best American production 1911 on the market today?

[Lower]

Which one would you say is the most traditional, best-made, all-American production 1911 on the market today.

If you wanted to assemble and disassemble a 1911 with your kids to show them the tradition of this great gun, which one would you choose?

[Rob228]

Springfield is doing pretty solid work these days.

[Lower]

Would that be the 1911 Mil Spec Model?

Or the 1911 TRP Model?

Please be as specific as possible, so I know what to get.

Also, I had read about the Colt M1911 being on of the very traditional ones. But it doesn't seem they make those anymore, unless that's what the Special Combat Government pistols are...

[WIL TERRY]

Springers are NOT American frames nor slides.
Define BEST !

And so it goes...

[bac1023]

There is no one single best manufacturer. Use the guide in the link below.

Towards the end, I start reviewing all my top 1911s...

https://www.1911addicts.com/threads/...1-addicts.511/

[Grant D]

Colt 1991 Government Blued .45ACP Good place to start new, or look for a used Colt 1911 A1

[Lower]

I mean true to the spirit of the original sidearm.

Springfield is not American?!?

I don't mean the special snowflake Les Baer guns etc. I mean production 1911s that are reliable, use smooth modern materials, are easy to assemble. Good quality. Made so I can really use all those diagrams (i.e. no changes to John Browning's design). All American.

[roman3]

Aren't Springfield's made in Brazil?

Colt Stainless Steel Enhanced.

[jmr40]

I'm quite pleased with S&W. I've owned Springfield, Colt and Kimber, as well as several lesser brands. My S&W 1911's beat them all.

[WVsig]

Dan Wesson for a production gun. IMHO Any production 1911 will have some compromises and every manufacturer will put out a few lemons here and there but overall quality I believe Dan Wesson is the best true production 1911 made in the USA. They are close to semi-custom guns and should be considering their semi-custom price. It is not a "traditional" 1911.

http://cz-usa.com/product/dw-valor-4...hts-8-rd-mags/



If you want an old school look of a traditional 1911 I would get one of the 100 year anniversary Colts. They are still around and come in around $1100.

[DA/SA Fan]

Colt 70 series for true to origins.

[BigJimP]

Wilson Combat ...is the best made 1911 I've seen.../ and some of the best guns that I own personally.

The full sized CQB ( Close Quarters Battle ) ....model is the one I'd choose for a great gun that does everything well.../ you can put some options on it if you want...and buy it in 5 different calibers....but I'd recommend it in either a
9mm or .45 acp... / it comes with the 1" group guarantee at 25 yds...

http://wilsoncombat.com/new/handgun-...p#.VabQ38LbLX4
---------
This is my CQB model in .45 acp ...its my primary carry gun.
http://thefiringline.com/forums/atta...7&d=1360863612

This is my Wilson Protector model ( basically an all Stainless CQB - with some options on it )...this one I had made in 9mm...and its my primary range/tactical practice gun...

http://thefiringline.com/forums/atta...7&d=1282241291
-------------------------
You can spend more money on other models from Wilson Combat ...but you won't get better guns or better parts than are on the CQB or Protector...but some of their Super Grade models are very nice guns as well if your budget can handle it.

[WVsig]

Wilson Combat ...is the best made 1911 I've seen.../ and some of the best guns that I own personally.....

Not a production gun. I may have misread the OP but I seems like he is looking for a US made "production" gun not a semi-custom or custom gun. It could be read as he just wants "American Production" in other words made in the USA. Maybe he/she will clarify.

[Aguila Blanca]

Originally Posted by Lower

Which one would you say is the most traditional, best-made, all-American production 1911 on the market today.

If you wanted to assemble and disassemble a 1911 with your kids to show them the tradition of this great gun, which one would you choose?

The answers will be very different, depending on the biases of the responder. For me:

1. Colt Series 70

2. Colt Series 70

Originally Posted by Lower

Also, I had read about the Colt M1911 being on of the very traditional ones. But it doesn't seem they make those anymore, unless that's what the Special Combat Government pistols are...

