Wilson 1911?

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valkabit6

New member
Do the Wilson 1911s look as flawless in person as they do in the pictures on the Wilson site? Hats of to Wilson, those pictures almost take my breath away.

I've heard they're guns are good ofc, but would those that have handled them say they're worth the money if you can convince yourself to cough it up?
 
While I’ve never owned one I have handled a few and yes they do look as good in person. Now, while I really like them whether they are worth the money is really up to you. I suspect as price increases you get sort of a diminishing return on your investment. For instance I can argue that a $1000 1911 is twice as god as a $500 dollar gun. However, I’m not as sure a $2000 gun is twice as good as a $1000 model.
 
Yes, they're worth the money to me.

I have a pair of them ...5", all stainless Protector model in 9mm....10 yrs old, about 130,000 rds thru it now. Great gun, shoot it a lot.../ 400 rds this week ..some practice and some tactical competition with my buddies..in and out of a holster all the time. Its also my primary carry gun.

and I have a 5", CQB in .45 acp, black armor tuff finish on it...about 13 yrs old and probably 35,000 rds thru it now...it used to be my primary carry, some arthritis in my hands has caused me to go to the 9mm...

Both great guns...I've had Ed Browns, Les Baer, Kimbers...and buddies have Nighthawks, Cabots, Ed Browns, Springfields, Kimbers, etc....and in the last 5 yrs they have all bought Wilson's as well. They admit, a little reluctantly, that they're better guns than the others they've had...

my CQB in .45 acp
http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=87077&d=1360863612

my 9mm, Protector model..
http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=81149&d=1336163670

http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=79624&d=1331326232

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I also had a 5" Protector model in .40 S&W ... it was made in 2009, all stainless like my 9mm, ambi safety, mag well, etc....and I sold it to a guy at the local range - that said he "had to have one like it" - I let him shoot it a little when I saw him at range and I had the gun with me.......but he got turned off at the 2 yr delay for a custom order at that time, so he offered me about 25% over the current list price at the time..or about 50% more than I had paid for the gun.../ I wasn't shooting it much, had kind of gotten over the .40 S&W caliber in general, so I sold it to him. I still see him once in a while...and he keeps telling me its the best gun he owns. I don't miss it ...but there was nothing wrong with it...

The Les Baer, Ed Brown and all my Kimbers ( even a Gold Combat Stainless 11 model, which was a very nice gun ) have all been given to my adult kids to start part of their collections...and I don't miss any of them. They may get the Wilson's someday ...( but they may have to dig under me in the casket...:D )...but I'm only in my late 60's, so no time soon...

The last guns my buddies have bought from Wilson...all came off their current inventory of guns ( go to website, shop, current inventory )...and they've found something they liked, received it in 4 or 5 days...which is pretty nice, unless you just have to have it exactly as you want. But depending on options you might want added to a current gun ( like a mag well or ambi safeties, Wilson will take the gun to the shop, make the changes and then ship it for the extra money of course). But they're easy to deal with.

On warranty ...no issues on my CQB .45 acp / on 9mm, I broke an extractor at 80,000 rds I think ( they paid for everything, I got gun back from factory in about 10 days) / broke a side tube - between slide lock and thumb safety about 2 months ago - again they paid all shipping, etc, made repairs for free and I got the gun back in about 8 working days.

Guns are warranted for life of gun ( whatever that means, I know they expect their barrels to go for at least 500,000 rds ) even if you buy them used ( unless they've been abused).

If I buy another 1911, it'll be another Wilson...( but I sure don't need one ).
If I buy another one, it'll probably have the recessed slide lock pin, crown reverse cut barrel, green fibre optic front sight, battle sight in rear....and mag well, ambi safeties, etc...like on my 9mm now. I don't like the rail they put on a lot of the new Protector series, so I would probably just go with a dressed up CQB model in all stainless.
 
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While I’ve never owned one I have handled a few and yes they do look as good in person. Now, while I really like them whether they are worth the money is really up to you. I suspect as price increases you get sort of a diminishing return on your investment. For instance I can argue that a $1000 1911 is twice as god as a $500 dollar gun. However, I’m not as sure a $2000 gun is twice as good as a $1000 model.
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IMHO, this is flawed logic.

I have a RIA 1911, 2 Kimbers in 45, an Ed Brown in 45 and a Kimber in 10mm. I can say, without hesitation, that the $495 RIA is every bit the pistol that the $2500 Ed Brown is, as well as the $1000 Kimbers, minus the finish. If you want the name and finish, by all means, spend your money on what you WANT, it stimulates the economy. But to say "better" or "worth the money"; that's totally subjective to your personal "wants".
 
A properly built 1911 should function reliably regardless of the price - they have no other choice in the matter - they're machines.

