I think I’m going to treat myself to a nice 1911. I want a 5”, steel framed 9mm, Novak or similar sights with a rail. I’m willing to spend the $3,200 for a SAC Pro. However I recently picked up a 9mm Commander sized DW Valor, and am really pleased and impressed with it. Is the SA worth $1,300 more than a DW Specialist?  Is there anything else in that price range I should be looking at?

Thanks

ETA, got it.  Thanks for the recommendations.  I think I'm going to go full-stupid with this and get it milled for an RMR.

Have you looked at the new Staccato P?

The DW Specialists are nice guns.

I have experience with and can recommend Dan Wesson (I prefer pre-2020 guns), Springfield, and Wilson Combat. I've also owned Colt, Ed Brown, and Kimber.

Other options are Alchemy, Guncrafter, and Nighthawk.

I think Alchemy is the best thing going right now in that ~3k bracket. But, a DW would serve you well too.

I think DW is the standard for a "dollars spent" ratio. Sure you can spend more, but the input doesnt equal the output.

With that being said, I own 2 DWs and I'm hot and heavy after a LB TRS.

* I am referring to 45, unsure of the state of affairs with 9mm 1911s.

I have a 5 inch DW Valor in 9mm.  Its great

Only you can answer that question.  You have to decide what is important to you.  SACS builds a top quality 1911.

I've owned a couple DWs ad they are very nice for the money, and their quality is better than most other production guns, but they're not on par with a custom builder.

just save your money

I have a SA Custom Shop 6” 9mm that is the most accurate handgun I own. For me, it was worth every penny.

I just picked up a Rock River 5”, but I haven’t been able to shoot it because of the weather. The new ones are supposed to be nice. We’ll see.

With a bit of patience and searching, you can find an excellent condition pre-owned Wilson Combat in that price range.

Wilson Combat Tactical Carry.

I no longer own a 9mm 1911 (only because I had to make difficult choices when I suffered through my divorce last year), but the Wilson Tactical Carry I had was glorious.  I can't say the same thing about the DW Guardian 9mm or Valor Commander 9mm I owned.  In fact, the Guardian was a POS that NEVER worked (regardless of the number of times I sent it to DW).  Others have had good luck with them.

If I were to ever buy another 9mm 1911 if would be a Wilson (even though I prefer Nighthawks in 45ACP).

I’d go with Wilson.

Here’s my Lightweight Professional 9mm

Attached File

I've owned a few DW and want to again. I currently own a few Baers and really like them. I carry them, shoot them, etc. Hard to beat where I think they fall on value. But if I had a $3K budget I might venture into Alchemy or even Staccato if you want some capacity.

I'd check Crazy John for a 9mm Baer, too.

I put a few rounds through the Rock River today. I’m happy to report that there were no malfunctions with 3 brands of magazines and 4 kinds of ammo.

I didn’t get a chance to do a full accuracy evaluation, but it shows some promise. These rounds were fired standing, strong hand, supported at 25 yards.

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Look no further than: Alchemy, Guncrafter, Les Baer...

There are others in the semi custom 1911 scene that
are fantastic however those named above really stand
by their product...

Back in the day I converted many 1911 45's to 9mm
and they are such a pleasure to shoot, especially for
new shooters and the recoil sensitive...

The best modern 9mm pistol (IMPO) is the CZ-75/85/SP01
series of pistols...they have the best traits of the 1911 w/
a modern feel and w/ modern mechanics...I do agree that
none can beat the 1911 for the feel and nostalgia, its
Americana through and through.

Good luck.

ANY NHC!.....don’t own one....  do the research..... if $$ a issue..... DW...

H

Used Nighthawk or Wilson.

If I was buying a Gucci 1911 it would be a Nighthawk or Staccato no question.

For single stack 9mm I really like my DW Specialist. For the money there isn't anything I have seen that beats it. With a few relatively simple mods they can be made into something really nice. This is a range toy with a sub 2 pound trigger and its ridiculously fun to shoot.

Unless you really really want to spend the money on a designer 1911, get a DW. It'll be as accurate, as reliable, as well put together as just about anything else in any important way. I wouldn't buy another Wilson, Brown, NH etc unless it was at a bargain pre owned price- Check out MIgunslingers or the classifieds over at 1911 addicts. I think the pre '20 Valors are nicer, but that's just looks- inside they'll be solid.

But if you just want to buy a fancy gun because hey, why not, then why not ? If you want something made with extra care, look at Alchemy or GC...
my pro: Shoot this a lot. It is a great gun.

RRA old school.

HeinieX Springfield

NH, original Heinie

the poor's Staccatto- but in a proper calibre

DW

GCNN, now sold- very nice

Valtro

DW Valor- This had some work done by Jeremy Reid- they make great base guns-

Another Valor I've shot this a lot- finish is IonBond over brushed flats to look blued- zero wear showing...

