Posted: 1/20/2005 3:47:43 AM EDT
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Just got their full-size stainless version. For perspective: I've bought/sold/traded several dozen handguns over the past ~15 years, probably at-least a third of which were 1911's, mostly Colt's but also a couple of Kimbers and a Springfield or two. Except for the Kimber, all the others were "basic" (which at that time was very basic indeed), so I worked on them personally to add all the nowadays-nearly-standard features like beavertail grip safeties, extended thumb safeties, etc. (I've never bought any of the hi-$ custom-made models, i.e. Les Baer, etc.) So in the above context, this is probably the best/nicest 1911 I have owned, definately so out-of-the-box and even so after the considerable work and expense I have put into my earlier examples. Fit and finish of the slide and frame are at-least equal to the Kimbers, and maybe better (although in a different style) than the Colts and Springfields. Also unlike the latter two, it came as-is with all the big-name aftemarket components that I would have added, and at just a little over $700 a lot less expensively. Granted the Kimbers came so-equipped, but I like the SW1911's Novak rear sight and Wilson grip safety better than their counterparts on the Kimbers. (Of course nowadays, they all offer these features unless it's specifically marketed as a "mil spec" model.) The trigger on the SW1911 is the cleanest and least-creepy of any of my prior 1911's. It's not a light match trigger though, so it's suitable for real-world carry, but it is very crisp. There is a firing-pin block but it is grip activated rather than trigger activated like the Colts, which probably accounts for the little/no creep. I've heard of reliability problems with Kimber's now also grip-activated block, so will be curious to see how the SW1911's works out, along with it's relatively innovative external extractor. I did right-away replace the supplied rubber Hogue grips with checkered double-diamond micarta grips from S&A. I like a rubber revolver grip, but prefer rigid checkering on an auto. The micarta feels like wood but is a lot more abuse proof. I also put one of the S&A mainspring housings in-place of the Wilson or McCormick (?) unit supplied, which for me had way-too-sharp checkering. S&A's checkering is just slightly rounded to reduce that "handfull of razor blades" feel that sharper checkering can give. I'm also still not sure about the supplied Wilson mags. I'd prefer something with a thinner baseplate, and also had always liked the McCormicks for the feel that their follower gave to the slide lock. Might get a couple to try in this gun. I've so far put only a box of Speer 230-gr FMJ econo-loads through it, using the two supplied Wilson 8-rnd mags. No failures of any kind. It felt good to get back to this platform as I have been without any 1911 for the better part of a year. Like many, my first semiauto was a 1911, so for me it'll probably always seem like the "truest" pistol. Think I'll keep this one awhile (or more?) 
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| I have had my S+W 1911 for just about a year now and can't find fault with it. It is absolutely the best hangun I have owned. If you are wondering about the Chip Mc. mags I have several and they all function properly. I think the trigger has gotten better since I bought it. That gun is one of the few purchases I have made and not regretted one bit. |
Not to put your purchase down, but as a former Mass resident I was disgusted that this gun was the only 1911 on the approved list that I could legally buy in Mass, though with the deviations from the standard 1911 design, like the extractor, I had a tough time really thinking of it as a 1911. I waited till I moved to NH to buy the real deal, stovepipes and all. I'm now happily stovepiping every 100 rounds or so. |
This is my first 1911 with an external extractor. The amateur engineer/physicist in me thinks it should be a good idea -- at least function-wise -- but time will tell. More on the aesthetic side, I don't think it detracts from 1911-ness of the gun, at-least not anymore than all the other nowadays-standard "enhancements". I know some guys though, who insist that only mil spec is true John Browning....maybe they're right....I dunno.... Anyway, a traditional internal extractor shouldn't equate to having to live with stovepipe jams, which none of my so-equipped earlier examples did. What make/model are you having this trouble with, and do you have a local smithie who could set it straight? |
| I've had mine for about a year now and have been completely satisfied with it. Its been very accurate and %100 reliable with now mods to the gun. I had a Kimber CC before I got my SW1911 and IMHO, the SW1911 is twice the gun the Kimber was. My Kimber wasn't really that accurate and it jammed alot. I traded a HK USP45 for my SW1911 and don't regret it for a second. The HK was a great gun, just to big for my hands. The SW1911 was what I was looking for, an accurate, reliable 1911 out of the box in the $700 price range. |
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Made a couple more mods. The trigger it came with is an extra long (I think Wilson's), and way too long for me for the kind of pull I like. Replaced with an STI short length -- much better. Also the recoil spring is at least 16 lb., maybe more, and produced considerable muzzle wobble on return-to-battery. I replaced with an ISMI 14 lb. Now dead-on return and totally reliable so-far. I also did get a couple of those McCormick mags along with the thin baseplates. A lot less chunkie than the fat-plate Wilson's. Am taking to its first match at the end of the month, an IDPA classifier. See: "What are you bringing...?" |
