing.. all fitted by Master gunsmiths before shipped to the USA, then assemble in the USA with US parts.. since there are more US parts in the gun, it's classified as a USA made gun. The Master SA smiths have been making and hand fitting guns for decades.. Now, there is a SA Custom shop here in the USA and those guys are awesome but most of those guns are custom ordered. The best deal is if you have a SA and had to send it in for repair, there is no repair center at SA.. it goes to their custom shop... the repaired guns coming out of this shop is actually better than new!!!

[LovingTheYear1911]

Thanks for the informative post Bongos. Are Nighthawks pretty custom? Meaning parts are hand fitted, etc.

[18Dmedic]

Pound for pound. Dollar for dollar. I'd go Baer Premier II.

But I will now give you what I have DONE personally:

1. Rock Island Armory .45 FSGI. Smithed by 1911whore here. Awesome bro here. Did amazing trigger work and hammer, trigger, beavertail install. All in $650. Awesome 4lb squeeze.

2. Colt XSE. .45 FS Blued. Awesome. Accurate. Reliable. Nuff said. $900.

3. Springfield Armory full size SS Loaded model. MADE IN THE USA. my favorite. You just have to look for the US made frame models. This is by far my favorite. But I love me a big girl. SS model is kinda heavy. $800.

I like all of them. I'm most impressed by the RIA...Dave (1911whore) was also surprised by the Rock. The Springfield is my fav. Tight as a virgin in church. The Colt...well...it's a Colt. It's good. But that's to be expected.

Nighthawks/Ed Brown/Wilson/Baer...most all custom shops are hand fitted. Nighthawks are hand fitted for sure. But they better slap me around and call me dirty names for $4K.

And for Christ's sake...don't take it to a class. I have yet to see one make it through a class without a malfunction...in the last class, a slide stop lever flew off a Kimber...don't even get me started on the Kimber. But I think that may have been user malfunction. Lol. But it was a jam-o-matic for sure. For classes, stick to Glocks.

[Raider888]

I didn't buy the Baer for the finish.

[trigger945]

I am impressed with Ed Brown

I am curious about Wilson Combat

I want a Nighthawk Custom

Why? Just because I prefer it after shooting all 3.

Baer? Tight. Accurate. Done with it after owning one.

Go to Iron Sights in Oceanside if you can. They rent a Wilson Combat CQB and a Nighthawk Custom GRP Recon and many other good ones.

Good luck!

[CK_32]

Can't really go wrong with any of those.

But to stay in my price range EB has some decent options in the lower and higher thou range.

Night hawk as far as I know most start around 2k

[LovingTheYear1911]

Is the wilson combat x-tac cali legal and is it even available?

[Uglyd]

This will just open the dreaded "best semi-custom 1911" door up. I have owned everything you mentioned and many more. Hands down, without question, no hesitation . . . Guncrafter Industries wins my vote. Do a little research on the company, it was started by an ex WC smith. I would never buy another nighthawk, HOWEVER, les baer, ed brown and WC combat are excellent pistols but Guncrafter owns them all. It is the one 1911 that makes it into the range bag every trip. If you are in LA I am happy to let you throw a few rounds down mine. I like them so much I bought 4. I think you'll see what I mean if you get your hands on one. No offense to Colt or SA but they are not in the same league (with the exception of SACS and Colt's CQB marine thingy mabobber). Just my .02 - YMMV

[Uglyd]

1) Nighthawk (the best)

2) Wilson Combat (be careful of 1997-2003 guns, Wilson used inferior parts to cur cost) I'm sure current offerings are excellent

3) Les Baer

4) Ed Brown (customer service sucks.. had a Kobra Carry that as unreliable.. they said why is it their problem?)

I disagree with the nighthawk being superior to the others and have had nothing but good experiences (with the rare occasion) in dealing with ed brown CS. Justin over there is awesome. Sorry you had a bad experience.