Advice on Mid Price 1911

[entropy]

I know...here we go right?? Let me explain a bit.

Certain things have occurred in my life and I’m of an age that I desire to mark the point in time. Being a gun guy, that is my choice of marking. I’m not particularly a 1911 guy. I’ve owned and sold a S70 and currently have an SA Champion that sits more than it shoots. My price point is roughly $2500, although I will go higher, but am not willing to go full custom and the $5K+ that represents. (My life is just not that extraordinary.<shrug>)

The goal is a high quality pistol that will be used, and passed to my sons. I’m looking at a traditional 5” gun, preferably a nice blue.

I’ve stopped at the local respectable gunshop. Briefly discussed NightHawk, SA TRP, Les Baer, Ed Brown, Wilson. This is not a rush purchase and wish to take time to educate myself. Right now, gathering info.

Feel free to laugh, ridicule, leave advice, or just pontificate.

Thank you.

[jwperry]

$2500 buys a lot of 1911...

Personally, of the semi-custom/handfit production 1911 Nighthawk has all the features I want in a pistol. Of the straight production guns, I'd buy a Dan Wesson before anything else.

For $2500 my money would be spend on a used GRP Recon w/Nitride finish or Sprinfield Pro LR. If I wanted new, I'd buy a Dan Wesson Specialist.

I like the aesthetics of a railed 1911 and nothing screams more 'Merica! than the X300U hanging off the bottom of a 1911 in 45 Auto.

[theJanitor]

Are you willing to buy used?

Have you established a hierarchy of brands?
Do you know what "custom" features are most important to you?

To be honest, your budget is very good, and you can get alot of performance for it. Most people say "mid-priced" and cap it at $1500, so you're ahead of the game already

[Robinson]

As others have asked, the new or used question is important based on your price point.

If you want a new, blued gun at your price point I would look at the Alchemy Prime. It starts at $2595.
https://alchemy1911.com/prime/

Dan Wesson and Les Baer might be good candidates. Baer sells a lot of blued pistols, Dan Wesson less so.

You could also consider a Colt Special Combat Government, which would leave you some cash left over. It would be a gun made from high quality parts and would be very accurate due to the barrel fit, though it would not have all of the same refinements as some other semi-custom pistols. Some people expect a very tight slide to frame fit on a high end 1911, but that sort of goes against Colt's overall build philosophy.

[JSGlock34]

Wilson CQB

[TC215]

You can get close to a Wilson CQB with $2500. I'd probably look at Wilson, Ed Brown, or Dan Wesson.

Never owned a Nighthawk, but I handled some last week and thought they were very nice.

[mmc45414]

https://pistol-forum.com/showthread....-EDC-X9-4-quot

[Sigfan26]

It’s a little more, but I’d look at a Springfield Armory Professional ($2,900ish). I’ve handled several in shops in the last year. Fit and finish are both amazing. I have a TRP, and it’s really good. The Professional is just better in every respect.


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[KevH]

For that money it's not even a question....Wilson Combat.

This is from a guy that's owned a Springfield Pro, several high end full house customs, some factory customs, and probably a dozen lesser models. I also get to look at, shoot, and work on several other factory custom and full custom guns owned by co-workers.

Custom order yourself a CQB and get exactly what you want.

[farscott]

In the current market, I highly recommend shopping the "pre-owned" market. Quality custom and semi-custom 1911-pattern pistols are trading for less than fifty percent of original retail (not MSRP) prices. For example, I was able to purchase a two-tone SACS "Custom Carry" for $1400 delivered to my FFL. The original owner paid over $2800 for that pistol with the additional work.