Smith & Wesson 1911's

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Smith & Wesson 1911's

Posted: 12/16/2010 5:19:39 PM EDT

I've been thinking about getting a stainless S&W 1911. Any of you know anything about them. Good or bad? Or should I get something eles In the $900.00-$1000.00 price range? Thanks for the help!

Posted: 12/16/2010 5:25:38 PM EDT

[#1]

Don't own one, but i've tried several.

What can I say. It's your typical 1911. Accurate, reliable, trigger could use a little work, but none of the guns were broken in so that way be a wash.

Posted: 12/16/2010 5:28:10 PM EDT

[#2]

Mine is my first semi-auto gun, is my regular carry gun, and the only time it's EVER had a hiccup of any kind was a feed malf caused by my buddy's loading of a magazine (he's normally a Beretta guy). It has been 100% reliable with every ammo I've ever fed it, ball and HP alike.

Posted: 12/16/2010 5:29:55 PM EDT

[#3]

I have the scandium commander. The Smith 1911s are nice. Why not a Springfield for less? Loaded models are my favorite.

Posted: 12/16/2010 5:31:37 PM EDT

[#4]

Can't stand the external extractor, it works...but so has the original internal for 100 fucking years why change it?! At least it's not as bad as Sig's bastardization of the 1911

For the money, personally, I would get a different mfg. of 1911. But if you are set on S&W, they are nice. Just my $.02

Posted: 12/16/2010 5:32:05 PM EDT

[#5]

Minus revolvers, anything made by S&W in the last 15 years is an overpriced version of a gun someone else makes for several other gun companies.

In other words, S&W puts their name on shit and charges you more for it, like their AR fiasco.

Buying S&W is like buying a pair of Guess jeans.

Posted: 12/16/2010 5:34:20 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
Can't stand the external extractor, it works...but so has the original internal for 100 fucking years why change it?! At least it's not as bad as Sig's bastardization of the 1911

For the money, personally, I would get a different mfg. of 1911. But if you are set on S&W, they are nice. Just my $.02

Because around ten years ago, idiocy flooded the 1911 market with stupid questions like "Why doesn't the 1911 have an external extractor? An external extractor on a 1911 is akin to Para's "super extractor" abortion. Worthless fucking multi-piece extractor garbage.

Para sucks

Posted: 12/16/2010 5:34:21 PM EDT

[#7]

I bought one of the first SW1911 several years ago, back when I didn't know any better. It ran well, never had any problems with it, but I only got it because I couldn't afford a Colt at the time. Now I've got the Colt, it runs perfectly, looks better, and it's a Colt! There's not much disparity between a Colt Series 70 Reproduction and an SW these days. External extractors look gay on 1911's anyway.

Posted: 12/16/2010 5:42:02 PM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:

Can't stand the external extractor, it works...but so has the original internal for 100 fucking years why change it?! At least it's not as bad as Sig's bastardization of the 1911

For the money, personally, I would get a different mfg. of 1911. But if you are set on S&W, they are nice. Just my $.02

I'm less fussed by the extractor as some kind of horrific change to the original design, partly cause the originals DID have an external, but it was changed due to both the Army and JMB wanting the pistol able to be disassembled with no external tools.

Posted: 12/16/2010 5:43:31 PM EDT

[#9]

I bought one of the ES models a while back when the local cop shop had it marked down. I was looking for another lightweight Commander sized gun and decided to try it- Commander length slide on an Officer's sized frame. It carries great, especially when driving as the grip doesn't get pushed into my sides by the seat bolsters. Anyways, it's run 100% right out the box and fit and finish is very good; slide to frame fit is also tight. The only thing I don't like, well two things actually, it throws brass back at me and the trigger rattles. Both are common with the Smith's from what I gather and are easily fixed with a little tuning and a new trigger. I think I've got just over 500 rounds through it now including various loadings of FMJ, HPs (185gr +Ps to 230gr +P Speers and Winchester Rangers) and some mild lead target loads. Accuracy has been very good.

Posted: 12/16/2010 5:57:14 PM EDT

[#10]

I have a Performance Center 1911 and it is damn nice! There is nothing wrong with the external extractor. JMB designed the HP with one. But as others have said you can get a comparable Springfield for less money.

Posted: 12/16/2010 5:58:58 PM EDT

[#11]

I also have a Scandium frame Commander. I like it a lot. My only complaint is that the small parts have some nasty mold marks left on them.

I had some hammer follow on mine due to the previous owner messing with the internals. They also polished the S&W markings off of the slide. My smith ended up replacing the hammer, sear and disconnector and refinishing the slide. I got it very cheap, so I didn't mind.

I have no problem with the external extractor. Smith has plenty of experience with those and it works fine. It may bother some due to the non traditional look.

Posted: 12/16/2010 7:21:20 PM EDT

[#12]

My second 1911. Put about 200 rounds of various brands of ammo through it with no problems.

Posted: 12/16/2010 7:22:08 PM EDT

[#13]

I'd go Gold Cup.

Posted: 12/16/2010 7:50:55 PM EDT

[#14]

They are fine 1911's. Not the best, not the worst. S&W isn't known for their 1911's, but they work fine.

Posted: 12/16/2010 10:18:59 PM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Can't stand the external extractor, it works...but so has the original internal for 100 fucking years why change it?! At least it's not as bad as Sig's bastardization of the 1911

For the money, personally, I would get a different mfg. of 1911. But if you are set on S&W, they are nice. Just my $.02

Because around ten years ago, idiocy flooded the 1911 market with stupid questions like "Why doesn't the 1911 have an external extractor? An external extractor on a 1911 is akin to Para's "super extractor" abortion. Worthless fucking multi-piece extractor garbage.