| I purchased my SW1911 back in Nov. 03. While it was on lay away I sent it back for the recall as well as having Novak night sights installed. When I got it back and picked it up it took some time to get it to run right. I went to the range with an assortment of 230FMJ factory loads, I don't reload. I used the following during break in Rem. UMC, Win. USA, Mag Tech. and some of the B.H. reloads. My first trip out I fired 247rnds and had about a %65 failure of the slide to go into full battery when dropping it on a full mag. I called S&W and was told that it takes approx. 1000rnds to complete the break in and that it should get better. I went back to the range the next day after cleaning it real well and lubeing it up with BreakFree. 240 rounds later it was still doing the same thing, maybe a bit worse. I called S&W and spoke to a different person and they told me to send it in. When it came back about 3 weeks later there was a note saying they had adjusted the extractor. Same ammo type, 200 rounds same problem. I called again and they send to send it back again. I did. This time when it came back the note said they had changed the barrel on it. I was not real happy about that because I had been get 2" groups at POA at 25 yards with that barrel. 50 rounds and the same problem. This time when I called I spoke to the man who had designed the S&W1911 for S&W. I spoke to him for about 20 minutes and explained the problem to him and he said he would take care of it himself. I sent it back and about 10 days later he called me and reported that he had found and fixed the problem. There was a small burr on the breach face (?) next to the firing pin hole. He smoothed that out, and gave me a real nice trigger pull. Since then I have fired over 1500 rnds of ammo with no problems at all. I started to shoot IPSC last summer with it figuring that if it was going to fail it would fail there. No problems at all. It shoots FMJ and JHP without any problems at all. The only thing that I did to it was to add a Wilson spped mag well to it and a Wilson extended slide release. The mag well is of the type that attaches to the grip screws under the grip panels. I have checked other 1911's out and they have sharp edges and such where the S&W does not. I am very happy with mine now. |
Wow Peter. You're to commended for keeping the faith after such a crappy start. (Not sure I would have...  )News of the recall put me off these at that time, but my very trustworthy local dealer (who's also a personal friend) feels that they have since fixed the earlier problems, and that (as of last Jan.) the SW1911 was his best recommendation for a 1911. I'm also familar enough with the history of S&W to recognize a pattern of: (1) make it, (2) fix it, and (3) make it right. I've obviously not had any of the problems you encountered (and thankfully), so hopefully my buddy was right. It's first match is the end of this month, so keeping fingers crossed.  Oh yeah, I too like the just slightly rounded edges (once badly gashed my palm on a SA slide), as well as the characteristic S&W "powdercoat" finish, which is very scratch resistant. |
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Yeah, I decided that I was not going to get mad about it. This was not going to be a carry gun until after I got use to it. I have 6 Glocks that I would grab in case of an emergency. I just wanted to have a "good" 1911 so I waited patiently until they fixed it. If they had not I would have sold it and never bought another S&W product in my life. I was still trying to decide if I wanted to buy this one because of there policys of a few years ago and decided to give it a try. I am happy that I did. Nothing against Kimber or Springfields but this one just "feels" better in my hands. I also like that it has no sharp edges. Well I just ordered 4 more Wilson 47D's for it. Can't wait till they come in so I can shoot a lot more to break them in!To all of you looking for a real good 1911 give it a try. Yes I had problems with it but it was only one problem that was missed 2 times before it was fixed. I think they went with the 'most likely" problems in their fix attempts. It has now become my CCW, ISPC and night stand gun. My Glocks are now "Pretty" safe queens  !
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YOU PEOPLE ARE NO HELP!!!!!I handled a SW1911 SC at a local dealer about 2 weeks ago and I’d just about convinced myself that I really didn’t need that sweet 1911. Now after reading these comments I’m trying to figure out what I can sell to buy one. Oh well just another addiction to feed.
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Those SC's are schweeeeeeet!!! 
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Put back the factory recoil spring. Started having failures-to-battery with the 14 lb. once the gun got a little more dirtied-up. Left it dirty and put back the factory spring, shot some more, and problem gone. I also take back the earlier post about the effect on handling. In retrospect, the cycling actually felt a lot more solid with the heavier factory spring. This is all using factory service-grade ammo. Lightweight-match or hot-defense stuff might perform differently. |
If they didn't have those huge, gay-assed rollmarks on the slide, I'd probably already have one. |
The markings are a bit much and I too would prefer something more conservative. At least my all stainless model doesn't have that "atom" symbol that S&W puts on all their alloy-frame guns, which is not only silly but inaccurate (electron orbitals don't look like that). What I hate most though is the label that says "Caution: may fire with chamber loaded" or some such horseshit. Duh! I guess it was either that or put in a mag-drop safety like all their DA autos A mag drop in a 1911......I wouldn't have bought that. 
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I shot one of the SC's this past Sat. at the end of my IPSC match. The man had just picked it up and had only put 8 rnds through it so he asked if I wanted to try it since we had talked about my Gov. model S&W. I load up the 2 mags that came with it with Rem UMC 230 fmj and we sent up a target stand of 5 metal bowling pins that swing when hit. I shot all 16 rounds from about 18 yards and only missed 3 times, and this was the first time I had handled an SC!! I want! I'm thinking I might have to sell my Glock 32 to get some $$$ to put down on one. Granted it was only 16 rnds but it was sweeeeet!
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I tire-kicked one of the SW, along with a Springfield Loaded, a GSR, and a Kimber at a huge sporting goods store. Although I was shopping for either a Smith or GSR, the Kimber overshadowed both for fit and finish, but the surprise was the Springfield was the best looking, the tightest, and had the best trigger. I left dazed and confused. The Smith was the loosest. I already owned some poor quality colts, and a decent springfield. I finally found a deal on a GSR and it will probably be delivered tomorrow. I may still get a Smith, if the reviews get better, and if I can find a good deal on one. Smith, definately, has an excellent warranty. They sent me a pre-paid box to send in a .22 for warranty, and had it back within a week, so I wouldn't think there would be much risk there. |