9mm railed 1911s - DW Specialist vs SA TRP/RO Elite

[DKY]

I'm fortunate to own both the black Specialist and the new 5" TRP Operator 10mm. It would be really hard for me to pick the better gun between the two of them, but I will say that if I didn't own the Specialist I would probably be ordering the new RO Elite 5-inch to go with the TRP.

The new TRP is just damned nice and doesn't feel like it "only" cost $1500. It feels like a lot more expensive gun. No rattles, no slop, everything just lines up like it's supposed to and nothing looks sub-par. The Black-T finish is sexy. No idea how it will hold up compared to the ionbond black on the Specialist, but the ionbond can look a little dull. The TRP's black looks a little more "wet".

One thing that's been interesting is finding leather to fit the Specialist. The "Clark style" rib along the top of the slide kind of messes with the fit in holsters cut for other railed 1911's. I have TT Gunleather building one for me that I am hoping fits better.

[JohnO]

My 2 cents.

I'm a big fan of Dan Wesson products. I purchased my first Valor (Stainless) while waiting for a custom build from Ed Brown. The Valor had just what I wanted and was easily configurable in the areas I didn't care for. Seeing it was stainless I had no issues with matching the finish. I replaced the flat mainspring housing with an arched Ed Brown stainless mainspring housing. I replaced the long trigger with a 10-8 short trigger with a fixed over travel post. I replaced the Heinie Ledge rear sight with a 10-8 U-Notch (.156) rear sight. Grips and bushings were replaced with standard thickness VZ Aliens.

But the changes did not happen to the first Stainless Valor. Initially I had some issues that had to be ironed out. First I discovered the gun did not shoot to point of aim. I can't remember if it was low or high. DW customer service replaced the front sight based on the error discrepancy. This resulted it the gun shooting off the point of aim in the opposite direction. By calculation the sight correction should have worked. DW split the difference and replaced the front sight again. Now the gun shot perfectly to point of aim.

Now the real fun began. After getting it on target I started to "exercise" the gun. Long story short I discovered the feed ramp was cut too deep and the required gap between the top edge of the feed ramp and the barrel throat was not there. I was quickly becoming a 1911 expert with my 1st 1911. Chuck Rodgers via the 1911forum told me to measure the distance between the top of the feed ramp and the Vertical Impact Surface (VIS). It measured below spec and he told me the gun was SCRAP. I contacted DW with this information and they promptly replaced the gun. The replacement gun has been flawless and it received the modifications I described above.

Later I purchased a Duty Treat Valor, configured same as the Stainless Valor. The Duty Treat Valor has been flawless and has become my primary training gun. 10's of thousands of rounds and never a single problem. I replace the recoil and firing springs on a regular schedule. I clean it ever few thousand rounds.

Friends ask me which gun do you like better the DW or one of my Ed Browns. Honestly I guess I can find some areas on the Ed Brown where the finish is better otherwise I going forward I'll I don't see a reason to spend more than a Dan Wesson. The triggers on my Dan Wessons are spectacular. The Ed Browns are good but not Dan Wesson good.

So a few years ago I got the hankering for a Lightweight Commander. The closest thing DW made was a Guardian and I did not (YUCK!) want a bobtail. So I contacted the DW Custom Shop. I wanted to talk to them but they asked to keep all communication via email so there would be a record. We went back and forth a few times hashing out details and who would provide parts. I ordered a few items from Brownells and had them shipped directly to DW. Eight weeks after agreeing on configuration and price I had a DW built LW Commander in my hands configured exactly as I wanted it. I ran it in a few classes (Pannone, Defoor, Pat Mac) and it has been perfect. It now is my daily carry.

If I'm going to purchase another 1911 pattern pistol it absolutely will be a Dan Wesson.

Dan Wesson Custom Shop Lightweight Commander

[HCM]

$1500 actually, but whose counting?

I've been thrilled with two TRPs and the LBO in .45. The 9mm Combat Operator ran well but was not an accurate pistol although SACS said upon each return it shot to spec. I pulled the trigger on the custom work because I was very committed to keeping it and wanted it to be something special and Dave Sams insured it is.

https://pistol-forum.com/showthread....tor-9mm/page16

Under your circumstances it is money well spent.

My 2007 vintage MC Operator has been great as has my 2012ish vintage Valor.

