I have shot Wilson's, Nighthawks, and Les Baers. Out of those, the Nighthawks were in a different league. I don't remember the models, but I know I could shoot them better than the other two.
If were looking for a custom, though, I would give AJ Zitto from practical performance a call.
I would suggest Chambers Customs, but they are out of the price point.
if there is any 1911 I regret selling.... it was an early 2000s Les Baer Monolith Heavyweight. Nothing fancy... (not the 1.5") but it was a tight shooter. I only sold it as it was hard to find holsters for it (think very early days of kydex) and I wanted something else.... so I sold it. I should have sent it to LB for a magwell and kept it. In fact I drove to Comp Tac in Houston and he made a holster for me (right in front of me). Plywood, foam and clamps!!!!
I am relying on memory, but I think I paid around $1200 back then new (dealer cost) from a buddy.
If you're going to be a bear….be a GRIZZLY!
This thread had me go back and look at Les Baer again. I was pleasantly surprised to find that their “Concept” line isn’t much more expensive than when I owned one over a decade ago. Based on that past experience I’d be willing to try one again.
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Dang that's compelling. Quick question, WC guarantees their guns and also states on the web they will not work on a WC gun someone else has worked on. Any idea how much of the stickler they are on that? As in one buys a used CQB and turns out when WC gets into the gun, some prior owner had a local smith tune the trigger, fit a slide release or some such.
“Remember, being healthy is basically just dying as slowly as possible,” Ricky Gervais
I know they've been forgiving of "field expedient fixes" done by PD armorers when something goes wrong (re-staking a plunger tube type of thing) and I know they'll work on their gun when someone has stuck another manufacturer's sights on it. I don't think they want to work on a gun that's been heavily altered for obvious reasons. I'm pretty sure if you called them and told them you purchased the gun second hand with a couple aftermarket parts in it and wanted to "return it to factory" they would likely be accommodating, but I would call them first to make sure.
Complete agreement TC215. Wilson Combat had been my go to for decades of LEO carry. I never thought that would change. However, based on my own experience with my last couple of Wilson's, I only recommended used Wilson pistols with known reliability.
Still waiting for my ACW Classic Carry which is my direct replacement for my steel frame WC Hackathorn Special Commander. I've got a stash of ammo on hand waiting to put the CC thru it's paces.
JW
I bought a used Wilson Combat built Colt Officers awhile back. It had Wilson's logo engraved on it, and I even had the build sheet. I asked them to rebarrel it, and they said, "No, we don't work on guns of that length". I was quite upset, as you can imagine, and even more so because the barrel I wanted them to install was still sold on the website. In the end, I had another smith do the work.
If you have any plans for purchasing/sending a WC pistol in, I'd surely ask before purchasing