Wilson- carted and shot this a lot. My 3rd Wilson and the only one I've liked.


Have a Baer still, been through a couple of Browns and a couple of other NHs. None of them are bad- they're nicely made and many have "features":- an extra bit of serrating, a magwell, but when it comes to perforating what they're pointed at, it's going to be a wash between those and a DW ( or most Kimbers/SA's for that matter).

The Stacato is interesting, but I already have a couple of STIs. The product Alchemy puts out is beautiful. Very tasteful, yet wit the features I’m looking for (except a rail).

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Look up their Prime. It’s railed ;-) Attached File

+1.  Alchemy is really at the top of their game.  Fantastic deal at the price point.

Another vote for Alchemy.  I own Prime in 9mm.  Slide to frame fit is outstanding.  Great trigger.  And a tack driver.   Your gun will be put together by one of two master gunsmiths.  People are starting to discover these guns and I suspect the price will only go up.

Also own an older RRA.  These guns are also outstanding.  However, not sure if the newer ones are made to the same standard and finding a used one, particularly in 9mm, is going to be pretty challenging.  RRA didn't make very many and those of us that own them generally aren't interested in selling them.

I bought a DW Guardian in 9mm last May. Since then I've put 5537 rounds through it with 2 malfunction. I did change the trigger and sights, but I absolutely love this gun. I will be getting something a little higher end eventually, but I imagine it will only be marginally better then my DW. I'll probably go with an ACW or Guncrafter.

I just ordered a Wilson 9mm Experior Compact Doublestack, but that is just me as I don't have a Wilson 9mm.Good luck on your decision.

So i see--thanks for pointing that out.

There's a really nice Atlas Gunwork Titan 9mm 2011 for sale on 1911addicts.com

I have no affiliation with the seller, just passing along the information.

RONIN

Get a DW or the SA Professional! They make the BEST!

There's absolutely no reason to consider Alchemy Custom's Prime Elite



They offer nothing anyone would want.

I’d get the DW, but mine would be a Specialist Commander. After buying a TCP 45 I want one bad, currently debating between it and a CZ.

I have owned nearly a dozen SACS guns....to include the one your talking about, in both 9mm and .45.  I also had SACS build me a spec'd out 9mm custom carry before they completely stopped doing full house builds.  I also have owned 5 NHs but currently down to 1 , a few wilsons...and a RRA 9MM rail.

With all that being said, at that price point I would either look at Alchemy, or NH.  SACS golden years in my opinion were from late 90's to the mid 2010s...

What really pushed my direction toward NH after having years of SACS (and running them hard ) was when i called into the custom shop with some issues from my warren tactical and they told me that no one really is "over the custom shop any longer" that Dave and Deb were no longer running things.  They told me to send the custom shop gun in and someone from the production gun side would look at it.  Even after providing the serial number to my SACS gun  they still didnt think it was outta the custom shop....

SACS guns are great hard use purpose built guns...but if I am spending that money its going to NH or Alchemy.

Alchemy. Mine have been flawless and real shooters.

Kind of a cryptic statement but very much what I came here to say. I was in the same boat last month - I sold some stuff and decided I wanted a real good 1911, on the order of a Wilson Combat Protector. Well, I have other nice 1911s, Colts, U.S., etc., and a Taurus PT1911 that I had considerable personal work in but decided to sell it anyway. So there were some problems on it that I decided to fix before selling - it had a severely hard hammer movement and an excessively light trigger. I had a hammer and sear installed by a gunsmith a few years ago and didn't like the results, so I threw it in the back of the safe and forgot it.
Going through the original parts that I keep with it, I spotted a mainspring, which told me that the gunsmith had changed it, which I didn't order to be done. So I went in, and that thing had the heaviest mainspring in it I've ever seen. So I put the old one back in. Then I tweaked the tines of the sear spring to get more trigger/sear spring. I had previously replaced the full-length guide rod with a standard 'G.I.' set-up so I took a look at the recoil spring which I had re-used - it was short. So I put in a 16# spring which will help compensate for the lighter mainspring on recoil.
So it turned out great, everything feels normal and it has a 4.5# trigger now that is very nice, especially considering that its a 'Series 80' (firing pin safety). The bottom line is, when I first refinished it, installed night sights, new grips and the new hammer style, I had never seen a Wilson Protector, but in fact it has very similar features. I decided to 'save my money' and just shoot the Taurus which is also very accurate (through no fault of mine) :).
It really is funny how things go, but it is true that a gun you have 'sweat equity' in will always mean more to you than anything you can buy.

Thanks for the recommendations.  I think I'm going to go full-stupid with this and get it milled for an RMR.

Dan Wesson Guardian 9mm is the only 1911 I have left and its a favorite at the range as well.  Was looking for a Valor 9mm in duty coat but found the Guardian first.  I'm kinda glad I did.