The SA Guns Have just bern too inconsistent. You are rolling the dice on getting a great one or a headache.

Nothing is perfect but the DW are your best chance of getting a good gun under $2k. DW has usurped the sweet spot between price and performance previously occupied by Les Baers.

[Wake27]

Thanks for all the help so far. I’m glad to hear some positives on DW’s customer service and custom shop. The part about the Specialist being picky with holsters has me wondering though, does anyone know of any interference with a Safariland ALS? I know FCS can be a little rough at first but my CRG and Roland Special were fine after a few draws. I’m curious how well the Clark Rib would play with that locking system though.

I’ll email Benchmark Precision and ask him about working up an RO Operator to compare that to the Specialist. But then again, I have a ton of money invested in my CRG and while it’s a very nice gun and it was financially easier to do it in parts, I could’ve bought a very nice Wilson Combat or maybe even SA Pro for the same amount. Base guns only go so far.


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[TC215]

Thanks for all the help so far. I’m glad to hear some positives on DW’s customer service and custom shop. The part about the Specialist being picky with holsters has me wondering though, does anyone know of any interference with a Safariland ALS? I know FCS can be a little rough at first but my CRG and Roland Special were fine after a few draws. I’m curious how well the Clark Rib would play with that locking system though.

I’ll email Benchmark Precision and ask him about working up an RO Operator to compare that to the Specialist. But then again, I have a ton of money invested in my CRG and while it’s a very nice gun and it was financially easier to do it in parts, I could’ve bought a very nice Wilson Combat or maybe even SA Pro for the same amount. Base guns only go so far.


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I’ve not had any trouble with my Specialist in a variety of Safariland duty holsters, or any other holster for that matter.

[DKY]

I’ve not had any trouble with my Specialist in a variety of Safariland duty holsters, or any other holster for that matter.

Tim Thurner @ TT Gunleather suspects it's due to the profile of the picatinny rail on the Specialist. I have a very noticeable amount of drag when removing the gun from my TT holster cut for a Springfield railed 1911, and there is a noticeable difference in the profile of the pic-rail where it blends into the frame ahead of the trigger guard between the two guns. He recommended one cut for the Colt M45A1 for the Specialist, so I have one pending from him currently.

My Springfield slides out of the holster with just the right amount of resistance.

[TC215]

Tim Thurner @ TT Gunleather suspects it's due to the profile of the picatinny rail on the Specialist. I have a very noticeable amount of drag when removing the gun from my TT holster cut for a Springfield railed 1911, and there is a noticeable difference in the profile of the pic-rail where it blends into the frame ahead of the trigger guard between the two guns. He recommended one cut for the Colt M45A1 for the Specialist, so I have one pending from him currently.

My Springfield slides out of the holster with just the right amount of resistance.

I’ve not had mine in any leather holsters, but I do know that when they designed the Specialist for a police department, they built it specifically to fit Safariland duty holsters for a railed Springfield 1911 with a TLR-1 light.

[Matt O]

I have a Keeper for a railed 1911 and no issues with the Specialist fitting it.


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[HCM]

I'm fortunate to own both the black Specialist and the new 5" TRP Operator 10mm. It would be really hard for me to pick the better gun between the two of them, but I will say that if I didn't own the Specialist I would probably be ordering the new RO Elite 5-inch to go with the TRP.

The new TRP is just damned nice and doesn't feel like it "only" cost $1500. It feels like a lot more expensive gun. No rattles, no slop, everything just lines up like it's supposed to and nothing looks sub-par. The Black-T finish is sexy. No idea how it will hold up compared to the ionbond black on the Specialist, but the ionbond can look a little dull. The TRP's black looks a little more "wet".

One thing that's been interesting is finding leather to fit the Specialist. The "Clark style" rib along the top of the slide kind of messes with the fit in holsters cut for other railed 1911's. I have TT Gunleather building one for me that I am hoping fits better.

So look, feel and holster fit are interesting but how do they shoot ?

[DKY]

So look, feel and holster fit are interesting but how do they shoot ?

They both shoot very well. They are capable of far more accuracy than I wring out of them. No failures to feed, fire, eject on either of them to date. I've had the Specialist for two years and have a little over 800 rounds through it. I've had the TRP for a few weeks and have only had a chance to run 50 rounds through it.