best American production 1911 on the market today?
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marine6680
New member
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)
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
Staff
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.lee n. field said:
jd.caldderon
Inactive
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.
buckhorn_cortez
New member
This is a straightforward question that's been answered with - "name my favorite manufacturer" answers.
To meet all of the requirements in a PRODUCTION 1911, the gun has to:
1. Be series 70 (traditional)
2. Have fixed sights (traditional)
3. Have a barrel bushing (traditional)
4. Not have an extended beaver tail (traditional)
5. Spur hammer. (traditional)
6. Have a steel frame / slide with a blued finish (traditional)
7. Be .45 caliber (traditional)
8. Have a 5-inch barrel / slide (traditional)
9. Single left-side safety lever. (traditional)
10. Standard grip safety without bump. (traditional)
It seems rather obvious that the most traditional production 1911 from an American manufacturer would be the Colt Series 70 Model O1970A1CS. It has all of the traditional features listed, and is made by the original 1911 manufacturer.
Colt's current quality is the best they've made in years - but, is that good enough for your idea of what is encompassed within the word "best"?
So the real question you need to answer is - what exactly does "best" mean within the context of your question?
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buckhorn_cortez
New member
No - none of those manufacturers come close to the "traditional" (original) design of the 1911.
Dan Wesson's guns have extended beavertails and are stainless steel.
Kimber - not even close.
SIG - not even close to anything "traditional."
The current Ithaca 1911 is closer to a traditional design than any you've listed.
Limnophile
New member
I usually hear DWs regarded as semi-customs, and SAs regarded as the pinnacle of production 1911s. What about the new CZ? Made by DW in the US, would it be a production gun? The price discount to DW-branded guns suggests it might be. CZ-USA provides good customer service.
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Theohazard
New member
To put Kimber anywhere near the top of a list of best-made production 1911s is ludicrous. And second?CockNBama said:
Kimbers are decent guns, but their quality control issues and their history of using lots of questionable MIM parts keep them far down on my list of best-made production 1911s.
I would submit to you that the CZ 1911A1 should be considered in this category. It is made in the USA, by a company with substantial US-based operation/roots (however, I think their ownership is concentrated in Czech Republic).
Going down your (nice) list:
1. Be series 70 (traditional) - YES
2. Have fixed sights (traditional) - MAYBE (GI-style, but dovetailed front and rear is a minor but important upgrade)
3. Have a barrel bushing (traditional) - YES
4. Not have an extended beaver tail (traditional) - YES
5. Spur hammer. (traditional) - YES
6. Have a steel frame / slide with a blued finish (traditional) - YES
7. Be .45 caliber (traditional) - YES
8. Have a 5-inch barrel / slide (traditional) - YES
9. Single left-side safety lever. (traditional) - YES
10. Standard grip safety without bump. (traditional) - YES
So I would echo Limnophile in saying that this new CZ 1911A1 is a serious contender for best American production 1911.
I just so happen to have ordered one that will be delivered this weekend (my first 1911!), and will follow this up with a review.
I ordered blind on the strength of my CZ PCR.
zincwarrior
New member
When did Colts get ranked as best 1911? When I was younger if you bought a Colt you had to send it off to the smith to make it even moderately reliable with anything but hardball (even then it was meh), and very inaccurate.
I believe Colt just filed for bankruptcy protection. Do you want to buy something from someone in the middle of a reorganization?
I believe Colt just filed for bankruptcy protection. Do you want to buy something from someone in the middle of a reorganization?
Aguila Blanca
Staff
I believe the OP specified that he's looking at/for pistols in current production. The current Colt Series 70 has a conventional barrel bushing.dahermit said:
I have a DW Valor and it's the best firearm I own. I also have an STI Trojan 9mm that is one of the best range guns I have. When it comes down to overall build quality, I really think that Dan Wesson and STI are neck & neck. The Dans are certainly prettier, but that STI Trojan will hit targets all day long if I'm doing my part.
In addition, the Springfield TRP is a great piece, Colt is building some fine Series 70 guns these days, the Wiley Clapp Gov't and Commander length special edition guns are very well put together. The new reissue Series 70 Gold Cup National Match is a terrific gun in all aspects of the way it's constructed.
In addition, the Springfield TRP is a great piece, Colt is building some fine Series 70 guns these days, the Wiley Clapp Gov't and Commander length special edition guns are very well put together. The new reissue Series 70 Gold Cup National Match is a terrific gun in all aspects of the way it's constructed.
Best American production 1911 on the market today?
Colt or Springfield would be your choice. The traditional 1911 .45ACP would not have skeletonized hammer and trigger. Some come in parkerized green finish and the earlier ones would have been blued but worn from use. They all had a firm heavier trigger pull. Today, almost all brands have bells and whistles, so for my final choice I bought the Israeli-made Magnum Research "Desert Eagle" 1911. Its trigger and build sold me.
Colt or Springfield would be your choice. The traditional 1911 .45ACP would not have skeletonized hammer and trigger. Some come in parkerized green finish and the earlier ones would have been blued but worn from use. They all had a firm heavier trigger pull. Today, almost all brands have bells and whistles, so for my final choice I bought the Israeli-made Magnum Research "Desert Eagle" 1911. Its trigger and build sold me.