What you're buying in an expensive 1911 is fit, finish, and features. To some extent, how the gun is fit will contribute to greater accuracy as the slide to frame fit, barrel lugs to slide fit, barrel bushing to barrel fit, etc. can make the gun more accurate.

Then there are small parts. Less expensive guns may use metal injection molded parts or cast parts while an expensive gun will use bar stock parts. To some people, that is an important distinction and desirable feature.

If you custom order a gun then you get to pick a lot of features that make the gun tailored to a configuration that you like. Things like, choice of front and rear sights so that the gun comes with the sights you want rather than having to replace them after receiving the gun, single safety or ambidextrous safety, recessed slide lock / release, dehorning, magwell, type of finish, etc.

There are other features that may be useful for some people like a flat top, serrated slide; checkered rear of the slide, or carry cuts for easier holstering.

Finally, you get to things that are purely decorative like a French border at the edge of a flat top slide.

But, the idea with an expensive 1911 is to get the pistol with the features, parts, and finish that makes it specifically your gun.
 
I would never spend $4000 on a gun spec'd by someone else.
The whole concept of the "production custom"; high-end components and fitting, but to someone else's taste, escapes me.
For that kind of money, I'd want complete control over components, finishing, etc.
For instance, I have arched mainspring housings on all of my 1911s. Wilson doesn't make an arched housing, so you can't get one on your "custom" Wilson.
Not intended to be a knock on Wilson specifically, just the idea of the off-the-shelf "custom" pistol.
 
I get what you mean about custom vs "boutique" guns.

I think Wilson is the leading boutique manufacturer.
But the actual guns I have seen in person look like bb guns in their Armor Tuff paint jobs. I don't know how they make them look so nice in advertisements. Turtle wax, maybe.
The ones I have seen in use shoot very well, though, so if you can get over the paint or select stainless or pay extra for blue, go for it.

I follow the 1911 board and the focus on cosmetics is amazing. Half of that stuff I would not pay for and the other half I would pay to have left off of a gun normally cataloged with it.
 
I have a RIA 1911, 2 Kimbers in 45, an Ed Brown in 45 and a Kimber in 10mm. I can say, without hesitation, that the $495 RIA is every bit the pistol that the $2500 Ed Brown is, as well as the $1000 Kimbers, minus the finish.
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Huh? You can't be serious. :confused:

Do you know how much different the materials are being used? It goes WELL beyond the finish. You're talking MIM parts and poor fitting throughout vs high quality parts and some serious hand labor on the high end 1911s.

I'll chalk this up to a joke.
 
Part of this is opinion...no question about it ...and I'm not backing off my support of Wilson Combat - or the good things I believe about both of the Wilsons I own.

However, there needs to be some perspective here too...Kimber makes a lot of guns ( and there are not any "gunsmiths" putting them together or fine tuning anything in my view ), they instead take care of issues under warranty. But Kimber doesn't just sell guns for $1,000....in their custom shop line, they have the Gold Combat Stainless II model, that I have - or actually my son has now - and its a gun that lists for $ 2,250 ) ...yet its still a production gun full of MIM parts. Is it a great gun at around $2,100 - no, not in my opinion.

MIM is not inherently bad....and less expensive guns, like RIA, are not inherently junk ...but the only way you are going to know if the internals of the gun are composed of good parts is longevity. Shooters in my area are having decent luck with RIA but opinions are mixed probably 50/50 on they're junk or they are ok - as well as the low end Springfields, etc../ but the Springfield TRP is a higher end gun - and an example of a gun that seems to have pretty good components and a lot of features folks want - and it lists for around $ 1,600 and sells in my area for $ 1,400 - $ 1,500...

At some point - fit and finish are important to me ...and yes, I'm willing to pay for it ...on guns, cars, erc...and I want the features I like on the guns I own. Wilson, like all mfg's, is evolving their models and options -- with a lot more things they will do today than they did 15 yrs ago. If you want something that is not in their catalog ...all you have to do is call customer service and ask, for a price ( arched main spring housing as an example ) they may put it on a gun you spec...or maybe not, I don't really know.

When the Bob Tail frames were a big deal ...and Ed Brown was the only one doing that ...in terms of production guns at least ...I bought a 5" Kobra Carry..nice gun. But I also figured out the Bob Tail did not fit my big hands..and the gun got away from me in rapid fire drills on 4th or 5th shot...( like draw and fire 8 rds in 5.5 sec )...so I went back to my CQB. The Ed Brown was a great looking gun ...but I gave it to my son. Fit and Finish was very good...gun ran really well...it was my issue, not the gun. But Ed Brown does way less custom features than Wilson does....but I think Ed Brown makes a fine gun / I consider it a close 2nd to Wilson in terms of quality.