Para sucks

wrong. It's because several of the biggest domestic firearms markets are ruled by obstructionist leftists who chose to require 'chamber loaded indicators' as a hurdle to limit the arms available to their subjects, under the guise of 'safety'. And external extractor can incorporate that feature and meet that requirement. So S&W got ahead of those rules (in CA and elsewhere) and led with that 'feature' when they began producing a 1911 copy.

Posted: 12/16/2010 10:27:08 PM EDT

[#16]

It's my understanding that:
SW1911's extractor units can* be iffy on some guns due to stacking tolerances. If your gun is fine, it' should be fine. If the extraction sucks out of the box, you might just have to ditch it

. Watch to see if the extractor goes south over time after the gun has worn. I believe that the extractor sits too high on the cartridge? It's tough to recall this stuff, but hilton yam's writings on 1911 EEs are worth reading, it's what I'm trying to remember here

It's interesting to note though that the performance center guns have a different extractor design

It's my understanding that the PC unit is a functional one.

Posted: 12/17/2010 7:07:37 AM EDT

[#17]

Ok, my gun is about 10,000 miles away in the safe, but I thought the loaded chamber indicator on the Smith's was a simple cut out in the rear of the exposed top portion of the chamber hood? Or am I thinking about the current Springfields?

The PC 1911s do have an extractor that is about twice as wide as the standard production guns. I have not heard of any problems out of either design. But I haven't really been looking either.

Posted: 12/17/2010 7:39:26 AM EDT

[#18]

Colt 1911 over Smith.

Posted: 12/17/2010 12:44:12 PM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:
Ok, my gun is about 10,000 miles away in the safe, but I thought the loaded chamber indicator on the Smith's was a simple cut out in the rear of the exposed top portion of the chamber hood? Or am I thinking about the current Springfields?

The PC 1911s do have an extractor that is about twice as wide as the standard production guns. I have not heard of any problems out of either design. But I haven't really been looking either.

Mine's on the other side of the world too but I'm almost certain you're right about the loaded chamber indicator.

As for the calls to get a Colt, I look at like ARs- it's not that hard to make a quality gun that runs well and sells for less because it's missing the horse. That said I do have several Colt's and the Smith is more reliable than either my Officer's or my Lightweight Commander.

It's on par reliability wise with a series 70 I used to have as well as several very reliable customized Springfields and a Kimber. My P220 hasn't ever had a hiccup either for that matter. Hell, Rock Island makes a decent budget gun and you'll her wailing and gnashing of teeth when they're mentioned too along with Dan Wesson and some others. All that said, I generally carry the Kimber.

Posted: 12/17/2010 12:50:08 PM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
Can't stand the external extractor, it works...but so has the original internal for 100 fucking years why change it?! At least it's not as bad as Sig's bastardization of the 1911

For the money, personally, I would get a different mfg. of 1911. But if you are set on S&W, they are nice. Just my $.02

Twenty years from now, will you be able to get a Kimber or S&W external extractor part? Maybe, but you will find std ones.

Posted: 12/17/2010 1:01:18 PM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:
I have a Performance Center 1911 and it is damn nice! There is nothing wrong with the external extractor. JMB designed the HP with one. But as others have said you can get a comparable Springfield for less money.

No, he didn't.
IIRC, the external extractor debuted in 1962.

Posted: 12/17/2010 1:07:25 PM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Can't stand the external extractor, it works...but so has the original internal for 100 fucking years why change it?! At least it's not as bad as Sig's bastardization of the 1911

For the money, personally, I would get a different mfg. of 1911. But if you are set on S&W, they are nice. Just my $.02

Twenty years from now, will you be able to get a Kimber or S&W external extractor part? Maybe, but you will find std ones.

That is the one thing that gives me pause. I don't worry too much about it though. I have considered picking up a spare for giggles, but never gotten around to it. I think EGW makes one. Worst case scenario would involve replacing the whole slide.

I would be curious to know the round count they have been tested to.

I did pass on buying one of the cheap Caspian Sig contract slides they had on sale a while back due to the external extractor.

ETA:

Nope, EGW makes a Sig external extractor. Midway USA, who stocks a lot of S&W 1911 parts, does not list one either. Dammit! You may have started me on a quest to pick up a spare if I can find one now.

Posted: 12/17/2010 1:19:42 PM EDT

[#23]

Posted: 12/17/2010 4:55:49 PM EDT

[#24]

Quoted:

Quoted:

I have a Performance Center 1911 and it is damn nice! There is nothing wrong with the external extractor. JMB designed the HP with one. But as others have said you can get a comparable Springfield for less money.

No, he didn't.

IIRC, the external extractor debuted in 1962.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Browning_HP_Inglis-3.jpg

I read somewhere that he had intended for it to be external, but for some reason was not done that way.

Posted: 12/18/2010 5:46:13 AM EDT

[#25]

I've been satisfied with mine. The external extractor doesn't bother me.

Posted: 12/18/2010 6:03:54 AM EDT

[#26]

Quoted:
I've been satisfied with mine. The external extractor doesn't bother me.

Same here. I love mine and best of all I paid less than $700 OTD for it.

Posted: 12/18/2010 6:12:21 AM EDT

[#27]

Quoted:

I have a Performance Center 1911 and it is damn nice! There is nothing wrong with the external extractor. JMB designed the HP with one. But as others have said you can get a comparable Springfield for less money.

O Rly? (As Toy mentioned above) My 1944 Inglis HP has a internal extractor, just like these other early HiPowers:

Posted: 12/18/2010 6:13:45 AM EDT

[#28]

Colt ? Springfield ? Smith ?

Hell........get all three !

Springfield frame , Colt SS internals with a S&W top end ( and a Wilson beavertail )

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Smith & Wesson 1911's

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