Not the same at all. The original M1911 was the pistol adopted by the U.S. Ordnance Department in 1911. The modern M1911 (Colt models O1911 and O1918) were limited production reproductions of the original M1911. The Special Combat Government is a very different animal.

Originally Posted by Lower

Springfield is not American?!?

Springfield Armory has their slides and receivers made for them by Imbel, in Brazil. The company that today calls itself "Springfield Armory" is not the original government armory in Springfield, Massachusetts. That now esists only as a museum.

[Pilot]

Colt, and Dan Wesson.

[lee n. field]

Which one would you say is the most traditional, best-made, all-American production 1911 on the market today.

Turnbull and Cabot Arms are said to be real good.

[Sevens]

I have always liked the offerings from Springfield Armory and I own two. I have never had to use their customer support but I hear very good things about it and I believe they are one of the stronger firms in this grand ballgame.

Many times over the years they have used the phrase "the oldest name in American firearms" or something to that effect and it's quite annoying however, as they don't make a single all U.S. sourced firearm and I'm not sure that they EVER have.

They offer terrific products, great support and fair prices.

[coolbreezy]

springfield supposedly ended their relationship with imbel, and are now made in the US with US forgings. This supposedly happened as of 2015, I however like the imbel forged, american assembled NM s/n models like mine.

[Lurch37]

Which one would you say is the most traditional, best-made, all-American production 1911 on the market today.

If buying new I would cast my vote for the COLT Series 70 model, or if one were to shop around a little perhaps the Colt WWI or WWII reproduction models. If you want real tradition you could always get a true war time 1911 or 1911A1 made by one of the many different manufacturers . Good Luck!

[zombieslayer]

Dan Wesson... I love mine, but have been considering selling it as its never had much range time or use at all.

[tomrkba]

I really liked the Colt WW I Repro.

The Colt XSE is quite good. If I were to buy one today, I'd get a stainless XSE, swap out the ambisafety for a more streamlined one and add night sights.

I'd also seriously consider the Ruger SR1911.

[JWT]

+1 for Dan Wesson.

[marine6680]

Do you want the old school 1911 look, or the more modern updated type?

Do you want the older 70 series trigger, or the newer 80 series with firing pin block?

How much money do you want to spend?

Colt, Springfield, Remington, and others all make a traditional gi style 1911... Check carefully as some may have a few of the modern improvements, like a lowered and flared ejection port. Most of these will be less than $1000.

But improvements like the ejection port are worthwhile in my option.

Other improvements like the extended Beaver tail make for more comfortable shooting. So I prefer 1911s with the modern touch.

If you want a newer style, then it really comes down to cost and value index... Which is subjective.

Ruger make a great 1911 at a reasonable price... Colt makes a good one for around $1000, and some up to $2000.

Remington and Springfield have models less than $1000, and Springfield has a few over $1000 that are very nice production models. Even Sig makes a decent 1911, though their versions tend to be the farthest from the traditional look.

Custom pistols will cost you over $2000, and some of the highest end race guns can cost near $10000, and have huge wait times.


If you stick with the better known brands at a price between $700-1000, you will get a good pistol. You can spend more if you really want to, and you will get a more refined pistol over all for your money, but whether it's worth the cost is up to you.


If you want good and cheap, rock island makes a good 1911. Overall Polish of the workmanship is not as good, but they function well. All for less than $700, some less than $500. (not American made though)

[Aguila Blanca]

Originally Posted by lee n. field

Turnbull and Cabot Arms are said to be real good.

I don't think Turnbull's guns qualify as "production." Cabot guns are exquisite and far above any other production 1911 in quality, fit, and finish. But ... they don't make anything that looks even remotely like a standard M1911 or M1911A1.

[jd.caldderon]

I have a Remington R1 Enhanced with the threaded barrel and a friend of mine has the regular Remington R1 Enhanced. Both have run flawlessly and prob the best trigger I have ever had on a pistol.