I custom ordered a Les Baer Monolith, 5", in 9mm probably 16 or 18 yrs ago...asked for their T Chrome finish ( its not really chrome, its a 2 tone where rounds are gray bead blasted, flats are blued...) anyway, in my view...he makes his guns too tight / excessively tight so it takes a long time, and a lot of ammo ( 20 - 30 boxes easily ) to get them to run reliably. Fit and Finish was average to below average in my view...bluing slopped into inside of slide, etc../ blued finish is way too soft and easily scratched...and its was around $ 2,350 I think...at that time. I gave that gun to one son - he loves it ...I much prefer the Wilson 9mm I have. I can't put Les Baer in the top 5 mfg's of 1911's...based on my experience and other Baer's I've seen ...but they're less money.

So, sure its opinions....based on what you've fired or owned.../ I've fired my buddies Nighthawks, Cabots, etc...and I don't want any guns made by either company ...they're not bad guns / I just think my Wilson's are better...and most of them have gone on to buy Wilsons in 9mm that they like very much.

Everybody had budgets...having a Wilson is not going make you a better shooter...but I think its a great tool...( 1" guarantee at 25 yds - is better than I can shoot ) ...but they'll do it, in good hands - with good eyes. If you can afford to spend $4K on a gun...I think you'll love it ...but its your money and your decision.

I've seen RIA's with horrible triggers and some really bad machining...and some that are ok ../ I seen low end Springfield "Range Officers" with horrible triggers too.../ I've seen a lot of Kimbers with all kinds of issues - bad triggers, bad Fit and Finish, etc..and some that were pretty good.../ I have yet to see a Wilson with any issues...but they probably screw up from time to time as well..( but I think they catch it, when they test fire their guns - and send them back to the shop for retro fit) before they're sold.
 
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I'll chalk this up to a joke.
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You can look at it however you like. I bought the cheap RIA to test loads and abuse (1100 FPS 200gr type stuff). It has THOUSANDS of high speed, abusive rounds through it and it has NEVER given me a problem.

One of the Kimber pistols (Pro Carry II) is my daily carry as an LEO (it's lightweight). The Ed Brown is to look at and put a few rounds through, not carry. The RIA shoots every bit as good as ANY of the others, which I find more impressive than any of the others, simply because of the price tag as compared................... I'm not convinced the others would stand up to the abuse I've given "el cheapo", and I'm not spending the money to find out. I'm merely saying that if you WANT to pay $3000 for a 1911, go for it, but that don't mean it's "better" than a cheaper one.

It's no joke at all, and I love 1911's.................

To end, I agree with BigJimP, you can get bad with everything. Wilson may in fact have better QC to catch it before it makes it out the door, and I can/do appreciate brand loyalty, but I don't assume high dollar means "better". Better is an "expectation", not necessarily "reality".
 
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Well, we will agree to disagree. I've got dozens of high end 1911s and I've owned plenty of cheap models as well. There sure is big difference.

I'm not saying the cheap guns can't be reliable and most of mine were. However, that's just the tip of the iceberg.

You get what you pay for.
 
I had a flawless Kimber that I ccw'd and trusted completely...I sold it for some odd reason...seemed like a good idea at the time.
I now own a Wilson CQB. My Kimber ate everything I fed it, and was quite accurate, but handling the Wilson, and then firing it was a revolation. It exceeds every single expectation I've ever had for a 1911. Like having my eyes opened for the first time.
The best anology I have is this: I'm a diver...I teach in my off time...I spearfish fanaticly... A Casio G Shock is a great dive watch...they always work and are trustworthy...a Citizen...or even a Tag is several steps up...just as reliable...but...somehow better. A Rolex dive watch will last forever and is utterly reliable...everyday every dive capable..and an heirloom.

I wonder if a certain pedantic fan boy will melt down screaming "Its a '1911 platform' not a 1911". Guess I'll check my pms in the morning.
 
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An anecdote....CQB/Protector models cost around $3,250....and in my opinion, are darn fine guns - and they have the 1" guarantee at 25 yds.....and mine are smooth as glass...

Wilson's Super grade guns are $5,500 - $8,000 ....and they come with the same 1" guarantee at 25 yards..../ so in the super grade guns you have more experienced gunsmiths doing the final fitting ...and perhaps a little more finish attention to detail....internal parts are the same.

Are the Super grades more accurate - No...../ are they a little smoother - maybe a little based on the 3 or 4 that I have fired.../ are they worth the extra $3,300 - $4,750.....maybe ......

But in that case the extra money you pay is mostly cosmetic, in my view.....where the CQB and Protector ( or relatively basic models ) are extraordinary guns...and 2 of the top 5 handguns I own ( along with a Freedom Arms single action revolver, a S&W model 27-2 4" Nickel revolver and an L-1 model Sig X- Five )....but still just my opinion, for my money. .

