best 1911

[Rigrat]

I installed the sights myself and did the bobtail job myself also.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[LanceORYGUN]

Gideon was also interested in knowing what specific sights you installed on your 1911.

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[aznav]

"Any suggestions for a person who will most likely shoot twice a year, and can afford anything?" Sigh...

[alachner]

Wilson Combat Contemporary Classic Centennial 1911 $4,000.00.

[soundhd]

I guess what he should purchased would depend on what he wants to use it for.......Conceal Carry? Direct him towards the "carry" models from manufacturers like Wilson Combat, Kimber (Kimber has a some very nice models "dedicated" to Conceal Carry......)
Home or office defense....any high quality 1911 will do..........if he is only going to go out and shoot with it a couple times a year it sounds like it is mainly a "cool" factor more then anything else.............but just my opinion........

[bunker]

"Any suggestions for a person who will most likely shoot twice a year, and can afford anything?" Sigh...

I know, i know, its not me though remember. The problem with a big successful Dr.'s position is that you make a lot of money, and then have absolutely no TIME to spend any of it. Bunker

[Teufelhunde]

A 1911 may not be the best carry weapon for someone who will shoot only a couple of times per year. The 1911 is a fine weapon, but you need to practice to train your muscles to snick off the safety at the same time you are getting a good grip and presenting the weapon. When the safety is off, you then have that wonderful, but short, triggerpull. There are better weapons to carry when one can't put the range time in.

Just MHO, YMMV

Lon

[TJK68]

Ed Brown, Wilson, Les Baer and Volkman all come to mind, $2000 to $3500 range, but these are semi-customs not customs. Ed Brown superb fit and finish, the best looking IMHO. Wilson's are tough, excellant combat carry guns, very accurate. Baer not as refined on the finish, but are excellant pistols, also very accurate. I don't know enough about the Volkman's to comment. All of these are excellant carry pistols and are reliable and accurate choices. Dan Wesson is also a little cheaper (but not much, since they raised prices)$1300 to $1800 range, excellant choice for a carry gun also, look at the V-BOB.Then you drop to a Springfield Loaded which for the money is an excellant choice, around $800, or Springfield also makes the "PRO" (FBI Model), Excellant pistol around $3000. There are also many custom gun makers, price well that is up to how much he wants to spend. Good Luck, so many choices.

[OD*]

The doctor i work for is a great guy, and he is in the process of getting his pistol permit. He is now the fouth one at work after me who is getting one. Anyways, he likes the best of everything, and money is no problem. He is asking me what is the best 1911 money can buy??? I dont know much about them myself, i am a glock and taurus/ high point kinda guy, but i did mention Les Baer. Any suggestions for a person who will most likely shoot twice a year, and can afford anything? thanks, he is a great guy and i dont want to steer him wrong. Bunker

Most all the good ones have been mentioned, another one he might consider is the Springfield Professional (PC9111), and their Professional Operator (PC9111LR=lightrail), both are made for the FBI/DEA and a couple more alphabet agencies have adopted them now. Springfield sells any overruns to the civilian market (or you can special order them through the Custom Shop, it maybe quite a wait though, the Government contracts are filled first), they are the very same pistols the FBI etc., purchase.

[JD]

Every time I get my hands on a Springfield Pro I want one, they had several at SHOT, I wish I could have taken one home.

[OD*]

They are fantastic pistols, I have/had Baers, a Brown and a Wilson etc., the Pro is every inch their equal, if not their superior, and I never thought I would ever believe that, until I shot my first Pro.

You might find this interesting, JD, from Hilton Yam;

If you want to bridge the gap between a full blown hand built custom and a lower priced/entry level production 1911, the Springfield Professional is an excellent choice. I have seen a lot of these guns and have a few myself. Statistically, there are more of the Professional Models out in real street service than any other factory custom 1911, so the quirks are pretty well worked out. They have consistently improved since the original run of guns, and overall are very nicely done. They offer cleanly executed checkering (some of the best on a production type gun), a nice beavertail fit, a blended S&A mag well, premium grade components, real Novak sights with Trijicon inserts, and excellent accuracy from the match fit Nowlin barrel. These guns typically work very well right out of the box, though they should be monitored closely during their break in period. It is available in a standard dust cover format (PC9111) and with the shortened Operator light rail frame (PC9111LR). If you find one of these on the secondary market, it is preferable to pick a later production specimen that has the Trijicon sight inserts and pinned front sight. Very early (low three digit CRG 1xx serial numbers) guns had IWI sight inserts and no pins in the front sights. While these were good guns, the sight inserts do not wear very well and you will want to replace them with Trijicons. Each run of guns differs as to whether their ejectors are pinned or glued, but the Springfield Custom Shop will pin the ejector if you desire.

http://www.10-8performance.com/1911_Duty_Use.html

[aznav]

Wilson Combat Contemporary Classic Centennial 1911 $4,000.00.

Whoa! I could see me sporting that (along with my CCW badge...sorry, just read the thread again.).

[aznav]

I know, i know, its not me though remember. The problem with a big successful Dr.'s position is that you make a lot of money, and then have absolutely no TIME to spend any of it. Bunker

I can help with that problem. Send him my email address.

[JMB1911]

Best 1911 would be one done by one of the top custom pistolsmiths: Ted Yost - Heirloom Precision, CT Brian, John Harrison, Stan Chen, John Jardine, etc. For semi-customs like Wilson, Nighthawk, Brown and Baer, Guncrafter Industries .45 ACP Pistol is among the best.
HTH,
John

[fiddlers]

I would say that the Ed Brown Classic Custom is right up there as far as being one of the finest 1911s ever built.
Check it out here: Ed Brown Products, 1911, parts

For daily carry though I'd probably opt for the Ed Brown Executive Carry
with a set of custom grips by Sarge45


Credit - Ed Brown Products photo.

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