No Ed Brown, Nighthawk, Cabot, Kimber, Springfield , etc.....is ever going to crack that list of top 5 guns in my safe...in my opinion. A Korth revolver might unseat one...??... or maybe another wilson...
 
If things go sideways, I know without a doubt...that CQB will 100% do its part...and some of mine. That's comforting when things are falling apart.
 
Owner of 5 .45 autos here: 1 WC Classic SG, 1 SACS Rob Letham TGO1, 1 Ed Brown Exex Target, 1 Les Baer PII, 1 Jim Hoag 6" longslide. I'm under the impression that all WC SG's are $ 5195. less additional options. The SACS TGO1 will simply beat all of the others for fitting & accuracy (precision), but the WC SG is a more conventional, more attractive weapon. All have strong & weak characteristics.
 
Wilson Supergrade Pinnacle ...lists at $ 7,995...with no upgrades available.

but my other cost estimates were based on things I see as common upgrades or changes ( on SuperGrade classic)...like all stainless, 9mm over .45 acp, change out the adjust rear sight to a battle sight ...but sure, average price for a supergrade is probably around $6,000. Shipping, your state sales tax, FFL transfer fees - all that depending on your state are more still.

But my point was not to go into every price option - but to point out Wilson does have some models that are over $ 3 - $ 4k. I see you have some nice guns....so I think you get my point.
 
I am relatively new to 1911s and have steered clear of them till now; much to the improvement of materials and craftsmanship. I now own two SIG 1911s (non-traditional slide) and am extremely happy with both of them.

The reason I'd really steered clear of them was from what ex-military men told me: the 1911 is a finicky pistol. I never really knew what they meant, nor exactly what they were referring to but that was good enough to keep me away for a long while.

But now that we're speaking of fit and finish, one of the qualities I notice 1911 aficionados check for is tight slide to frame fit and secure barrel to bushing fit.
And that's supposed to be good and I get that.

Then I hear that one of the traits that made the Army 1911 so reliable (when not finicky?) was its loose fit and tolerances.

So which is it that make the 1911 reliable?
 
I know a guy . . .

I know a guy who has a Wilson. I've seen it up close and it's a beautiful gun. I know him from an IDPA venue that we frequent. His gun seems to function great from everything I've observed. The man is financially well to do, btw.

Is it worth the money? I don't know. It's a matter of opinion, I suppose.

Money aside, I have no desire for a Wilson. Only because I'm the kinda guy who would buy something decent to start (like a Springfield), and then mod it out to my liking. Those who'd rather not do that and have the $'s to kick around, will get the Wilson. That's how I see it.

I do use Wilson Combat mags for my 1911's. They're the best from my experience. Oh, and the WC blue colored shok-buff thingies for the recoil spring :p.

P.S. I also know a guy who has a RIA, and has had lots of reliability (feeding, cycling) problems with it. He likes to save a buck wherever he can. Sometimes it doesn't work out.
 
Own or have owned one or more of about every custom shop 1911 out there as well as having taken the 10-8 armorer class and vickers build class.

I like Wilson though my nod for best factory 1911 goes to Guncrafter. Utterly amazing fit and finish. At MSRP for a new gun they get my money these days.

My nod for best value in a high end 1911 goes to Ed Brown; for low to mid 2k range on sale you can get a dam nice shooting / finished gun from Ed. I am a hater of guns in the 1200-1500 dollar range that have mim parts and the look of a semi custom but lack the refinement. They are poor values that loose value rapidly and offten have issues present that should not be there in a gun at that price point. Better to either buy an Ed Brown if it suits you or an entry level colt / ruger / Remington and make it suit your needs.

Wilson is fine, I use many of their parts and have a few... I usually buy them used or when dealers need money and will deeply discount. New they are more expensive than some guns as good or nearly as good. In my opinion.

Above 3500 - 3800 or so I don't see what more money buys from any maker unless it's an engraving job or other exotic finish. And yes I have shot, and examined guns costing more than this. I don't see the value or what one gets .

Wilson's 5 million levels, grades and super elite tactical uber nomenclature is a bit of a turn off to me but it's the nature of the gun industry today. People also forget Wilson has constantly had to be pushed to offer good value ---- the original CQB was a base semi custom with MIM internals (I have one, great gun,example of mim down well) however at the price point at the time it should have had all non mim parts, only market pressure compelled them to up their game. Same thing happened with the switch to all billet / bullet proof parts vs. cast parts a few years ago. Now it's a bit of a non issue as few people will ever break a cast grip safety and if you do break it they will fix it; howeve to hear Wilson's tell it they lead the way when from the seats I am sitting in it would appear thet they only put the best parts in all their models when market forces compels them to do so. Not leadership in my book but that is just my take on it watching over the past 15 years

Can never argue their customer service or after sale support Wilson gives though most high end 1911 makers will do similar.
 
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